Cancellation Policy
Payment Terms
A 25% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking to secure your place on a course or trip.
By making a booking, you agree to pay the full course or trip fee in accordance with these terms and conditions.
The remaining balance must be paid no later than 21 days before the scheduled start date of the course or trip.
If full payment is not received by the due date, Canterbury Kayaking reserves the right to cancel the booking and offer the place to another participant. Any deposit paid will be forfeited.
All prices are quoted in New Zealand Dollars (NZD) and include 15% GST.
Payments may be made by direct bank transfer, Visa, or Mastercard. Credit card payments incur a 2.9% processing fee.
Cancellation and Rescheduling Policy
At Canterbury Kayaking, we understand that plans can change due to injury, illness, work commitments, family circumstances, travel disruptions, or other unforeseen events.
As a small business, course numbers are limited and cancellations at short notice are often difficult to fill. This policy helps ensure we can continue to operate while remaining fair to all participants.
We strongly recommend participants obtain appropriate travel insurance and cancellation insurance where available.
No refunds, credits, transfers, or reschedules will be provided except where expressly stated in this policy or where required by New Zealand law.
COVID-19 and Infectious Illnesses
For most illnesses, injuries, and personal circumstances, the standard cancellation and rescheduling policy below applies.
However, if you are unable to attend due to a contagious illness such as COVID-19, influenza, gastroenteritis, or another infectious condition, Canterbury Kayaking may offer one complimentary transfer to a future course date, provided:
- You notify us before the course begins.
- You provide a medical certificate or doctor's note confirming you are unfit to attend due to an infectious illness.
- A suitable future course date is available.
This complimentary transfer is offered at Canterbury Kayaking's discretion and applies only to infectious illnesses. It does not apply to injuries, non-infectious medical conditions, work commitments, travel disruptions, family commitments, or other reasons for cancellation.
Cancelling Your Booking
If you wish to cancel your booking for any reason, including illness, injury, travel delays, or personal circumstances, you may cancel and receive a refund of any payments made excluding the 25% non-refundable deposit, provided we receive notice at least 21 days before the scheduled start date of your course or trip.
Cancellations made less than 21 days before the scheduled start date are not eligible for a refund. Any outstanding balance remains payable.
You may transfer your booking to another suitable participant at no charge, provided you arrange the transfer and notify Canterbury Kayaking at least 24 hours before the course or trip begins.
Discretionary Refunds and Credits
If a booking is cancelled within the 21-day cancellation period and Canterbury Kayaking is able to fill the course or trip, Canterbury Kayaking may, at its sole discretion, offer a partial refund or future course credit less reasonable administration costs.
No refund, credit, or transfer is guaranteed, regardless of whether the course or trip is subsequently filled.
Partial Attendance
If you arrive late, leave early, miss any sessions, withdraw from the course, or are removed from the course for safety reasons, no refunds, credits, or reschedules will be provided for the unused portion of the course.
Participant Requirements
All participants must meet the fitness, skill, equipment, and safety requirements for the course or trip.
If, in the opinion of Canterbury Kayaking staff, you are unable to safely participate, fail to follow safety instructions, do not meet the required prerequisites, or are removed from the course or trip for any safety-related reason, no refunds, credits, or reschedules will be provided.
Rescheduling Your Booking
If you need to move your booking to another date, we require at least 21 days notice before the scheduled start date.
Bookings rescheduled at least 21 days before the start date may be transferred to another available date upon payment of a $49 administration fee.
Requests received less than 21 days before the scheduled start date are treated as a cancellation and are not eligible for transfer or credit, except where the infectious illness provisions above apply.
If Canterbury Kayaking Postpones a Course or Trip
All courses and trips are dependent on suitable weather, river levels, and other safety considerations.
Your safety, and the safety of our staff, is our highest priority. If conditions are unsuitable, Canterbury Kayaking may postpone, modify, or cancel an activity.
If this occurs, participants will be offered a transfer to another available date at no additional charge.
Refunds, credits, and cash reimbursements are not available where Canterbury Kayaking postpones a course or trip due to weather, river conditions, safety concerns, or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control.
Participants are responsible for ensuring they have sufficient flexibility to attend a rescheduled date.
Important Information for Travellers
If you are travelling from outside the region, we strongly recommend booking flexible flights, accommodation, and transport arrangements.
Weather and river conditions can change rapidly, and no course or trip can be guaranteed to proceed until conditions have been assessed.
Canterbury Kayaking is not responsible for any costs incurred by participants as a result of a postponed, modified, or cancelled course or trip, including but not limited to flights, accommodation, rental vehicles, fuel, meals, lost wages, or other travel-related expenses.
Limited Availability Before Coast to Coast Race Day
As the Coast to Coast race approaches, available replacement dates may become limited.
If a postponed course or trip cannot be rescheduled to a date that suits you, no refund, credit, or reimbursement will be provided.
Exceptional Circumstances
In rare cases, conditions may deteriorate unexpectedly after a course or trip has commenced or after participants have travelled to the start location.
If Canterbury Kayaking is required to cancel, abandon, shorten, or significantly modify an activity after it has commenced, no refunds or credits will be provided.
A minimum charge of $100 per person may apply to cover costs already incurred, including staffing, transport, accommodation, permits, and logistics.
We always aim to make cancellation decisions before departure wherever possible. However, weather forecasts and river conditions can occasionally change unexpectedly, requiring a decision to be made after travel has commenced or once the activity is underway.
Changes to These Terms and Conditions
Canterbury Kayaking reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time.
Any changes will apply to future bookings made after the revised Terms and Conditions have been published.
For existing bookings, the Terms and Conditions in effect at the time the booking was made will continue to apply, unless otherwise required by law.