Re: [Paddlewise] Trips - hosts and leaders

John Kirk-Anderson <jka_at_netaccess.co.nz> wrote:
>While we haven't - yet - stumbled down the crazy path of litigation, 
>the walk has begun.

This asinine and destructive American plague has already infected our
neighbours to the north.  I'm sorry to hear the symptoms have been
spotted in your fair country.

>Last week a Coroner's Inquest into the death of a skier from
California
heard calls from his family for someone to be held responsible. He was
skiing alone on a groomed field, and no-one saw what happened, but his 
body was recovered from a small creek. The family asked that "all"
hazards be identified and marked.

I hope the Kiwi courts rule that he was personally responsible.  

Dammit, I liked not seeing warning signs all over New Zealand!  I've
never played with a helicopter while in a kayak here in the US.  Know
why?  Omnipresent litigation!

The family is asking the court to rule to change the very attitude that
probably drew their beloved deceased to your country in the first
place.

>Hopefully, common sense will win, but for how long?

For how long would you like New Zealand to remain the adventure sports
capital of the world?  If things get too sanitized, it will be just
another California.  (apologies to Californians...but not to your
population of lawyers or state government!)

Close your borders to us Yanks before you ever consider sanitizing your
country to protect us from ourselves!!!!! (and yes, you can quote me on
that!)

Shawn
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