Staff
Welcome to the OENZ staff page
Alan Haslip (Managing Director)
Alan is a passionate climber, mountaineer and explorer. Alan believes that education in the outdoors is more than a subject “it’s a pedagogy in its own right” and a way of life.
Qualifications & Awards:
Bachelor of Adventure Recreation and Outdoor Education (ARA, Christchurch), NZOIA Bush Leader, NZOIA Bush 1, NZOIA Bush 2, NZOIA Rock 1, NZOIA Rock lead climbing endorsement, NZOIA Rock 2, NZOIA Alpine 1, NZOIA Apline 2, MSC BAA, MSC Avalanche 1, NZOIA Assessor for Bush Leader, Rock Leader & Abseil Leader, NZ Driver Class 1 +‘p’ endorsement, PHEC first aid, International expedition Leader.
*NZOIA (New Zealand Outdoor Instructor Association)
Sarah English (Managing Director)
Sarah’s passion lies in the bush, mountains and rock. Sarah believes the most powerful learning experiences come through challenge and adventure.
Qualifications & Awards:
Bachelor of Adventure Recreation and Outdoor Education, Diploma in Adventure Instructing and Guiding, NZOIA Bush1, NZOIA Bush 2, NZOIA Rock1 with sport climbing endorsement, NZOIA Alpine 1, Backcountry Avalanche Risk Management & Avalanche Risk Management L5, PHEC first aid, NZOIA Bush leader assessor, NZOIA Rock leader, & Abseil leader assessor, Skills Active Assessor, International expedition Leader.
*NZOIA (New Zealand Outdoor Instructor Association)
Nathanael Sage (Senior Instructor)
Nathanael has been working with OENZ since 2017. He is passionate about enabling others to seek adventure. Equally at home in the sea as in the mountains.
Qualifications & Awards:
Certificate in Outdoor Education, Tai Poutini Polytechnic, 2013. Diploma in Outdoor Instructing and Guiding, at Tai Poutini Polytechnic, 2014. NZOIA Rock 1, NZOIA Bush 1, NZOIA Sea Kayak 1, Level 5 Avalanche Risk Management, First Aid.
Nino Pankusz
Nino is an avid outdoor enthusiast, especially keen on anything rock or water (frozen and liquid). You’ll find him running wild throughout the South Island on an adventure on any given weekend. During the week, he studies Sustainability and Outdoor Education at Ara.
Qualifications & Awards:
NZOIA Rock 1 + Sport Endorsement, NZOIA Bush 1, Whitewater Rescue 1 Course, Outdoor First Aid.
Chris Prudden
Chris has a passion for the mountains spanning over 40 years, working in New Zealand, European Alps and Antarctica. He established the first professional alpine guiding service on Mt Taranaki with an astounding 1,320 ascents.
In recent years he has been based in Queenstown and has guided numerous successful ascents in the Southern Lakes area. An alpine guide and instructor who has worked with school groups, film crews, environmental safety, and a private guide. Chris also spends some of his time with NZ Land SAR Alpine Cliff Rescue and NZOIA Training and assessing alpine qualifications.
Qualifications & Awards:
NZOIA Alpine 2, NZOIA Bush 2, NZOIA Alpine 1 & 2 Assessor, TE (technical expert) for Rope activities and Alpine for the NZ Adventure activities 2011 regulation scheme, Team Leader & National assessor for NZ Land SAR Alpine Cliff Rescue, PHEC first Aid, NZ drivers licence.
Arna Warrander
Arnas’ primary passion is Rock Climbing, followed closely by Tramping, Mountain Biking, and Sailing, and for her, being able to share these passions with others is hugely rewarding.
Qualifications & Awards:
Bachelor in Sustainability & Outdoor Education, NZOIA Rock 1 + Sport Endorsement, NZOIA Bush 1, PHEC. NZ Drivers LIcence Class 1.
Robbie Smith
Robbie enjoys a wide range of outdoor activities, from roaming in the mountains to rock climbing, mountain biking, sea kayaking, and sailing. He is enthusiastic about getting people out and engaging with New Zealand’s diverse environment.
Qualifications & Awards:
Bachelor in Sustainability and Outdoor Education, NZOIA Bush 1, NZOIA Rock 1 + Sport Endorsement, Level 5 Avalanche Risk Management, first aid certificate, NZ driver’s license class 1.
Kieran Mckay
Kieran is one of New Zealand’s most prolific and well-known cavers. He has remarkable achievements to his name, including discovering the deepest cave system in the southern hemisphere. Kieran has more than 30 years of experience in the New Zealand outdoors.
Qualifications & Awards:
NZOIA Cave1, NZOIA Cave2, NZOIA Cave Assessor, NZOIA Rock1, NZOIA Alpine2, NZOIA Bush2, New Zealand drivers license class 1&2, Wilderness first aid.
John Kirk-Anderson
John has been sharing his experience and love of sea kayaking for more than 25 years in a diverse range of teaching situations in New Zealand and internationally. He believes good skills and preparedness are keys to successful and rewarding adventures on the water.
Qualifications & Awards:
NZOIA Sea Kayak 2 Assessor, British Canoe Union (BCU) Five Star (Sea) and Level Four Coach (Sea), Life Member Kiwi Association of Sea Kayakers (KASK), PHEC, Wilderness First Responder.
Jake Harris
Jake recently is a graduate of the ARA Sustainability Degree. He works for Christchurch Adventure Park as well as OENZ. He’s a keen mountain biker, hunter and photographer. He has lots of enthusiasm for introducing people to the outdoors.
Qualifications & Awards:
NZOIA Rock & Abseil Leader, NZOIA Bush 1, Bachelor of Sustainability and Outdoor Education ARA.
Ingimar Menzies
Ingimar spends his spare time kayaking and rock climbing. He works as a contract instructor, living the dream.
Qualifications & Awards:
NZOIA Bush 1, PHEC First Aid
Eliot McKelvey
Elliot comes to us with a wide range of skills and qualifications.
Qualifications & Awards:
NZOIA Rock 1, NZOIA Bush 2, NZOIA Alpine 1, NZOIA Kayak Leader, NZOIA Canyon 1.
Casual/Seasonal employment
If you are an outdoor instructor or guide and would like to work for us in the upcoming session, please contact our office for positions available.
We are always on the lookout for great people to join our team.
Contact us today
