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Tūrangi tourism operator Tongariro River Rafting has won a national award at the 2025 New Zealand Tourism Awards.
The company received the Tourism Excellence Award (Micro Business) at an industry event in Wellington on Wednesday, October 29, 2025.
The awards are managed by Tourism Industry Aotearoa, an independent association representing all sectors of New Zealand’s tourism industry.
Judges commended Tongariro River Rafting’s strong values-based approach, saying: “Their commitment to value over volume ensures a high-quality visitor experience that aligns with Tourism Sustainability Commitments. This small business exemplifies how dedication, innovation and responsible practices can achieve lasting impact for visitors, communities and the environment.”
Love Taupō general manager Patrick Dault, who attended the ceremony, describes owner Garth Oakden as “a tourism and conservation hero with a great product and a great story that aligns perfectly with our industry vision for a regenerative approach to tourism”.
“The award is a well-deserved honour and recognition from industry peers. Tongariro River Rafting is a small, family-owned business creating world-class river experiences while working hard behind the scenes to protect the precious environment they live and operate in,” Patrick says.
Alongside its daily rafting tours, Garth — who co-founded the Blue Duck Project — and his team are active in restoring the whio population on the Tongariro River. From 25 birds counted in 2008, numbers have now risen to more than 300. The whio (blue duck) is one of New Zealand’s most endangered native species.
The Tongariro River is one of five icons promoted by Destination Lake Taupō, and activities such as rafting and fishing are key to the wider destination story that includes the region’s smaller towns and settlements, Patrick says.
It is the first time Tongariro River Rafting has entered the awards or attended the TIA Tourism Summit, and Garth says he was “hugely surprised” to hear the business announced as a winner.
Garth, his wife Leigh and son Sam — all involved in the business — attended the awards in Wellington with two other staff members.
“Initially, we were extremely excited and proud to be named finalists in two categories. Our team works really hard to deliver experiences that clients will remember and it’s fantastic to get recognition from industry peers. But, as a first-time entrant, I didn’t expect to be a winner, so there was a moment of disbelief when we were named,” Garth says.
“We may be a small family business but we also accept this award on behalf of the 900 or so staff who have worked for us — for everyone who’s ever spent time on the river with us — since we started out in 1990.”
Tongariro River Rafting was also a finalist in the Visitor Experience Award, which recognises a tourism business that meets and exceeds visitor expectations.
Judges praised the company for “delivering a consistently outstanding visitor experience, even outside of a major tourism hotspot. With a strong culture at the heart of the business, they deliver an intense, adventure-filled activity and achieve remarkable results. Their success reflects not only operational excellence, but also a genuine respect for the environment they operate in.”
The Tourism Excellence Award (Micro Business) recognises tourism businesses with annual turnover under $1.5 million that “have the wellbeing of communities at their heart, represent New Zealand culture and values, deliver excellent visitor experiences, nurture the natural environment and operate as profitable, responsible enterprises”.
Winners were announced at the New Zealand Tourism Awards Dinner held at Takina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre.
