For all new applicants, please fill out the SGNZ Stunt Grading Application and fill in the probation criteria. Please contact any of the council members or use our contact page if you have any questions regarding your application.
Before filling out and submitting this application, please first contact the guild for information on eligibility criteria. Probationary membership is subject to certain specifications and all applications are reviewed and accepted/declined by the SGNZ grading committee.
HSWA outlines the Primary Duty of Care for a PCBU in Section 36. One of these duties includes a PCBU ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable the provision of any information, training, instruction, or supervision that is necessary to protect all persons from risks to their health and safety arising from work carried out as part of the conduct of the business or undertaking.
In the context of Stunt Coordinators, Stunt Performers and Stunt Riggers this Primary Duty of Care includes an employer’s/PCBU’s responsibility to engage people with adequate industry experience to perform the role of Stunt Performing, Rigging, Coordinating and Safety Supervising. To do otherwise, in SGNZ view, is to knowingly increase the risk to persons on set by engaging individual persons that have not provided any documented peer reviewed evidence of their industry recognised skills and experience, training, instruction and supervision on Stunt or Safety related issues in the Film and TV industry.
In the occurrence of an injury, incident or event, a PCBU may be found to have committed an offence against HSWA of reckless conduct in respect of duty or failing to comply with duty. A person who commits an offence relating to duties is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 5 years or a fine not exceeding $600,000, or both, for an individual who is a PCBU or an officer of a PCBU.
Performing work in a safe manner is also an employees’ responsibility and stunt personnel who knowingly seek and agree to employment above their graded level are potentially breaching their duty to work safely. This includes agreeing to perform dual roles, for example Coordinating Stunts as well as being the designated Head Rigger on set.
By following this Health and Safety Plan and the New Zealand Stunt Guild Grading Procedure Manual, compliance with HSWA can be achieved, and employees and employers are meeting their duties under HSWA.