The NZOIA National Training Symposium has run successfully since 2012 and usually attracts between 120 – 150 people.  It aims to encourage the continual professional development of our ‘on-the-ground’ leaders, instructors and guides and has a practical focus. The Symposium combines Refresher Workshops to meet instructor/guide revalidation requirements and a smorgasbord of interesting, stimulating and challenging Professional Development Workshops. It is a forum to network, upskill, train and revalidate NZOIA qualifications. People come from far and wide to attend the Symposium, including overseas.

The Symposium is usually held at a suitable date in September or October each year.  It starts on a Thursday afternoon and runs through to midday Sunday.  The Symposium is preceded by the Assessor Training on the Wednesday for new assessors, and the Assessors Conference all day Thursday. The annual Excellence Awards take place on the Saturday night.

The location of the Symposium usually alternates between the North Island and South Island and is hosted by an outdoor centre or organisation. This helps NZOIA keep the costs down, and keeps the fee low for attendees.  

The 2022 Symposium will be hosted by Hillary Outdoors in Tongariro.

Hydro Access Rd No 3, State Highway 47, Turangi 3334

Included in the Symposium Registration fee are three nights accommodation, meals from Thursday dinner to lunch on Sunday, Refresher Workshops (usually $195 each), Professional Development Workshops and the awards dinner function on Saturday night.

* Earlybird Rate applies to NZOIA Members only who have completed all registration documentation AND payment by the 31 May 2022. If either is incomplete as at the 31 May 2022, you will be required to pay the full price.

Your registration fees do not cover the full cost of the event, NZOIA absorbs over 40% of the cost for the Symposium. With the thanks to host venues and funding, we try hard to keep the registration fee down so it is affordable for you to attend.

The accommodation is bunkroom style beds or camping, with shared bathroom facilities. (To help keep costs down we will not be employing cleaners - you will need to leave the place how you found it). The registration fee will be the same regardless of if you camp or choose to have a bed.

Refund Policy

Your registration fees do not cover the full cost of the event, NZOIA absorbs over 40% of the cost for the Symposium.

When a participant withdraws:

Before the event closing date (1st August 2022): NZOIA will deduct a $50 administration fee, the balance can then be refunded or transferred to another event.

After the closing date: The fee is NON-REFUNDABLE. It is transferable only under exceptional circumstances, less the applicable cancellation fee as outlined below:

Symposium fee is transferable the next two Symposiums only, less a $100 cancellation fee under the following circumstances:

- Bereavement of an immediate family member (spouse/partner, parent, child, sibling, in-law, grandparent or grandchild)

- Medical Emergency/accident requiring surgery or hospitalisation for the applicant or the applicant’s spouse/partner or child.

- Serious injury/medical event that prevents participation in the course (e.g. fracture, serious sprain, serious head injury/concussion).

Medical certificates/other proof will be required.

Fees for missed meals / late arrivals / early departures will not be refunded.

If you have booked a shuttle and the shuttle is cancelled by us you will get a full refund of your shuttle fee. If you cancel it before the 1st August 2022 we will also refund you the shuttle fee. After the closing date there will be no refund.

This award is aimed at students who have a passion for outdoor instruction and show great potential for further involvement in the industry beyond their studies. 

Each outdoor tertiary programme provider (who has an MOU with NZOIA) will make their own judgment as to who their successful student is and submit to NZOIA who their successful student before 30 June 2022. Successful students will receive complimentary registration to the 2022 NZOIA National Training Symposium (one per Tertiary provider). Travel not included. 

Criteria and eligibility information will be sent to tutors directly in May.

The NZOIA Symposium is an invaluable opportunity for the outdoor instruction and leadership community to come together to collaborate and expand its collective knowledge and technique. In order to continue to be relevant and remain groundbreaking the Symposium needs representation from a broad selection of people and we recognise that there are barriers that impede this such as the costs involved.

It is exciting to be able to offer in 2022 one scholarship that covers the full registration fee of the Symposium and one scholarship that cover 50% of the fee.

These scholarships have been kindly donated by an NZOIA member who was keen to see continued a diverse representation at the Symposium.

Eligibility Criteria:

- Be a current member of NZOIA

- Be employed in the outdoor industry

- Financial assistance needed to be able to attend

And must meet at least one of the following diversity criteria:

- Be Female; and/or

- Be Māori, Pacific Islander or Asian.

To apply for the scholarship, submit a letter of application outlining your eligibility and why you would like to attend the Symposium. Please also include a letter of endorsement from another NZOIA member.

Post the Symposium, applicants are required to write a letter to NZOIA outlining what they got out of the Symposium and how they will apply their learning in the workplace.

Applications must be emailed to symposium@nzoia.org.nz no later than 31 May 2022. Applicants will be informed by the 15 June 2022 of the outcome.

Download Diversity Scholarship info

Drive/Carpool
If you are interested in Carpooling with others from your area to Hillary Outdoors Tongariro and return, please tick the applicable box on the Registration form.  In August we will send out an email list to those in your area. It will be up to you to contact others in the group and sort it out between yourselves.

