Acknowledgement of Risk
By staying or using our facilities, you acknowledge:
You understand the natural risks involved in bush trails, uneven terrain, water, and geothermal hot springs.
Rotota provides warnings and tries to maintain safe conditions but cannot guarantee a risk-free environment.
You accept responsibility for your own safety and that of your group.
Your Responsibilities
Read and obey all safety notices and signage.
Stay alert to changing conditions (weather, water levels, geothermal signs).
Keep children under close supervision.
Use suitable footwear, clothing, and equipment where applicable.
Leave no trace: protect the environment; respect wildlife and ecosystems.
If you have any questions about safety or hazards during your stay, or if you notice something unsafe, please let the caretaker know immediately. We want everyone to have a safe, memorable, and positive experience.
General Safety
Our walkways are gravel or grass only. There are no paved paths, so surfaces may be uneven, slippery when wet, and may shift.
Some walkways, especially nature trails and bush walks, have no handrails. Please be very careful, especially on inclines or near edges.
Children should be supervised at all times, particularly on slopes, steps, near water, or where the terrain is steep or unstable.
Wear sturdy footwear suited to uneven ground. Rough terrain, gravel, roots, branches, and natural obstacles are common.
Be aware of changing weather. Rain can make paths slippery and more hazardous.
Bush Walks & Nature Trails
These provide wonderful opportunities to explore, but also carry risks.
Stay on marked tracks. Straying off track increases risk of slips, falls, getting lost, or encountering unstable terrain or vegetation.
Trails may be narrow, exposed to the elements, or cross through bush with limited visibility.
Carry appropriate clothing (layers, waterproofs), footwear, and supplies (water, snacks, first-aid).
Let someone know your walking plan and estimated return time.
Water Areas & Hot Springs
We provide access to Lake Ohakuri and to several geothermal hot springs. Please treat all water zones with caution.
Swim at your own risk. There are no lifeguards on duty. All decisions to enter, swim, or soak are yours.
Always supervise children closely in and near water. Even shallow water can be dangerous.
Be aware of underwater hazards (rocks, sudden drop-offs, submerged logs, uneven lake bottom). Enter unknown water feet first.
Hot springs can pose risks: high temperatures, slippery surfaces, scalding pools, buried steam vents. Test water first, stay within safe temperatures, avoid deep or unstable edges.
Respect posted signs and warnings. Some pools or areas may be closed or dangerous at certain times due to geothermal activity, water levels, or seasonal variation.
Water Safety Code – NZ Guidelines
We follow the principles of the New Zealand Water Safety Code.
Here are key points to help you stay safe:
Know how to float — if you get into difficulty, floating on your back with ears in water helps.
Find the safest place — assess conditions before entering water. Look for safe entry/exit points.
If in doubt, stay out — rough weather, unseen hazards, weak swimmers: better to stay dry.
Take care of yourself and others — swim with a buddy; watch children; wear lifejackets where appropriate.
Know how to get help — carry a means of communication; know local emergency number; understand basic self-rescue.
Geothermal Hazards
Geothermal areas bring unique risks. We monitor them, but nature is unpredictable.
Stay on established paths around the grounds, especially around the fumeroles.
Don’t touch water or mud that looks hot or boiling. Steam vents may be hidden.
Be aware that ground may shift, be fragile, or have thin crusts that could collapse.
Respect all signs and barriers placed around hazardous areas.
Sun Safety at Rotota
Sun clubs need to be especially careful about adverse effects to UV radiation, and we advocate for the same precautions advised by SunSmart and the Cancer Society.
Keep safe by being sun smart when you are outside from September to April, especially from 10am to 4pm when the sun’s UV rays are most fierce. Remember, you can still get sunburnt on cloudy or cool days.
Slop on plenty of sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going outside.
- Use SPF30+ broad spectrum sunscreen.
- Reapply sunscreen every two hours and after being in water or sweating.
We may be a naturist club, but covering up is not frowned upon if it’s for sun protection!
