Tūrangi tourism operators Tongariro River Rafting have been nominated as finalists in two categories for the 2025 New Zealand Tourism Awards.
The company, founded in 1990 by current owners, Garth and Leigh Oakden, is competing for the titles of Visitor Experience Award and the Tourism Excellence Award (Micro Business). The awards, to be announced in October, are promoted by the Tourism Industry of Aotearoa, an independent association that represents all sectors of the industry.
Love Taupō General Manager Patrick Dault called it “a massive honour” for the company.
“We’re thrilled for Tongariro River Rafting but not at all surprised to see Garth 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,” Dault said.
As co-founder of the Blue Duck Project, Garth Oakden 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,” Dault said.
The Tongariro River is one of five icons promoted by Destination Lake Taupō and activities such as rafting and fishing on the river were key to the overall destination story which encompassed all the smaller towns and settlements around the lake, said Dault.
Based in Tūrangi, the company has taken more than 300,000 customers down the Tongariro River.
It was the first time they had put the company forward for the awards, Oakden said.
“We are extremely 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.”
The Visitor Experience Award recognises a tourism business that is meeting and exceeding visitor expectations.
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.”
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 at the New Zealand Tourism Awards Dinner on October 29, 2025 at Takina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre.
