Page 1 of 4
Title / Demonstrate abseiling knowledge and skills
Level / 3 / Credits / 5
Purpose / This unit standard is primarily intended for people such as club or youth group leaders, teachers, or leaders at an outdoor activity centre who provide abseil experiences.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: describe abseil equipment used in New Zealand; prepare to abseil; construct solid abseil anchor systems; check an abseil route for hazards and use a releasable abseil system; and demonstrate abseiling skills.
Classification / Outdoor Recreation > Rock Climbing
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1Definitions
Current industry practice refers to practices promoted through industry national forums, newsletters, and assessments and which are generally accepted by experienced practitioners as safe and relevant. These will be consistent with any applicable regulatory requirements and/or manufacturer’s recommendations. Applicable regulatory requirements and manufacturer’s recommendations may be specified in performance criteria where required for particular emphasis.
Abseiling refers to abseils at venues where:
regular checks of anchors are completed by the organisation managing the venue OR there is easy walking access to the abseil anchors; there are fixed anchors (eg bolts, chains, bollards, waratahs), trees or threads that have been inspected in accordance with organisational requirements;
the candidate has visited the site previously and had their set-up approved by a abseiling instructor or similarly qualified technical advisor;
personal safety can be set up simply using fixed anchors, trees or threads.
2Abseils should be selected where:
- participants are within 30 minutes walk of a road
- expert assistance is on call and emergency service would be available within one hour.
3For assessment purposes, the candidate’s behaviour must demonstrate environmental care and consideration of other climbers and users of the area, consistent with the New Zealand Alpine Club Code of Conduct, the Environmental Care Code, and current industry practice.
4The following legislation, codes, and other publications are relevant to this unit standard:
Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992;
Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001;
Department of Conservation,New Zealand Environmental Care Code, available at
The New Zealand Alpine Club, Code of Conduct for Rock Climbers, available at
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Describe abseil equipment used in New Zealand.
Evidence requirements
1.1Abseil equipment used in New Zealandis described in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations and current industry practice.
Rangeequipment includes but is not limited to – rope (static and dynamic), slings, carabiners, belay devices, harnesses (sit, chest, full), helmet, Prusiks;
description includes but is not limited to – properties, limitations, common use, minimisation of wear, damage checking, storage.
Outcome 2
Prepare to abseil.
Evidence requirements
2.1Equipment is selected and justified, and is fitted as required to suit oneself, in accordance with current industry practice.
2.2Equipment safety checks are carried out in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations and current industry practice.
Outcome 3
Construct solid abseil anchor systems.
Evidence requirements
3.1Knots and hitches commonly used in an abseil system are tied, and their purposes and limitations are described in accordance with current industry practice.
Rangeknots and hitches include but are not limited to – clove hitch, Italian hitch, figure eight, half hitch, bowline, Prusik, overhand, tape knot.
3.2Safe abseil systems are securely constructed in accordance with current industry practice.
Rangeevidence is required for a minimum of two.
3.3Demonstration of the set-up and use of personal safety protection while rigging abseil systems is in accordance with current industry practice.
Outcome 4
Check an abseil route for hazards and use a releasable abseil system.
Evidence requirements
4.1Abseil route is checked for hazards in accordance with current industry practice.
4.2Use of abseil releasable system is in accordance with current industry practice.
Outcome 5
Demonstrate abseiling skills.
Evidence requirements
5.1Attachment of self and abseil device to the abseil line is in accordance with current industry practice.
5.2Descent is safe, smooth, and confident, and demonstrates the use of a variety of friction devices in accordance with current industry practice.
Rangeminimum of two friction devices;
friction devices may include but are not limited to – figure eight, stitch plate, ATC, grigri.
5.3Demonstration of the set-up and use of personal safety protection to abseil is in accordance with current industry practice.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – the use of a Prusik.
Planned review date / 31 December 2015Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 20 August 2010 / N/A
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference / 0099
This AMAP can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Consent requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact Skills Active Aotearoa Limited if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Skills Active Aotearoa LimitedSSB Code 101576 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018