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The man who led an expedition to discover New Zealand’s deepest cave, an educator who has spent decades training aspiring instructors, and a young instructor with a passion for storytelling were among nine inspiring Kiwis recognised for excellence in outdoor leadership last Saturday.

The awards were presented at the annual New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Association (NZOIA) Excellence Awards dinner at Tihoi Venture School in Mangakino, on the western side of Lake Taupo.

The prestigious ‘Tall Totara’ Award for an instructor who personifies excellence in outdoor leadership was presented to Kieran McKay from Waitomo in recognition of his subterranean exploits and dedication to passing on his knowledge and love of adventure.

Mckay holds NZOIA qualifications in Alpine, Rock, Bush and Cave environments and was named one of Red Bull’s explorers of the century in 2013. He led a team that discovered the 1,200m deep Nettlebed-Stormy Pot system on Mt Arthur, near Nelson, and has explored more than 120km of uncharted cave systems in his career.

He is also involved in search and rescue and in June this year helped to lead a rescue effort that successfully extracted a group of Golden Bay High School students who had became trapped in the Nettlebed Cave when one of their instructors became injured.

NZOIA Chair Gillian Wratt said Mckay had dedicated his life to adventure, commenting “he’s scaled mountains and led teams deep underground to discover some of New Zealand’s last truly unexplored places. But what is just as impressive is his drive to give back to the industry he loves. Through outdoor instruction, speaking engagements and informing the development of courses and safety management systems, he is helping to inspire the next generation of adventurous Kiwis.”

Another highlight of the awards was the presentation of a rare NZOIA Life Membership award to Dunedin’s Andy Thompson.

It’s been five years since the last Life Membership award was presented, and Wratt said the decision to award it was not taken lightly.

Thompson has spent more than 30 years in outdoor instruction and education, including 17 years as Programme Coordinator for Otago Polytech’s Diploma in Outdoor Leadership in Management. He served on NZOIA’s Board, including two years as Chair, and has worked as an Antarctic Field Trainer, Army Adventure Training instructor, Mt Cook Search and Rescue team member, and World Challenge Expedition Leader.

This year’s ‘Emerging Instructor’ award was presented to Mark Parfitt, who is in his second year as outdoor instructor in the outdoor education department of Nayland College, in Nelson. Ms Wratt said the award recognised Mr Parfitt’s natural ability to enthuse and inspire young people about the outdoors and outdoor pursuits.

A Tertiary Award for guides and instructors who have shown outstanding potential during their studies was presented to six recipients. These were Cait Disberry of Whitireia Polytech, Georgia Orme of Ara Institute of Canterbury, Janelle van der Westhuizen of Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, Jessica Russell of Hillary Outdoors, Sam McComb of Otago Polytech and Kate Funnell of Tai Poutini Polytech.

The NZOIA Excellence Awards were presented at an awards dinner during the four-day NZOIA National Training Symposium, held in the Taupo region. The symposium was attended by 120 outdoor guides and instructors. It featured workshops exploring a range of professional development opportunities and revalidation for guides, instructors and assessors.

NZOIA Excellence Awards recipients for 2018

The Tall Totara award
Recipient: Kieran McKay (Waitomo)
This award is presented to an instructor who personifies excellence in outdoor leadership. Tall Totara award recipients are highly respected role models who have contributed significantly to outdoor education in New Zealand.

Named as one of the explorers of the century by Red Bull in 2013, Kieren McKay epitomises the New Zealand’s rugged and adventurous spirit. He has explored many of the country’s most challenging cave systems, including leading an expedition to discover the second deepest cave in the Southern Hemisphere – the 10 kilometre long and 1,200 metre deep Nettlebed-Stormy Pot system on Mt Arthur, near Nelson. He has inspired audiences of hundreds at international events and worked closely with developing instructors and school groups to pass on his technical skills and show them the magic of the outdoors. He has spent 15 years as an NZOIA Cave qualifications assessor and contributes his considerable expertise to search and rescue operations when needed.

Life Member award
Recipient: Andy Thompson (Dunedin)
This award is presented to a member who personifies the very best combination of an excellent instructor or guide, a high achieving personal performer, and an outstanding contributor to the work and promotion of the association.

Thompson is the first person in five years to receive an NZOIA Life Member award. With over 30 years’ experience in the industry, he is one of the most respected outdoorspeople in New Zealand. He has made vast contributions to the outdoor community in a variety of teaching and education roles, including 17 years as Programme Coordinator for Otago Polytech’s Diploma in Outdoor Leadership in Management. He spent several years contributing to the industry as an NZOIA Board member, including two years as Chair, and has previously worked as an Antarctic Field Trainer, Army Adventurous Training instructor, Mt Cook Search and Rescue team member, and World Challenge Expedition Leader.

The Emerging Instructor award 
Recipient: Mark Parfitt (Nelson)
The Emerging Instructor awarded is presented to an instructor in their first five years of employment in the outdoor industry who displays great potential for the future.

Mark Parfitt received the Emerging Instructor Award for his outstanding ability to build rapport and inspire a love of the outdoors in the students he instructs at Nayland College in Nelson. He has acquired a broad skill set through teaching kayaking in Canada and instructing for Abel Tasman Canyons, and has added considerable personal experience. At just 26 years old, he already possesses strong leadership abilities, all-round technical skills and has received glowing reviews from his peers and students, many of whom rate him among the best teachers they have had.

Tertiary Awards
Recipients: Cait Disberry (Whitireia Polytech), Georgia Orme (Ara Institute of Canterbury), Janelle van der Westhuizen (Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology), Jessica Russell (Hillary Outdoors), Sam McComb (Otago Polytech), Kate Funnell (Tai Poutini Polytech).

This award is aimed at students who have a passion for outdoor instruction and show great potential for further involvement in the industry beyond their studies.

This year’s recipients have a variety of inspiring stories, including Sam McComb, who recovered from injury to complete his study at Otago Polytechnic. Cait Disberry from Whitireia Polytechnic, Georgia Ormsby from Ara Institute of Timaru, Janelle van der Westhuizen from NMIT and Kate Funnell from Tai Poutini Polytech were recognised for their all-round abilities and commitment to study. Jessica Russell from Hillary Outdoors received the award for her commitment to study, leadership and innovative teaching ideas that will stand her in good stead for a bright future in the industry.

Image: Kieran McKay was presented with the Tall Totara award at the NZOIA Excellence Awards on Saturday night. Courtesy of Andy Thompson Photography.

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