I’ve heard the same about off piste / touring skiers and boarders in New Zealand - an almost across the board opinion that it’s just not needed.
Perhaps lack of the scale of access to high mountains that the Alps / Pyrenees have reduces fatal incidents / reporting?
In the past I’ve always found the most persuasive argument towards friends and colleagues has been the rather grim habit of letting them know every time I read (on this site) about another fatal avalanche in the Alps.
Perhaps similar information on number / circumstances of deaths in Norway could help persuade them?