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.  The Symposium is preceded by the Assessor Training Workshop and the Assessors Conference. The annual Excellence Awards take place on the Saturday night.

The 2023 Symposium will be hosted by Adventure Specialties Trust at Glentui Lodge.

140 Glentui Bush Road, Glentui, Oxford 7495

Getting There

Drive/Carpool
If you are interested in Carpooling with others from your area to Glentui Lodge 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 Glentui Lodge is Christchurch Airport - 1 hour away.

 

Included in the Symposium Registration fee are two nights accommodation, meals from Friday dinner to lunch on Sunday, Refresher Workshops (usually $215 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 2023. If either is incomplete as at the 31 May 2023, 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 (1 Aug 2023): 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).
• Required to isolate due to testing positive for COVID-19 for the dates of the Symposium

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 1 Aug 2023 we will also refund you the shuttle fee. After the closing date there will be no refund.

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. You can check out last years programme below. The 2023 programme will be displayed here once confirmed.

Symposium Programme 2022

Symposium Timeline 2022

Professional Development Workshops

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 2023. Successful students will receive complimentary registration to the 2023 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.

More details to come in 2023.

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 ten NZOIA disciplines:

Cave, Canoe, Canyon, Kayak (White Water), Sea Kayak, Alpine, Bush, Mountain Bike Multand 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!)