Overseas thrill-seekers need cover, says lawyer

By ALEXIS GRANT

Travel insurance is a must for adventure-enthusiasts visiting New Zealand, an Auckland lawyer says.

New Zealand is a hotspot for tourists looking for a thrill, offering bungy jumping, caving, skiing and various other adventure activities, .

But most visitors from overseas do not realise they will not be able to sue should their trip take a wrong turn, Christine Meechan of law firm Bell Gully told this week's International Bar Association conference in Auckland.

Under Accident Compensation Corporation legislation, visitors who are injured while in New Zealand can be covered for medical treatment during their stay, but cannot sue for personal injury or collect earnings-related income compensation.

"It comes as a complete surprise to most tourists," Ms Meechan said.

The New Zealand tourism industry brings in about $16.5 billion each year, according to the New Zealand Tourism Industry Association.

Panel speaker Marie Hauerslev, managing director of Sydney Euro-Center, noted: "If you don't have travel insurance, the bill will come. You can financially ruin a family if they're not aware of what the risks are."

Nick Andreef, director of Skyjump and Waitomo Adventures, said the best insurance for adventure tourists was to use common sense: "If it looks dodgy, it probably is."