National Riverboard Guide Awards

9 riverboard

These awards are for people working in the outdoor recreation industry who wish to guide commercial riverboard trips on New Zealand whitewater rivers.

To commercially guide in New Zealand, you need to hold the appropriate raft or riverboarding award. The New Zealand Rivers Association and Te Mahi Ako have jointly developed a qualification system that reflects the high quality of guiding required in New Zealand.

To enrol in this programme, you need to be working in outdoor recreation, in a paid job, self-employed, or as a volunteer with regular and consistent shifts.

If you don't have a role lined up, contact us to talk about how we can help.

These awards range from 15 to 28 credits.

You'll be trained, observed and assessed in the workplace.

You will complete one of five grade level electives:

Riverboard Guide Grade 2:

  • Understanding and applying introductory riverboard guiding skills; and understanding river rescue techniques for Grade 2 rivers.

Riverboard Guide Grade 3:

  • Demonstrating riverboard guiding skills for Grade 3 rivers; preparing and guiding a riverboard trip; and applying river rescue techniques for Grade 3 rivers.

Senior Riverboard Guide Grade 3:

  • Planning a guided riverboard trip, managing riverboard groups as a senior riverboard guide for Grade 3 rivers, and applying serious incident management skills for Grade 3 rivers.

Riverboard Guide Grade 4/5:

  • Demonstrating riverboard guiding skills for Grade 4/5 rivers; preparing and guiding a riverboard trip; and applying river rescue techniques for Grade 4/5 rivers.

Senior Riverboard Guide Grade 4/5:

  • Planning a guided riverboard trip, managing riverboard groups as a senior riverboard guide for Grade 4/5 rivers, and applying serious incident management skills for Grade 4/5 rivers.

The Riverboard Guide Award Pathway shows you what is required to progress through the pathway. 

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