Safety & EOTC
The safety documentation your Board actually asks for
Your school stays legally responsible for student safety on every EOTC trip, even with an external provider. Our job is to make your due diligence effortless: compliant, certified, documented, and ready to attach to your safety plan.
The five pillars
How we keep your students safe
Every pillar is documented and available to your EOTC coordinator before you book.
Compliant & certified
EOTC compliant, WorkSafe compliant and Qualmark GOLD certified, a Surfing New Zealand recognised surf and paddleboard school and Water Safety New Zealand accredited.
Qualified people
Instructors are ISA (International Surfing Association) qualified, Surf Lifesaving awarded and first aid trained, teaching in New Zealand surf since 2002.
Right ratios
A stated 1:4-8 in-water instructor-to-student ratio depending on age, confidence and ability, tightened for juniors and non-swimmers, with every session supervised from a clear vantage point.
Proven risk aware
Over 20 years of operation with no notable health and safety incidents, backed by activity-specific RAMS, a full surf and beach hazard register, and documented emergency, weather and cancellation procedures.
Vetted & insured
Police-vetted staff for every school and overnight program, and full public liability insurance. Documentation supplied with your Proposal Agreement.
Your paperwork, done
Everything your RAMS needs, supplied
We work the way the Ministry of Education EOTC Guidelines expect an external provider to work. Before your trip you receive:
- A dated, activity-specific RAMS for surf and beach sessions: hazard register (rips, currents, tides, sun, cold, equipment, other beach users), risk ratings and controls
- Your Proposal Agreement, recording exactly what we deliver and who is responsible for what
- Our emergency, evacuation and communications procedures
- The instructor qualifications matrix and Police vetting confirmation
- Our weather and cancellation policy, written for surf conditions
Know before you book
Safety questions teachers ask us
Is it safe for non-swimmers?
Yes, with the right structure. Non-swimmers stay in shallow, standing-depth water with a tightened instructor ratio and high-buoyancy soft boards. Water confidence is a learning outcome we plan for, not a prerequisite.
What happens if the weather or surf turns?
We make a documented go/no-go call against our weather and surf conditions matrix the day before, and monitor every aspect live on the day, before and during every session. If conditions exceed limits we move to our sheltered backup location, switch to the beach-based program, or reschedule at no cost. You get the policy in writing before you book.
Who is legally responsible during the session?
Health and safety duties are shared and documented in the Proposal Agreement: we run the water activity under our safety system, and your staff hold pastoral responsibility. Your Board keeps its overall duty, however we take full operational oversight, decisions and safety responsibility on the day. We are experts at what we do and have had no notable health and safety incidents in over 20 years.
Can we see your safety documents before booking?
Yes. Ask and we will send the full pack: sample RAMS, hazard register, emergency action plans, qualifications matrix, standard operating procedures and insurance, before any commitment. We are fully compliant, qualified and extremely experienced.
How do you manage rips and changing conditions during a session?
Instructors assess the beach before every session and set a supervised surf zone away from rips and hazards. Conditions are re-checked throughout the day, and if anything changes the zone moves or the session adapts. Students are also taught to identify rips themselves; it is part of the learning.
What first aid cover is at the beach?
Every instructor is first aid trained and carries surf lifesaving skills, first aid kits are on the beach at every session, and our documented emergency procedures cover communication, evacuation and the nearest medical facilities for each location.
Do you supervise students on the beach as well as in the water?
Our instructors run everything activity-related, in and out of the water. Your teachers and adult helpers hold pastoral care, so between rotations students are always under both layers of supervision. The exact structure is written into your RAMS and proposal document.
Put our documents in front of your Board
Request the safety pack and a proposal in one step. We reply within one school day.