Clinton Smith died after falling during a free climb on the West Coast, but his death could have been prevented if he had worn a helmet, had a spotter and had a climbing rope.
A coroner's finding, with the aid of the Mountain Safety Council, on Smith has called free climbing, climbing without a support rope, as "inherently dangerous" and should not be encouraged.
Clinton Smith died in Wellington Hospital ICU on April 6, 2017, after taking a fall while climbing at Charleston on the West Coast of the South Island on April 3.
The climbing face is described as a "U" shape, about 15 metres in height.
During the climb with two other people, Smith was the only one to undertake the climb without any support ropes.