Rafting New Zealand wins prestigious tourism award

Rafting New Zealand has received one of the country’s most coveted tourism awards – the Qualmark Gold Sustainable Tourism Business Award.

This follows a long list of international and national awards for the Turangi based white water rafting operator in the past few years. Rafting New Zealand is the only rafting business in the Taupo region to have received Qualmark Gold status. There is only one other rafting business in New Zealand that has the award.

Qualmark assessors praised Rafting New Zealand on its stringent reporting and notification procedures, emphasis on employee welfare and health and safety. 

A commitment to the environment was also noted by assessors along with acknowledgement of the work Rafting New Zealand does with the community.

Managing Director Luke Boddington said “We are all extremely proud of this award and see it as a reflection of our team as a whole. Every employee at Rafting New Zealand has played a part in our success. It is very rewarding to see our everyday business activity acknowledged with such a prestigious, sought after award.”

Qualmark is New Zealand tourism’s official quality assurance organisation. A gold award is the highest accolade. It recognises a company’s commitment to the environment, health and safety, and customer experience.

For almost 30 years, Rafting New Zealand has enabled visitors to immerse themselves in an awe-inspiringly beautiful part of Aotearoa. Customers can get a true sense of New Zealand’s landscape along with its Maori heritage and culture. A part Maori owned and operated business, it is run by Kiwi couple Luke and Pianika Boddington who love to share their passion for rafting New Zealand rivers with other budding adventurers.

For many years, the business has supported community and environmental initiatives through their Awa Toa Fund. One percent of Rafting New Zealand sales goes to the fund, with a portion being used to help Turangi grow and develop the necessary resources to become a thriving community. This includes taking on suitable local Tūwharetoa for training, qualification and employment (in conjunction with Work and Income), and sponsorship of an annual Blue Light Local Youth Rafting experience.

The Awa Toa Fund provides labour and financial support each year to plant over a thousand native trees along the banks of the Tongariro River. It also contributes annually to helping to maintain the natural environment of one of New Zealand’s most rare animals – the Whio (Whistling) Blue Duck.

Rafting New Zealand operates across two main locations – the southern end of Lake Taupo in the alpine village of Turangi (Tongariro River) and Taupo Township (Tongariro and Waikato Rivers).