A rapid ascent to the finals

11 Sept

**Tongariro River Rafting is about more than just pure excitement.**

Tongariro River Rafting is a finalist in two categories of the 2025 New Zealand Tourism Awards.

The Tūrangi-based company is in the running for the Visitor Experience Award and the Tourism Excellence Award (Micro Business).

The awards are promoted by the Tourism Industry of Aotearoa, an independent association that represents all sectors of New Zealand’s tourism industry.

Winners will be announced in Wellington on October 29.

Love Taupō General Manager Patrick Dault says 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 (Oakden) 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 are key to the overall destination story, Dault says.

Garth says they are “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 29 October 2025 at Takina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre.

About Tongariro River Rafting

Tongariro River Rafting is rated as the number one rafting experience in the North Island by TripAdvisor.

● Founded in 1990 by the current owners, Garth and Leigh Oakden.

● Tongariro River Rafting has taken more than 300,000 customers down the Tongariro River.

● Based in Tūrangi at the southern end of Lake Taupō, 35 minutes from Taupō town.

● Co-founder of Whio / Blue Duck Project which maintains 800-plus traps on 35 km of trap lines.

● From 25 birds counted in 2008, whio numbers on the river have risen to 300-plus.

● Whio or blue ducks are one of Aotearoa’s most endangered native species. These white water specialists live only on fast-flowing, clean water.

TourismTurangiTongariro RiverAwards

Kim Manunui

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