Tongariro River Rafting Recognized As Finalist For 2025 New Zealand Tourism Awards, Celebrating Excellence In Tourism And Conservation

Published on September 8, 2025

Tongariro River Rafting, a well-known tourism usability based successful Tūrangi, has been nominated arsenic a finalist successful 2 categories for nan 2025 New Zealand Tourism Awards. The institution is competing for nan prestigious Visitor Experience Award and nan Tourism Excellence Award (Micro Business). This recognition, announced by nan Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA), is simply a important accomplishment for nan small, family-owned business that has go a cornerstone of New Zealand’s tourism industry.

The awards, which are judged by manufacture peers, will culminate successful an charismatic announcement connected October 29, 2025 successful Wellington. This marks an breathtaking infinitesimal for Tongariro River Rafting, which has gained nickname for some its visitor experience and its ongoing commitment to conservation.

A Massive Honour for Tongariro River Rafting

According to Patrick Dault, Love Taupō’s General Manager, this information is simply a important achievement. Dault commended Tongariro River Rafting, acknowledging their accordant transportation of world-class experiences successful an often overlooked location, and their beardown civilization centered astir conservation. The nickname highlights their committedness to providing exceptional rafting experiences while protecting nan situation they run in.

Tongariro River Rafting’s owner and founder, Garth Oakden, has expressed excitement astir nan nominations. This is nan first clip nan business has submitted itself for nan awards, and Garth noted that they are “extremely excited and proud” to beryllium selected arsenic finalists successful 2 cardinal categories. Oakden besides highlighted nan difficult activity of his team, who strive to present memorable experiences for each customer.

Two Nominations Reflecting Dedication to Excellence and Environment

Tongariro River Rafting has been shortlisted for nan Visitor Experience Award, which recognizes businesses that transcend visitors’ expectations. This grant acknowledges companies that supply high-quality, exceptional experiences for their customers. The business has been praised for delivering a consistently outstanding visitant experience, moreover successful a region that is not a awesome tourism hotspot.

Judges recognized nan institution for its beardown taste foundation, wherever escapade meets sustainability. The rafting experiences offered by nan institution blend adrenaline pinch biology stewardship. In particular, their efforts successful protecting nan river’s ecosystem alongside offering thrilling rafting tours person group them isolated successful nan competitory tourism industry.

Additionally, Tongariro River Rafting has been nominated for nan Tourism Excellence Award (Micro Business), which celebrates mini businesses pinch yearly turnovers nether $1.5 million. This class emphasizes a business’s expertise to nurture section communities, support sustainable practices, and foster a beardown relationship to New Zealand’s civilization and values.

Judges noted that Tongariro River Rafting excels successful delivering high-quality services that align pinch Tourism Sustainability Commitments. The company’s dedication to innovation and responsible tourism practices was highly commended, alongside their value-driven ethos, which focuses connected nan value of visitant experiences complete nan amount of customers served.

A Passion for Conservation and Community

One of nan standout elements of Tongariro River Rafting is its dedication to conservation. Garth Oakden and his squad person been progressive successful nan Whio/Blue Duck Project, which intends to reconstruct nan endangered whio organization on nan Tongariro River. The institution has played a important domiciled successful nan betterment of this uncommon species, which has seen its numbers summation from 25 successful 2008 to complete 300 today.

By maintaining 800-plus traps complete 35 km of trap lines, Tongariro River Rafting has made important contributions to environmental restoration. These efforts are not only helping to sphere New Zealand’s biodiversity but besides supply a compelling communicative that aligns pinch nan company’s tourism offerings. The company’s occurrence successful blending adventure tourism pinch eco-tourism has earned it wide nickname successful nan industry.

A Strong Link to Taupō and nan Local Community

Tongariro River Rafting has go an integral portion of nan Taupō region’s tourism story. The Tongariro River is 1 of Lake Taupō’s 5 iconic attractions, and nan company’s offerings, specified arsenic rafting and sportfishing tours, lend importantly to nan wide destination communicative promoted by Destination Lake Taupō. These activities not only bring successful visitors but besides service arsenic a testament to nan region’s earthy beauty and adventure-filled potential.

As a small, family-run business, Tongariro River Rafting has remained profoundly committed to its local community, helping to boost nan section system while promoting sustainable tourism practices. Their attraction connected preserving nan environment, supporting wildlife conservation, and delivering an unparalleled tourism experience has garnered them a loyal customer base, some locally and internationally.

The Growing Recognition of Tongariro River Rafting

The company’s emergence to prominence wrong nan New Zealand tourism industry is simply a testament to nan difficult activity of Garth Oakden and his team. The New Zealand Tourism Awards nominations bespeak their dedication to creating meaningful, memorable experiences for visitors. In nickname of their achievements, nan squad astatine Tongariro River Rafting looks guardant to representing nan Lake Taupō area astatine nan upcoming awards ceremonial successful Wellington.

As Tongariro River Rafting prepares for nan awards arena connected October 29, nan business continues to exemplify what is imaginable erstwhile tourism and conservation spell manus successful hand. With a beardown committedness to sustainable tourism, community involvement, and conservation efforts, nan business sets a singular illustration for nan tourism industry arsenic a whole.

Conclusion: A Bright Future for Tongariro River Rafting

Tongariro River Rafting’s nominations for nan Visitor Experience Award and Tourism Excellence Award (Micro Business) item nan company’s domiciled arsenic a leader successful eco-tourism and adventure tourism. These nominations are a well-deserved nickname of their difficult work, passion for conservation, and committedness to offering visitors a unsocial and memorable acquisition successful 1 of New Zealand’s astir scenic regions.

As nan business continues to turn and evolve, it remains dedicated to providing top-tier tourism experiences while besides protecting nan earthy situation that makes nan Tongariro River truthful special. With continued attraction connected conservation and community, Tongariro River Rafting is poised to stay a cornerstone of nan Taupō tourism manufacture for years to come.