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Tūrangi tourism operators Tongariro River Rafting have been nominated as finalists in two categories for the 2025 New Zealand Tourism Awards.
Tongariro River Rafting is competing for the titles of Visitor Experience Award and the Tourism Excellence Award (Micro Business) to be announced in Wellington on October 29. The awards are promoted by the Tourism Industry of Aotearoa, an independent association that represents all sectors of New Zealand’s tourism industry.
Love Taupō general manager Patrick Dault says congratulations are due because “it’s a massive honour for Tongariro River Rafting to be recognised as finalists in these awards which are judged by tourism industry peers”.
“We’re thrilled for Tongariro River Rafting but not at all surprised to see Garth and his team reach the finals. This small, family-owned business creates world-class river experiences while working hard behind the scenes to protect the precious environment they live and operate in,” Patrick says.
As co-founder of the Blue Duck Project, Garth and his team are actively involved in helping restore the whio population on the river. From 25 birds counted in 2008, whio numbers on the river have risen to 300-plus. The whio is one of the country’s most endangered native species.
“Garth is a tourism and conservation hero with a great product and a great story that aligns perfectly with our vision for a regenerative approach to tourism,” Patrick says.
The Tongariro River is one of the five icons promoted by Destination Lake Taupō and activities such as rafting and fishing on the river were key to the overall destination story which encompassed all the smaller towns and settlements around the lake, says Patrick.
It is the first time that Tongariro River Rafting has put itself forward for the awards, Garth Oakden says. “We are extremely excited and proud to be named finalists in both categories. Our team works really hard to deliver experiences that clients will remember and it’s fantastic to get recognition from industry peers. We look forward to heading to the awards night and representing the Lake Taupō area.”
The Visitor Experience Award recognises a tourism business that is meeting and exceeding the expectations of visitors.
The awards judges commended Tongariro River Rafting 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, ensuring the river and its surrounds are cared for alongside the visitor experience”.
The Tourism Excellence Award Micro-Business recognises a tourism business (under $1.5 million annual turnover) that has “the wellbeing of communities at its heart, is representative of our culture and values, has an excellent visitor experience at its core, nurtures the natural environment and is brought to life by a profitable enterprise that shows a high level of responsibility”.
Judges were impressed by Tongariro River Rafting’s strong value driven ethos 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”.
Winners will be announced in person at the New Zealand Tourism Awards Dinner on October 29, 2025 at Takina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre.