Fly
The closest airport to Hillary Outdoors Tongariro is Taupo Airport - 1 hour away. Both Air New Zealand and Sounds Air fly into Taupo. We will be running shuttles from Taupo airport. Rotorua and Hamilton airport are 2+ hrs away and may offer cheaper options, however you will need to rent a vehicle to get to the Symposium.

Shuttles to Hillary Outdoors Tongariro
There will be a Taupo Airport pick up and drop off shuttle arranged on the Wednesday and Thursday of the Symposium, returning Sunday. To use the shuttles you will need to pre-book, this is on your registration form. Shuttles are $25 each way. The journey takes approx 1 hour depending on traffic.

The Symposium programme is extremely varied as we try to cater for a range of interests. Professional Development Workshops and Refresher Workshops will run concurrently at the Symposium. Refresher workshops are a full day (8am-5pm generally) and Professional Development Workshops vary from a couple of hours to a full day. If you are at a Refresher workshop you will not be able to attend a Professional Development workshop on the same day. Attendees will be sent a link to sign up to PD workshops in August.

An example of previous years programmes can be viewed below: 

Symposium Programme 2021

Symposium Timeline 2021

Professional Development Workshops run alongside Refresher Workshops at the Symposium.

Check out the programme above to see what's on offer!

To attend a Refresher Workshop you will need to apply SEPARATELY from your Symposium Registration Form. To apply, either click on the workshop below, or go to the Refresher Course Calendar. Select 'Already Paid' when it comes to payment, as the fee for these workshops is included in your Symposium registration (bonus!)

Symposium Refresher Workshops 2022 will be listed here shortly. See below for what was on offer for the 2021 Symposium. 

Friday 15 October 2021:

Bush 1, Rock 1, Sport Climbing, Sport Climbing Endorsement, Rock 2, Alpine 1, Alpine 2, Cave Leader, Cave 1, Cave 2, Kayak Flatwater, Kayak Leader. 

Saturday 16 October 2021:

Bush 1, Bush 2, Abseil Leader, Rock Leader, Rock 1, Sport Climbing Endorsement, Canoe Leader, Canoe 1, Canyon 1, Canyon 2, Kayak 1, Class III, Kayak 2, Sea Kayak Leader, Sea Kayak Guide, Sea Kayak 1, Sea Kayak 2

Book now to secure your place on the Refresher Workshop by completing your application and paying the Symposium registration fee.  Members who aren’t attending the Symposium can also book on these workshops, however priority of place will be given to the Symposium attendees.  Spaces on these workshops are always tight, so make sure you get in early.

Do you want to host the next Symposium?!

We are looking for outdoor organisations that are keen to host future Symposiums in the North and South Islands.

Expression of interest

If your organisation is interested in hosting the Symposium, please put in an expression of interest to NZOIA. Please click on the link below and fill in the form and submit it to the NZOIA Symposium Coordinator – symposium@nzoia.org.nz 

If you have trouble opening or saving, please email us and we will send you a hard copy. Please contact Sonya Sutherland if you have any further questions: 027 5390509 or on the email above.

Thank you for your interest and support!

Benefits for hosting

Hosting the Symposium is a great opportunity to show case your centre to others in the industry. Two of your staff will be able to attend the Symposium free of charge, but will be required to assist in the running of the Symposium. We can also provide 50% off for up to 8 of your staff to attend. Hosting could be a good chance to recruit new staff! It’s also a great way to support the outdoor industry and professional development of those working in the sector.

Requirements

Venue

To host the Symposium, your venue needs to be within 1 ½ hours travel to at least six of the nine NZOIA disciplines:

Cave, Canoe, Canyon, Kayak (White Water), Sea Kayak, Alpine, Bush, Mountain Bike and Rock.

The venue needs to be able to accommodate a minimum of 130 people, preferable onsite, with a combination of dormitory beds (ideally 70+ beds) and camping options, and ablutions available. Ideally, you have catering available for this number, or a commercial kitchen and dining area that can be used. The dining area/hall must be able to seat this number. NZOIA will contribute towards catering and accommodation, to cover costs incurred.

We also require access to two-three meeting rooms/spaces for training workshops, separate to the main dining area/hall that can fit 20 – 30 people. Ideally these would have access to WIFI, but if you have good cell phone coverage/service this won’t be an issue. Preferably, your organisation will have vehicles and outdoor equipment available for use.

Support

The host venue is also responsible for planning and running a welcome to officially open the Symposium.

A minimum of two staff/people from your organisation are required to be on hand throughout the Symposium, to assist the NZOIA staff with the smooth running of the event. One of these people will take on the Duty Manager role and be in charge of locking up, communications, the bar and updating the weather board. It is great if we have extras on hand to chip in if needed. Depending on your location, we will also require assistance with airport pickups and drop offs.

Click here to fill in the Host Venue - Expression of Interest Form 

(Note: Save to file before filling in!)