Rotota’s Covid-19 Response Plan
Last updated February 4th, 2022
The purpose of this plan is to provide the Rotota Committee and Manager, as well as Rotota members and guests, with guidelines on what steps are to be taken in the scenarios described below. This Covid-19 Response Plan will likely require ongoing adjustments and updates, considering this is an unprecedented and rapidly evolving situation.
General Protection Guidelines
Ministry of Health guidelines recommend the continued use of masks in indoor settings unless specifically eating and/or drinking.
The use of sanitiser when entering/exiting the clubhouse, and all ablution blocks is an important measure.
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, do not come to Rotota:
Coughing
Sneezing or runny nose
Fever
Sore throat
Shortness of breath
Rotota will continue to follow the Covid Protection Framework (CPF), requiring vaccine passes from members and guests while under the red or orange settings. This may be reviewed at any time.
Scenario 1: The Ministry of Health contacts the club to notify us that covid a positive person has recently visited Rotota.
i) This is likely to involve a phone call from the Ministry of Health’s Contact tracers to the club phone (likely to be answered by the Manager). Collect as much information as possible including phone numbers and email addresses of contact tracing support staff.
ii) Manager immediately to contact the President, Secretary, Privacy Officer, Health & Safety Officer to notify them then forward any emails from the Ministry of Health.
iii) The Secretary sends out an email to all members advising them of the dates that a Covid-19 positive person was at Rotota and if any members visited the grounds during this time but didn’t fill out the visitor book, or scan in to contact Rotota’s Manager immediately. Also include details on which facilities have been closed until they can be deep cleaned. Have this information also added to Rotota’s private Facebook page.
Note: The affected person(s) will be asked if they will permit their name being included in any information released. This permission will be supplied by that person in writing, eg, in the form of an email.
iv) The Manager will close facilities used by the Covid-19 positive person (using “DANGER” tape located in the carport tool shed) and arrange for a deep clean.
v) The Manager will collate a visitor list for the period in question by checking the clubhouse visitor book, Covid sign-in box and booking list. The Ministry of Health will likely want this information.
vi) A Committee Member with assistance of the Manager, will phone guests and members who were on the grounds at the same time as the Covid-19 positive person. They will pass on information from the Ministry of Health. They will share details of the Covid-19 positive person’s activities on the grounds but not their name unless permission has been given, in writing, from the Covid-19 positive person – this will help determine whether they are a close contact. Rotota will be able to contact these people much more quickly than the Ministry of Health contact tracers.
The Manager directly liaises with the committee point person to supply a list of possible contacts. At the time of writing,this will be the Works Manager, with the President as a back-up if required.
Scenario 2: Whilst at Rotota, a member or guest receives a notification from the Ministry of the Health that they are a close contact of a covid-19 positive case.
i) They are to immediately inform the Manager of the notification, wear a mask and maintain 2m physical distancing.
ii) They are to inform the Manager of all places and persons they were in close contact with whilst at Rotota.
iii) They should promptly leave the grounds and return home to follow Ministry of Health guidelines. No member or guest is to self-isolate at Rotota.
Scenario 3: A member or guest begins to present Covid-19 symptoms while on the grounds.
They should promptly leave the grounds and return home to complete testing and self-isolation. No member or guest is to self-isolate at Rotota.
They must immediately inform the Manager of any positive test received and describe any places and persons that were close contact. This will allow the club to quickly respond
Contacting members and guests
i) A Committee Member with assistance of the Manager, will phone guests and members that are identified as close contacts.
ii) The Secretary will send out a group email to all members advising them of the dates that a person deemed a close contact was on the grounds or a positive test result is received. This information is also shared to Rotota’s private Facebook page.
Communication of the plan
All members and guests will be informed of the RSC Covid Response Plan February 2022. Guests will be required to acknowledge the acceptance of this plan before coming to the grounds.
Club Manager
The Manager lives on site and has contained facilities, with a wide buffer zone around the cottage and excellent communications including a rescue beacon in case phones fail. He/She is entitled to self-isolate at the caretaker’s cottage.
Rapid Antigen Testing
Rotota will review the use of rapid antigen tests (RAT) at a future date.