Backpacker’s dad fought for change

THE father of drowned British backpacker Emily Jordan, Chris Jordan, said the news of six more tourists dying was very sad.

Emily Jordan, 21, drowned during a Mad Dog River Boarding trip near Queenstown in 2008. The company was fined almost $150,000 after pleading guilty to two charges under the Health and Safety Act.

The year after Emily’s death, after 37 deaths in New Zealand in four years, Prime Minister John Key ordered a government review of the adventure sector.

New regulations governing commercial adventure activities were enacted in 2011 and operators must pass audits and register with WorkSafe New Zealand.

Chris Jordan, who repeatedly raised concerns about the sector after his daughter’s death, said he was pleased with the outcome of the sector review in 2010 but was disappointed it took so long to implement change and that it relied on operator compliance and registration, rather than governmentled licensing.

He hoped the Fox Glacier crash was not caused by ‘‘issues that used to exist in the industry, like lack of maintenance’’.

‘‘My heart goes out to those families. It’s very upsetting.

‘‘Life doesn’t change. Things don’t get better. It is still very much a part of our life.’’

Emily Jordan