Awards recognise New Zealand’s outdoor achievers and environmental leaders

The organisation behind New Zealand’s national trail, a man on a mission to protect rivers, and a couple who have helped educate generations were among the award winners at the annual New Zealand Recreation Association Outdoor Awards, held in Wellington on Thursday night.

This year’s Supreme Award was presented to husband and wife team John and Christine Furminger, a couple who have between them laid the foundation for many of New Zealand’s most respected outdoor education programmes over the past 40 years.

Environmental Leadership Award winner ‘Didymo’ Dave Cade was a finalist in three award categories this year thanks to his conservation crusade to protect the rivers of the central North Island, while Geoff Spearpoint took home the Outstanding Volunteer Award thanks to his voluntary initiatives to maintain back-country huts.

NZRA Chief Executive Andrew Leslie said the awards provided an important acknowledgement for the people and organisations whose efforts markedly improved outdoor experiences in New Zealand.

Leslie explained “people like John and Christine Furminger, Dave Cade and Geoff Spearpoint contribute a massive amount of personal time and effort into creating better environmental outcomes and ensuring people have the necessary skills and facilities to enjoy the outdoors.

"This in turn leads to stronger communities, safer outdoor experiences and happier, healthier people. It is only fitting that these people who have devoted their lives to making the world a better place receive some portion the recognition they deserve."

Organisations featured too, with this year’s Outstanding Event Award going to YMCA Auckland for its Family Camps, held at Camp Adair.

The twice-yearly camps have run since 2014, and have found success in their targeted efforts to encourage competence and participation in the outdoors amongst families who otherwise would have found it difficult to access the outdoors together.

The Organisational Excellence Award for 2016 went to Te Araroa Trail for its sustainable, considered and collaborative approach to developing and maintaining a trail network that stretches the length of New Zealand. The New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Association was also highly commended in the Organisational Excellence category.

Leslie added “it was heartening to see so many organisations nominated for their efforts to improve the way we experience the great outdoors.

 "It is vital we continue to recognise the efforts of our outdoor organisations, paid workers and volunteers so they can find support for their efforts to improve outdoor experiences and foster the love of New Zealand’s great outdoors that is ingrained as a part of our culture."

The Outdoor Awards were presented at an awards dinner held at the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor during NZRA’s Outdoors Forum. Award sponsors included recreation consultancy Visitor Solutions, the New Zealand Alpine Club, the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council, and industry training organisation Skills Active Aotearoa.

Image: Geoff Spearpoint working on Canterbury's Avoca Hut. Courtesy of DoC.

29th August 2016 - EXPERTS TO DEBATE OUTDOOR RECREATION IN A DIGITAL AGE

7th March 2016 - CHRISTCHURCH ADVOCATE TO CHAMPION THE VALUE OF OUTDOOR RECREATION

23rd February 2016 - RECREATIONAL RIDING CONFERENCE EXPLORES CYCLE CHALLENGES

23rd October 2015 - OUTDOOR AWARDS SHINE SPOTLIGHT ON CANTERBURY CONTRIBUTIONS

3rd September 2015 - SPORT NZ SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS THE VALUE OF OUTDOOR RECREATION

29th April 2015 - NZRA ESTABLISHES COMMITTEE TO REPRESENT OUTDOOR RECREATION INTERESTS

17th November 2014 - OUTDOOR SECTOR A KEY PART OF NEW ZEALAND’S TOURISM BRANDING