Have Your Say

As an NZRA Member, we value your say.

Vote below for the coming years NZRA Executive.

Voting Open Now

Hear from the candidates below.

Voting Rules & Conditions:

Voting will close at 7pm on Wednesday 15th November at the AGM.

You may vote for up to 8 Candidates. Voting only once per person.

Voting results are completely confidential, counted by the secretary of NZRA.

2023 Candidates

Nathan Topp (Reefton), rafting has been me for the last 18 years. I’m a rafting guide, company owner of Inland Adventures and now part owner of Ultimate Descents, I am an assessor and I have also been a rafting tutor at Tai Poutini Polytechnic for the last 10 years.

I have been on the exec for the last seven years. My portfolio on the NZRA is qualifications and I also did a two year stint as the Chair. All this has shown me how valuable the NZRA is to the rafting industry in New Zealand.

This industry attracts amazing people, I am grateful for all the friendships it has led to with fellow guides, former students and even some clients. I believe, with the different roles I have within the rafting community, I add value to the exec and would like to continue to represent our awesome industry.

Kia Ora,

I’m Sam. I’ve been around Okere Falls my entire life and on the river for about 22 years.

Always good to be out on the river and strongly believe that New Zealand has the best rafting industry in the world.

It has been made possible from generations of passion to deliver the best rafting experience for all those involved and is spear headed by the NZRA that hide in the backwaters looking out for the industry as a whole and ensuring rafting has a voice that is heard.

Having been guiding since the late1990’s and was a raft company owner for 20 years. I still actively guide, assess and teach raft guiding skills and river rescue at the polytechnics and mentor at some work places.

I still have a passion for our industry and wish to continue to help being a sounding board and mentor.

Help ask questions for industry to the qualification providers and work place regulators in a way that supports understanding and strengthens our great united

I started rafting in 1986 and have seen the industry mature over that time.

Starting Tongariro River Rafting in 1990 I continue to operate the business today. We have trained and employed hundreds of guides in the last 34 years

Previously I was on the NZRA executive and involved in the original River Rescue courses for 10 years, it has been awesome to see skill base of guides grow helping make the industry better.

I'm keen to stand for the executive again as many who have given so much have taken a bit more of a backseat and I would like to once again contribute to the wellbeing of the industry.

My portfolio so far with the NZRA has been working with Skills Active / Te Mahi Ako, and helping with the changes to rafting qualifications. This is going to be a busy few years coming up, with Te Pukenga merging the Polytech courses together, and Te Mahi Ako still finding their feet as a PTO.

I started out as a trainee way back in the day, training on the job. Then worked overseas for many many summers and am now running the rafting programme through NMIT.

This gives me a good broad understanding of the raft guide pathway, the many ways to get into rafting, and the ways to make a good career out of it. I’m eager to look into getting more females through to senior guides, assessors and tutoring rafting as well, as I’ve found it to be the most rewarding career.

Kia ora, I'm Janey.

For those that don’t know me, I am a third-generation river guide in our family-owned business, River Valley. I've spent over two decades guiding the waters of the Rangitikei River. While I don't usually seek the spotlight, I do have a deep passion for the rivers of New Zealand and a genuine commitment to the rafting industry.

Over the years, I've gained valuable experience mainly on the rivers in our area but have also been fortunate to work overseas (mainly the States….and without giving away my age, will admit this was some years ago 😊). Working alongside exceptional guides during my career has allowed me to continually improve my skills on and off the water.

I believe that joining the New Zealand Rivers Association Executive is an exciting opportunity to give back to a community that has given me so much. My experience in the industry has taught me the importance of responsible and sustainable rafting practices, and I've seen firsthand the need to preserve the natural health of our waterways.

I’m looking forward to this opportunity to work together to strengthen our rafting community and safeguard the future of this incredible sport.

After years of rafting in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada, Stu returned to home in 2016 to reconnect with the industry and the NZRA. Having been engaged as a Technical Expert and Auditor for the Adventure Activity Certification scheme since 2020, he has gained an understanding of the progress the industry has made in this. He is still found assisting Polytech students and assessing rafting trainees in the Central North Island. Having shifted from rafting full-time, he is completing a BSc Earth Science, and is continuing into a Master’s degree focused on Natural Hazards next year. Having been on the Exec Committee for the last three years, Stu wants to continue to represent the best interests of the rafting industry in Aotearoa New Zealand and with a future in studying of Natural Hazards, he has a lot to continue to offer.

Have Your Say

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2023 Candidates

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2023 NZRA Executive Role