New Zealand award recognise outdoors community's outstanding achievements

Outstanding individuals and organisations in New Zealand's outdoors community were recognised at The Outdoors Awards 2013, presented this week at the Energy Events Centre, in Rotorua.

At the event - hosted by Outdoors New Zealand (ONZ) - nine awards and two ONZ Fellowships were announced. The ONZ Fellowships were introduced this year to recognise former staff or board members of ONZ who had made an outstanding contribution to the organisation over their career.

The Outdoors Awards 2013 winners were:

• Sport NZ Supreme Award - Grant Davidson, for his years of leadership in the outdoors community

• ONZ Organisation Award - Potiki Adventures

• ONZ Event Award - Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge

• ONZ Adventure Tourism Award - Ziptrek Ecotours, Queenstown

• Mountain Safety Council (MSC) Volunteer Award - Heather Grady, MSC Manawatu Branch

• NZ Outdoor Instructors Association Emerging Instructor Award - James Geddes, Dilworth School

• NZ Outdoor Instructors Association Tall Totara Award - Tim Wills, Adventure Specialties Trust

• Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre Environmental Leadership Award - Enviro Schools

• Education Outdoors NZ Education Programme Award - Perry Outdoor Education Trust

The ONZ Fellowships were presented to Noel Scott and Arthur Sutherland.

Scott is one of our New Zealand's well-known education experts, best remembered by many as the Minister for Sport and Recreation and Associate Minister for Education during the 1984-1990 Labour government.

Sutherland came to ONZ with a lifetime of outdoor education teaching experience in secondary schools and the Education Advisory Service. He is highly regarded as an expert in outdoor safety who is renowned for his thoughtful and wise approach to governance matters.

ONZ Chief Executive, Garth Dawson, congratulated all the award winners for their contribution to New Zealand's outdoors community, stating "the awards celebrate the people and the organisations that do so much to get people into the outdoors and provide personal development outcomes. The winners inspire memorable and remarkable experiences for people in the outdoors."

Details on the winners:

• ONZ Organisation Award - Potiki Adventures: Potiki's innovative approach is helping at-risk youth emerge from the bush with new respect for the land, their culture and themselves.

• ONZ Event Award - Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge: The event is in its 37th year and fosters interest and participation in cycling. Safety is a priority for the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, which has OutdoorsMark certification. The Challenge supports the local community, with volunteers from community groups using the event as a fundraising opportunity.

• ONZ Adventure Tourism Award - Ziptrek Ecotours: Ziptrek is committed to sustainable business practices. Initiatives include an off the grid solar system to power the operation, supporting local charities and environmental projects, and providing internships for students.

• Mountain Safety Council (MSC) Volunteer Award - Heather Grady: Heather has been an active member of the Manawatu Branch of MSC since 2002. As well as leading the branch, she is an outdoor instructor and is particularly dedicated to supporting the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

• NZ Outdoor Instructors Association Emerging Instructor Award - James Geddes: Working at Dilworth Rural Campus has increased and refined James' passion to continue using the outdoors as a vehicle for helping people from difficult backgrounds.

• NZ Outdoor Instructors Association Tall Totara Award - Tim Wills: Tim is an outstanding example of holistic outdoor education, with strong outdoor skills, ability to relate to a wide range of people and a long term commitment to improving outdoor experiences in Aotearoa.

• Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre Environmental Leadership Award - Enviro Schools: Enviro Schools uses an action learning approach to help young people and their communities to connect with nature, value wilderness areas and become involved in restoration projects.

• Education Outdoors NZ Education Programme Award - Perry Outdoor Education Trust: The Perry Outdoor Education Trust has enabled students to participate in outdoor experiences at minimal cost that would normally be inaccessible to them.

ONZ is the peak organisation for the outdoors recreation community providing leadership, advocacy and support for professionals and organisations working in outdoor education, outdoor leisure and outdoor commercial operations.

ONZ's vision is to see people in New Zealand enjoying the opportunity for positive outdoor recreation and education experiences through a coherent, vibrant, and effective outdoors community.

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