Avalanche-related fatalities are of special interest to MSC, given one of our key prevention tools is the NZ Avalanche Advisory. Unlike the other activities we monitor, here we have included both recreational and commercial tragedies. This provides us with a more holistic view of the avalanche phenomenon, which spans several different land-based activity types. Avalanche fatalities over the last 10 years have involved mountaineers, backcountry skiers/snowboarders and trampers.
Instead of presenting counts by financial year, we use the calendar year to keep the winter period within the same annual timeframe.
The 5-year average is 0.2 fatalities per year, and the 10-year is 0.9. However, if we isolate only recreational activities, there has not been an avalanche fatality since.
Note: The 2024 data is provisional and subject to change.
