Image: NZSAR | Creative Commons
Two visitors walking on a DOC track.
Projects of the Land Safety Forum
The Land Safety Forum carries out a range of collaborative projects. These are run via sub-groups of interested members.

Data and insights

While there is a strong commitment to research and evidence-based action, organisations are often hampered by a lack of readily available data. The Data and Insights sub-group aims to address this and improve the quality and accessibility of land safety prevention information.

The first project of the Data and Insights group was a stocktake of existing research and data sources. See a list of available research.

The sub-group currently has two projects underway:

  • Two reports from the Adventure Voice research panel (operated by Mountain Safety Council) – one on outdoor recreation participation and another on skills acquisition
  • Research into visitor risk perception and messaging influence – an update of previous research published in 2020

Signage

Recreational hazard and risk communication is a focus for the Forum’s Signage sub-group. Signage is frequently viewed as the go-to solution for communicating visitor safety risks and hazards, is installed widely around the country, and often recommended by Coroners. Signage has been created in many different styles over time, resulting in inconsistency, and potentially limiting its effectiveness.

There is a lack of agreed best practice in outdoor land safety signage in New Zealand, and the Signage sub-group identified an opportunity to develop a best practice guide for the sector.

  • Work is currently underway on an easy-to-use practical best practice guide for managing effective outdoor land safety signs in New Zealand recreation settings.
  • In preparation for this work the Signage sub-group commissioned a literature review to identify factors that increase the effectiveness of safety signage.

Read the literature review (PDF, 1,094K).

Behaviour Change

Many recreational land-based safety incidents may be prevented if different decisions were made.

Decisions that could affect the safe outcome of an experience are often made well in advance or they can happen during the trip.  Human behaviour is incredibly complex. Theories and models try to explain aspects of what shapes decisions and behaviour. This includes the ways we process information, how we make decisions and what information we consider during decision-making.

The sub-group is learning more about behavioural insights before it plans collaborative work.

A useful list of approaches and resources around Behavioural Insights can be found here: Behavioural insights | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC)