New Zealand Mountain Safety Council

What New Zealand Mountain Safety Council does

New Zealand Mountain Safety Council (MSC) is a non-profit incorporated society founded in 1965 and headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand. The organization provides outdoor safety education, resources, tools, and applied research for land-based recreation across New Zealand, serving trampers, hikers, backcountry skiers and snowboarders, alpine hunters, and general outdoor users. MSC is governed by a council of 24+ member organizations including ACC, the Department of Conservation, NZ Police, NZ Defence Force, MetService, the NZ Alpine Club, and Land Search & Rescue NZ, and is funded through member contributions and project-specific grants (notably from MBIE). All MSC services and resources are provided free of charge to the public.

MSC's core products are Plan My Walk, a free trip-planning website and mobile application that helps users select tracks suited to their abilities, check weather alerts, build gear lists, and share plans with emergency contacts; and the New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZAA), a national avalanche forecasting service covering 13 alpine regions that publishes danger ratings, anticipated avalanche problems, sliding hazards, and (since July 2026) confidence statements. Supporting products include the Adventure Voice outdoor research community, river safety and alpine hunting resource libraries, firearms safety training (particularly for duck hunting season), and an award-winning video series. The Plan My Walk app was extended in February 2026 with satellite connectivity through One NZ and Spark/Starlink direct-to-cell services, enabling use in areas without cellular coverage.

The business model is grant- and member-funded public service delivery rather than commercial revenue. MSC's go-to-market is community-led, combining owned digital channels (website, app, social media on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn), content marketing, media releases, an email newsletter, and partnerships with outdoor retailers (Kathmandu, Macpac, Bivouac, Torpedo7) that distribute safety messaging in-store and via their own channels. The organization also engages in research-driven prevention campaigns—demonstrably reducing firearms shooting incidents during duck season from a 2.1/year 10-year average to 0.7/year over a 5-year average—and participates in international forums such as the Outdoor Safety Forum.

Name

New Zealand Mountain Safety Council

Legal name

New Zealand Mountain Safety Council

Website

https://mountainsafety.org.nz

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

New Zealand Mountain Safety Council is a Wellington-based non-profit, founded 1965, that provides free outdoor safety education, trip-planning tools (Plan My Walk app), and a 13-region avalanche forecasting service for NZ trampers, backcountry skiers, hunters and general outdoor users, funded by government and peak-body members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Safety Services

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Mountain Safety & Patrol Services (Avalanche Training, Rescue, Medical) (THAAAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hiking, Trekking & Mountain Guiding (THAJABAA), Guided Backcountry & Off-Piste Services (Ski Touring, Splitboarding, Heli/Cat Skiing) (THAAAJAD)

Keywords

• Outdoor safety education
• Avalanche forecasting
• Trip planning tools
• Hunting safety training
• Mountain safety research

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Core Funding: MSC is funded through core funders and project-specific funders including government agencies and partner organizations. The organization is a non-profit incorporated society.
2. Public Safety Services: Free safety resources, tools, and information provided to the public. Revenue is not generated from customers but through funders who support prevention work.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

New Zealand Mountain Safety Council is a non-profit incorporated society that provides free outdoor safety education, trip planning tools, avalanche forecasting, and safety research to people engaging in land-based recreation in New Zealand. Its primary digital products are the Plan My Walk trip planning website/app and the NZ Avalanche Advisory forecasting service covering 13 alpine regions, complemented by safety resources covering river crossings, alpine hunting, firearms, and communications/emergency devices.

