“People can avoid most injuries by taking a moment to think – have a ‘hmmm.’”
I stumbled on the most extraordinary information, today, and am still rubbing my eyes with disbelief. Get this, New Zealand, east and slightly south from Australia, very far west from the United States of America, has an Accident Compensation Corporation that pays its country’s surfers when they get hurt.
Pays them to the tune of $38 million spread around 27,000 New Zealander surfers, over five years, with 2020 being the highest single year with $9.3 million going to 5498 injured rippahs.
ACC, while seemingly happy to do, is also looking to lessen the surf to injury ratio and launching a new campaign named “Preventable.”
According to a recent interview, ACC’s head of injury prevention, Isaac Carlson, says it’s estimated 90 per cent of injuries are predictable and therefore preventable.
“People can avoid most injuries by taking a moment to think – have a ‘hmmm,’” says Carlson.
“It is all about taking a moment to think about what you’re about to do, what could go wrong and taking action to make sure it turns out well.
“We want New Zealanders to enjoy their lives and have fun with their whanau and friends and we want to put the wero (challenge) out there. We can all prevent most harm happening in the first place.”
I’m still reeling.
Becoming injured as a surfer in New Zealand seems like a viable career path.
Negatron? How much extra do you make at your injured surfer side gig? Ever think about going full time?
Very cool.
What a club!!
Will they let me in for retirement?
The evils of socialism strikes again! Whats next, tax credits for surf trips? Compassionate healthcare? Defeating Covid? Psht.
If you see me smoking the base of my damn ray finlay on the Outsides rock jump gimme a finger pistol – won’t be the fuckin first time and I’ll need the support
you should do that more often…
Seems there’s more money
Getting injured in En Zed
Than on the Que Ess
Wait, you don’t pay tax?
just heard a story, that Heinz bought every bottle available so none of the competition could get any, then he put them all on a boat, sent them out to sea and sunk the boat. Then he went to the govt. to show them that his ketchup was all natural stuff, and showed them how the other companies he was challenging were loading lead and other shit in their product. The beginning of the FDA, from what I was told..
There were so many firsts going on back then. There wasn’t a lot of trust in canning back then. Cans were soldered with lead. Heinz was the first to use clear glass bottle for his ketchup. It’s funny how letting consumers see what they’re buying was so revolutionary.
ACC also works for tourists who accidentally damage themselves. The taxpayer will pay your medical bills.
A handy reciprocal deal with Aus, too.
Might team up on a ski. Would need a partner for the Bar etc.
A lot of people missing one finger in this Country Chas.
Back in the day it was common to have a wood chopping “accident” for a pay out
Umm, the Yakuza call that Yubitsume.
Best of luck with the big move, bro. Sounds like a mare. You coming back to Rags? (In that case we might be seeing more of each other, possibly maybe).
(I went from debilitating agony, taking 5min to even get out of bed, to surfing a few days later. Poof!, gone.)
How much has the New Zealand accent compensation fund paid out?
Gold!
Over sucks billion
Thet’s a lot
Yeh yeh yeh!
A seppo at a South Island river mouth asked me if I was Aussie today… ??? Not sure if I sound more intelligent or offensive than a typical KoiWi
North or south of Banks Pen?
Few hours south, fun as hell but softish
But recall they were set up to work as an independent body seperate of the general ledger of the government. They have over $40 billion that they actively invest. They also receive levies from motor vehicle licensing, petrol and employment. So it is self funded machine. Not a hand out.
It’s great, isn’t it. You healed up well?
Rocky Wellington secret spot 4 weeks ago. Got smashed onto sharp rock pinnacle on my back. Two broken ribs, and a herniated disk. ACC got off very cheap, with only one doc’s visit and three to the physio. Was surfing a week later, yew!
Speaking of Indies, did you surf it last Wednesday? We happened to be visiting, and heck was it pumping. Saw one wave a bee’s dick from connecting into Whale Bay.
Lol you gnarly bastards
Twinkle toes logger incident at 1 foot whanga beach – pop goes my knee, ignore it for a year and ACC still paid for keyhole – good as new
Well, yeah, it won’t get you on the cover of Hardman Quarterly, hehe.
I got centrefold in Wimp Weekly – Mum was overjoyed
Bless her
Holy shit.
I’ve had to let my family’s hospital plan lapse over the past few months due to self employment downturn, at risk of lifetime bankruptcy in case of major hospitalisation.
But scored some sick uncrowded pits this afternoon so all good.
It’s pretty much run as an insurance company.
Being self-employed, I pay over $2grand a year into it for full accident cover and have had them pay for a couple of operations, physio and recuperation income over the years.
Ya gotta keep on their case to receive benefits though or they’ll just ignore ya…
Sounds good, how do I get in on some of that free government cheese? Any paths to citizenship for a 43 year old has been/never was with no marketable skills?
It’s not free. We all pay via car rego, etc etc. You’ll soon get used to seeing ‘ACC Levy’ on a a lot of official forms.
Shh, you’ll spoil the illusion!
they get us all in the end
Me: I’ve broken my neck.
Acc: oh, you have too. Got a medical certificate?
Me: Yep here you go.
Acc: I see you’re self employed hmm, well we’ll pay for some panadol and 1% of your physio.
Me: But, but I’ve been paying Acc for years …
Acc: Don’t you have a job to go to ?
Have low back pain used to surf feels like. Send check, the names firelipe but my best friends call me Cash
I’m willing to endure traumatic brain injury learning the haka dance on a sandy beach. How much the payout for this particular endeavor? And do I need full citizenship first, or will the traditional 90-day-visa on arrival suffice?