Image: NZSAR | Creative Commons
Visitors reading DOC safety information, in a DOC Visitor Centre
Resources about land safety
There are several resources available to assist organisations working in land safety.

Find a collection of webinars, karakia and hunting safety resources below. 

Here are the recordings to the Land Safety Forum Webinar Series which will be of interest to anyone working in visitor safety or risk management.

Creating personalised warnings for future natural hazards by Dr. Sally Potter (GNS)

ACC's behaviour change campaign 'Have a hmmm' by James Whitaker (ACC)

Above and beyond an exploration of culture, behaviours and attitudes of New Zealand's mountaineering comumunity towards avalanche safety by Nathan Watson (MSC)

DOC's work in cyclone recovery – One year on (DOC) by Matt Flynn (DOC)

Using AI to help predict the impacts of extreme weather (Land Safety Forum) by Nava Fedaeff (NIWA)

NZSAR's Land Based Quarterly Survey by Tania Seward (NZSAR)

Adventure Voice outdoor research community by Nathan Watson and Bevan Smith (MSC)

DOC's approach to managing visitor safety on Public Conservation Lands and Waters by Nicholas Sutcliffe and Theo Chapman (DOC)

Wai Puna Model - applying a Te Ao Māori lens to water safety by Dr. Chanel Meads and Robert Hewitt 

Hunting 101 by Tim Gale (NZ Game Animal Council)

Using data to drive down drownings by Chris Casey (Water Safety New Zealand)

NIWA's latest climate change projections & impacts for recreation by Nava Fedaeff (NIWA)

Lost Person Behaviour by Tony Wells (Land Search and Rescue)

AI trends 2024: Opportunities and impacts for land safety

Leading through the Wai Puna Model: Strengthening Land Safety through Values-Based Leadership by Dr Chanel Meads

Love our Huts campaign by Mick Abbott (Federated Mountain Clubs)

Strategic Tactical, Operational Search and Rescue by George Loomes (Department of Conservation)

Trail running trends by Ali Pottinger and Kerry Suter (SQUADRUN)

Understanding Trampers' Skills – Adventure Voice update by Bevan Smith (NZ Mountain Safety Council)

Resilient Recreationalists – from personal decisions to system design by Lydia Michela

A new type of fun: Packrafting and canyoning in New Zealand by Dan Clearwater

From post to purpose: The art of influencer campaign by Candice Tovey, Hamish Besley and Tash Datlen

Here are the karakia clips to use before embarking on a hunting journey.

Created by: Gavin Wairau

Whakataka te hau

E Rangi E Papa

Karakia kai

Here are hunting videos with targeted safety messaging and karakia incorporated.

Created by: Gavin Wairau

Mahia hunting NZ

Opotiki hunting NZ

Te Urewera hunting NZ

Hunting NZ chasing reds

Hunting NZ the longest morning ever

Members of the Land Safety Forum have worked together to develop a good practice guide for outdoor safety signs.

The guide sets out the elements of effective safety signs, with in-depth examples based on good practice observed in New Zealand and globally. It will be useful for anyone developing and maintaining safety signs in outdoor land-based recreation settings in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Good practice guide for outdoor safety signs (PDF, 2,566K)

As part of this work the subgroup commissioned a literature review to identify factors that increase the effectiveness of safety signage. This was published in September 2023 by Stephen Espiner and Megan Apse of Lincoln University. The good practice guide draws on the findings of this review.

The effectiveness of safety signs in outdoor recreation settings: a research synthesis and annotated bibliography (PDF, 1,070K)