NZRA Senior Grade 4/5 Raft Guide Endorsement

Senior assessment for Grade 4/5 guides. Focuses on planning, trip leadership, and trip leader river rescue. Prerequisite: must hold Grade 4/5 Raft Guide and current River Rescue. Requires 800 hours or 400 trips, half on Grade 4/5 minimum.

Enrolment fee

$750.00incl. GST

Assessment units

Before you enrol

What this award needs, and what comes with it:

Grade 4/5 Raft Guide
Senior Grade 4/5 builds on Grade 4/5. If you already hold Grade 4/5 and it isn’t showing, ask NZRA to add it to your record.
River Rescue Endorsement
Nothing to do and nothing more to pay — your assessor signs off the 8 River Rescue units alongside this award. If you already hold it, it won’t be assessed again.
Current River Rescue Course (last 3 years)
Book a River Rescue Course (Workshop Only is fine for experienced guides). If you did one in the last 3 years that isn’t showing, tell NZRA the date.

How endorsements build on each other · River Rescue course dates

Assessment Units

You will be assessed on the following competency areas.

1. Trip Plan

Develop and discuss a plan for a multi raft trip incorporating SMS, policies, and emergency procedures. Must be completed before Section 2.

River information (section, estimated time, access/consent, hazards, emergency exits)

Guide information (skills and experience of guides on the trip)

Weather and flow information (forecast, current flow, indications of change, impact management)

Communication (equipment, logging intentions, calls to base, driver logistics)

Equipment (key items as per organisation SOP/SMS)

Emergency and safety equipment (repair, spare, rescue, first aid, clothing, food)

Senior guide role and responsibilities

Emergency communication (who, when, how to contact; rescue authorities; chain of command)

Emergency procedures (on river search, evacuation from river, fatality management)

Post incident (debrief procedures, senior guide role, internal and external reporting)

2. Throughout the Trip (Continually Assessed)

Role model raft guide skills and leadership behaviours throughout the assessment. Assessed continuously.

Personal presentation

Interpersonal communication skills

Care for the environment

Care for equipment

Delegation of roles and responsibilities to other guides

Supervision of guides on the trip

Apply organisational SMS (risk management, incident/emergency procedures, reporting)

Empathy and respect (e.g. for clients who may be fearful)

Manage clients/guides in response to changing circumstances

3. Coordinate Pre-Trip Logistics

Coordinate and manage all pre-trip logistics as senior guide.

Equipment required, transport, shuttles and drivers

Time management

Client screening and management

Trip paperwork and procedures

Pre-trip guide brief: review of trip plan

Pre-trip guide brief: client information

Pre-trip guide brief: clarification of roles/responsibilities and task delegation

Pre-trip guide brief: weather and flow information

Pre-trip guide brief: any new hazards

Pre-trip guide brief: other information impacting client safety/enjoyment

4. Manage a Multi Raft Grade 4/5 River Trip

Trip leader role during the river journey on Grade 4/5 sections.

Communication with base

Leadership of other guides

Supervise other guides and show awareness of other boats/river users

Communicate with other guides (verbally and with river signals)

Scout rapids and make decisions regarding line choice and/or portage

Evaluate conditions, client ability, and potential subsequent risk

Organise boat order and control spacing

Problem solving

Management of emergency equipment on person and within craft

Situational risk management and hazard identification

Time management

Coordination and management of any rescue situations that arise

5. Coordinate Post-Trip Logistics

Manage and coordinate all post-trip logistics as senior guide.

Addressing any client satisfaction issues

Post trip task delegation

Equipment cleaning, repair and storage

Running a post trip review with other trip guides

Paperwork including post trip reports, incident and hazard reports

6. Trip Leader River Rescue (Continually Assessed)

Senior guide leadership and incident management skills during rescue scenarios. Assessed on Grade 4/5 conditions.

Technical guiding skills

Manoeuvring the raft for rescue

Personal swimming and throwing

Flexible and responsive in rapidly changing situations

Maintain an overview of the situation

Strong communication (clear, decisive, directive)

Delegate roles, responsibilities and tasks

Prioritise safety issues (most significant risks first)

Safe and effective management of participants and guides

Choose simple, effective and fastest method to resolve crisis

Ensure situations don't escalate

Solve problems effectively as they arise

7. Entrapment Recovery (Senior)

Trip leader role in shallow water entrapment scenario. Coordinate and manage the rescue.

Stabilisation line to maintain/establish victim's airway

Tethered rescuer/swimmer deployment

Line to manage semi or unconscious victim (simple cinch line)

Coordination and management of rescue team

8. Tethered Raft Rescue (Senior)

Trip leader role in tethered raft rescue scenario.

Coordinate a tethered raft rescue

Understanding of attachment points

Dynamic movement on the raft

9. Rescue Focused Raft Guiding Skills (Senior)

Respond to and manage non-routine situations including flipped rafts, portage, and rescue systems.

Manoeuvre raft effectively to rescue swimmers and/or equipment

Anticipate risks and manoeuvre raft to avoid/provide cover

Scout rapids and make decisions regarding line choice and/or portage

Manage flipped raft scenarios

Coordinate and manage a multi raft portage

Manage and actively participate in river rescue systems

On river search knowledge

First aid considerations

Evacuation from river procedures

Fatality management (victim, staff and clients)

Contacting and managing involvement of rescue authorities

Associated documentation