New Zealand Rivers Association
New ZealandRiver Guiding Industry
Standards and safety, qualifications and jobs, and a united voice for the rivers — NZRA is the professional body connecting commercial river guiding across Aotearoa.
One home for the river guiding industry
Standards, qualifications, safety, jobs and advocacy — everything New Zealand's commercial river guides need, in one place.
Qualifications
Raft guide awards from Grade 2 through to Senior Grade 4/5. Enrol online and track your progress through each unit.
View Qualifications →River Rescue Workshops
Annual North & South Island workshops. Essential for all NZ river guides — training and assessment.
Upcoming Workshops →Job Vacancies
Find guiding positions across New Zealand. Companies advertise roles for qualified guides.
Browse Jobs →Become a Guide
Learn about pathways into commercial river guiding — polytechnic courses or direct operator training.
Learn More →NZ Operators
Directory of commercial river operators across New Zealand's world-class rivers.
View Operators →Guide Registry
Verify a guide's qualifications. Search current NZRA holders and legacy NZRRP registered guides.
Search Registry →
Advocates for the industry
Standing up for river guides
NZRA represents the commercial river guiding industry at the tables that matter. Your membership keeps a unified voice in the room with regulators, government, and safety bodies.
Regulators & government
A voice with WorkSafe and the Adventure Activity Regulations framework — the rules commercial river guides operate under were shaped with NZRA at the table.
Free-flowing rivers
NZRA advocates for the protection of free-flowing rivers. A healthy industry depends on healthy rivers — so we fight for both.
The qualification framework
Originally developed with Te Mahi Ako. In 2026 NZRA took full ownership of the qualification to keep it fit-for-industry and in the hands of the people who run it.
Building the infrastructure
Operational, equipment, and guide competence standards — plus the digital platform you're on right now. NZRA builds the systems the industry runs on.
For River Guiding Operators
Manage your guides, track their qualifications, and advertise job vacancies — all from one company dashboard.