Product overview

New Zealand Mountain Safety Council operates as a safety education organization offering multiple interconnected products and resources. The core offerings include Plan My Walk (a free trip planning website and app), the NZ Avalanche Advisory (avalanche forecasting service across 13 regions), and the Adventure Voice research community. Supporting these are specialized safety resources covering river safety, alpine hunting, communications/emergency devices, and firearms safety training. The organization distributes safety education through video series, online courses, downloadable resources, and community engagement programs, all guided by evidence-based research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Plan My Walk A free trip planning website and mobile app that helps users build personalized plans for New Zealand tracks, find routes suited to their skill level, receive track alerts, weather forecasts, gear lists, and share plans with emergency contacts. Accessible globally via web and mobile app, with satellite connectivity through One NZ and Spark services for remote areas.
• NZ Avalanche Advisory (NZAA) A national avalanche forecasting service providing danger ratings, anticipated avalanche problems, sliding hazards, and confidence statements across 13 alpine regions during winter months, hosted at avalanche.net.nz. Includes a public observation tool allowing backcountry users to submit avalanche and snowpack condition observations.
• River Safety Resources Educational resources and e-learning tools covering river crossing skills, including techniques for assessing river safety, crossing methods, and decision-making frameworks for outdoor adventurers in New Zealand.
• Alpine Hunting Safety Resources Comprehensive safety guidance and planning resources for alpine hunting activities covering route planning, seasonal considerations, essential equipment, descent route selection, and firearms safety for hunters in New Zealand.
• Firearms Safety Training Firearms safety training delivery and annual safety campaigns focused on duck hunting season opening weekends, promoting the seven basic rules of firearms safety, delivered in partnership with Fish & Game NZ.
• Communications & Emergency Devices Guidance Information and guidance on communication devices for outdoor safety including mobile phones, personal locator beacons (PLBs), satellite messengers, and satellite phones, with details on when and how to use emergency communication equipment in the New Zealand backcountry.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced firearms shooting incidents from 2.1/year (10-year average) to 0.7/year (5-year average) following duck season safety campaigns
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment injury compensation agency and founding member organization of MSC's governance council
• MetServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Zealand's national meteorological service providing weather forecasts integral to outdoor safety planning
• NZ PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw enforcement agency and council member supporting search and rescue coordination
• Department of Conservation (DOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment department managing conservation lands and outdoor recreation areas, co-developing visitor safety initiatives
• NZ Alpine ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeak body organization for alpine climbing enthusiasts providing expertise and member outreach
• Recreation AotearoacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational recreation organization representing outdoor recreation interests across New Zealand
• NZ Defence ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilitary organization contributing to search and rescue operations and outdoor safety initiatives
• NZ Mountain Guides AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional mountain guiding organization providing alpine expertise and safety input
• Ski Areas Association NZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresenting ski areas providing avalanche rescue teams and backcountry safety coordination
• NZ Outdoor Instructors Association (NZOIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional body for outdoor instructors setting standards for safety and training
• Tourism Industry AotearoaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourism industry peak body representing operators who bring visitors to outdoor destinations
• Land Search & Rescue NZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization coordinating land-based search and rescue operations across New Zealand
• Outdoor Access Commission (Herenga a Nuku)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommission responsible for outdoor access on private and public land
• KathmanduminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOutdoor retailer partner for distributing safety campaigns and messaging to customers via in-store and social media channels
• MacpacminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOutdoor retailer partner for promoting outdoor safety messaging and campaigns
• Bivouac OutdoorminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew Zealand outdoor retailer distributing safety information to trampers and hikers
• Torpedo7minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOutdoor retailer partner for safety campaign distribution
• Fish & Game NZminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization partnered with MSC for annual duck hunting season safety campaigns
• Education Outdoors NZminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting outdoor education in schools and educational settings

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC): US state-level avalanche forecasting service providing danger ratings, avalanche problems, and backcountry observations for Colorado. Comparable in mission, product surface (forecasting + public observations), and stakeholder ecosystem (ski patrols, guiding associations).
• Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS): UK-funded avalanche forecasting service for Scottish mountain areas, producing daily regional forecasts during winter. Closely mirrors NZMSC's regional avalanche forecasting structure with public safety as the primary mission.
• Mountain Training UK: UK organization that sets standards and delivers training for outdoor recreation leaders, including hill walking, climbing, and mountaineering. A close functional analog to MSC's safety education and training activities for trampers, hunters, and backcountry users.
• Mountain Safety Council (Canada, historical): Historical Canadian counterpart organization focused on outdoor safety education, training, and prevention messaging. Shares MSC's name, founding-era mission, and non-profit governance structure, making it a near-identical institutional peer.
• Avalanche Canada: Canadian national avalanche forecasting and public safety organization running regional danger ratings, public observation tools, and trip planning resources. Operates an almost identical service model to NZMSC's NZAA, including confidence statements that NZMSC explicitly modeled its July 2026 feature after.

Others

• NZ Outdoor Instructors Association (NZOIA): Professional body for outdoor instructors in New Zealand setting training standards; an MSC member organization. Functions as an adjacent ecosystem participant that translates MSC's safety research into instructor certification requirements.
• Garmin (inReach satellite safety devices): Provider of satellite communication and personal locator devices widely used by NZMSC's target audience for emergency signaling. An enabling technology peer that sits at the intersection of MSC's communications-and-emergency-devices guidance resources.
• Outdoor Recreation New Zealand / Recreation Aotearoa: New Zealand's national outdoor recreation umbrella body and an MSC member organization. While it represents the wider industry, it is a complementary stakeholder rather than a competitor—useful as a comparison for ecosystem positioning.

Broad incumbents

• American Alpine Club: Long-established US alpine organization delivering member services, safety education, climbing information, and advocacy. Comparable to MSC in mission scope (alpine safety, education, community), though much larger in membership scale.
• European Avalanche Warning Services (EAWS): Association of European national avalanche forecasting services that sets common standards and shares best practices. A meta-level peer reflecting the international body of practice that NZMSC's NZAA participates in and benchmarks against.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/NZMountainSafetyCouncil
• Facebookfacebook.com/NZMountainSafetyCouncil
• Instagraminstagram.com/nzmountainsafetycouncil

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Zealand Mountain Safety Council