OutdoorsMark is the national, outdoor safety audit programme designed by the New Zealand outdoor sector for the New Zealand outdoor sector.
One of its fundamental objectives is to give participants on outdoor adventure activities, and the public an assurance that the management of the activities has been checked by an independent expert, an OutdoorsMark auditor. If the organisation is assessed by the auditor as being at, or above, the benchmark standards of the OutdoorsMark audit, Outdoors New Zealand awards the organisation OutdoorsMark certification.
OutdoorsMark aims to:
- promote safe participation
- provide assurance that national, outdoor sector safety standards for safety and professionalism are being met
- raise standards in outdoor activity delivery
- reduce the risk of injuries and accidents
- establish procedures for continuous review and revalidation
Organisations that provide outdoor adventure activities apply for OutdoorsMark certification voluntarily. It is not compulsory for organisations to get OutdoorsMark.
However, it is compulsory for some organisations that come within the scope of some legislation, regulations and other external requirements to pass a safety audit. OutdoorsMark might be the choice they make to meet that requirement.
The OutdoorsMark audit is rigorous. Organisations must undertake a self-assessment and provide audit evidence for a document audit, followed in the majority of cases by a practice audit. The document audit looks at the policies and procedures written down on paper; the practice audit looks at what is happening out in the field, that is, are they 'walking the talk'?