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River Valley - About Us and our Staff
River Valley has grown to be what it is today through the passion of initially Nicola's parents, Brian and Robin Sage, and since 1986, Brian Megaw and Nicola.
Being away from the main tourist centres, we have tended to develop systems and ways of doing things, that somewhat surprisingly to us have become industry standards.
From the very beginning our focus has been on delivering a quality, fun experience to our guests, maintaining good relationships with our local community, operating with a minimum footprint in our natural environment, and being sustainable in all ways (see Our History page).
The Team
During the year we have staff who come and go with the season. Some working summer, and some winter. While Kiwis make up the core of the staff, we welcome people of other nationalities that work with us, and who buy into River Valley being a special place. Pictured below are some of the current River Valley team.
Follow this link to catch up with a pictorial look at some of the antics of the team.
Brian
River Valley and Nicola have been Brian's passions for over 20 years for River Valley, and longer for Nicola.
An experienced river guide, Brian tends to drive computers more than rafts these days, but does like to get out on his cataraft occasionally. Is known to comment after these trips - "Sometimes it's just good for the soul to go and get scared shitless!"
Owner and occasional river guide.
Nicola
Nicola is certainly the more glamorous member of the River Valley owners team. Nicola has grown up and spent most of her life in the area around River Valley. After rearing 3 children, she took up river guiding for a few years, retiring relatively recently.
Nicola is now focused on her loves of making sure River Valley is as good as it can be, enjoying her horse Rico and the restoration of her original family homestead.
Owner, receptionist, stables guide, Pirelli Practitioner and retired river guide.
River Valley Stables
Janey
Janey has lived most of her life at River Valley, growing up amongst river guides, rafting talk, and exercising her love of horses and rural life. She has spent 3 winters rafting in the USA, and is a seasoned Rangitikei Grade 5 Guide. Now she is following her passion for horses and is operating River Valley Stables. Recently (April 2008), Janey and Tom had a new addition with the birth of Isla Kowhai, a beautiful little girl and they are due for #2 early 2010.
Senior River Guide, River Valley Stables Manager, River Valley Assistant General Manager, Mother
Isla
The newest member of the River Valley team, currently only 20 months old but already on her way to being a trained stables and river guide. Which if she does do will make her a fourth generation guide. Isla rules the roost at River Valley and has a ball every time she is here.
General source of entertainment and resident screamer
Pippy "Mini Mouse"
A Fox Terrier, she can be seen gracing the lodge with her presence when either Janey or Tom are about. Also currently ranking as best friends with Isla.
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Lizzie
Having tried the conventional job experience she has seen the light and come over from the dark side. With a finger in every pie she can be seen working in many guises throughout the Lodge. With guiding experience in Turkey and New Zealand she is now resident river and stables guide here at the valley.
Head Stables Guide, River guide, member of the marketing team and hostess.
Reception Staff & Lodge Assistants
Amanda
A local Taihape lady born and bred. She is one of the new additions to the Valley. If she is not found behind reception she will be found riding her friend and companion sweetness, the horse if there was any confusion!
Receptionist
Sian
A local Kiwi lass from Wanganui. Can be found making sure the Lodge is spic and span or else making friends with the bartender. She is a keen dancer, which takes up most of her evenings!
Housekeeper
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Melissa
After being the resident chef for a while, Melissa thought she would mix things up and now helps out on the reception. She's that friendly voice who keeps everything running smoothly.
Receptionist.
Swayze
Swayze is from National Park and can be found lending Sian a hand with housekeeping, sharing stories over the bar or helping out at the Stables. A keen skier and outdoor adventure junkie - has a daredevil streak in her, partial to a bit of paragliding!
River Valley Cafe & Bar Staff
Jess
Jess is a returning employee as she just missed it so much. She is a fashion designer by trade but couldn’t resist another summer at River Valley. Jess is the one you will all likely get to know well as she is loads of fun and works behind the bar.
Sani
Sani is our latest addition, a local family man who is our new Chef. Sani has had experience working with the lovely Ponsonby crowd in the big smoke, to the characters out at Waioru Army Camp. He is originally from Niue, a tiny island near Tonga and loves Hiphop & R&B... we are all looking forward to seeing some of his dance moves soon, to see if he can dance as good as he can cook!
Transport
Neville
Neville is our local transport operator. He will often be seen not only transporting River Valley clients, but popping up in all sorts of places in the central North Island. Always ready to hop behind the wheel anytime of day or night.
Brian
The other Brian, affectionately known as "The Fat Dad". Brian with his wife Robin, were the original founders of River Valley and the first generation of three rafting on the Rangitikei River. These days is often seen shuttle driving, or buried in his sound room following his passion for recording music. For a personal message from Brian & Robin, click here.
Senior River Guides
Tom
Tom, with his flowing golden locks and rugged looks, is always a client favorite. Tom is a solid Senior Grade 4/5 river guide with 12 years rafting experience in New Zealand and overseas. Tom inspires confidence in his crew as they storm their way down some of the hardest whitewater in New Zealand. Other than rafting and shearing sheep, Tom is often found cooking up a mean curry in the kitchen and even meaner home brewed beer!
When not on the water Tom can be found doting around River Valley with his gorgeous daughter Isla.
Rafting Manager, Trip Leader and Senior River Guide
Gordy
A solid Grade 4/5 raft guide and excellent kayaker, Gordy is a real asset at River Valley. This boy is passionate about rivers and even spends the winter months trying to guide in French in Canada!
A pretty social chap, Gordy realized that was a lot more fun in a raft with other people than alone in his kayak - but he still finds time to throw himself off waterfalls! Gordy is a favourite with our female guests, not for his looks, but for his keen sence of style and love of chick flicks.
Trip Leader and Senior River Guide
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River Guides
Sam
With a strong desire to never have a 'proper' job he is a fully paid up member of the Peter Pan so ciety. Being a Grade 5 river guide he is enjoying the challenges of the Rangitikei river and all the social aspects of rafting. Sam has also guided in the US, Turkey, Canada and Mexico.
With his booming English accent and larger than life presence, Sam is hard to miss at River Valley. When not on the river, Sam enjoys working around the Lodge - adding to his growing portfolio of Sam'isms.. ! Sam enjoys falling out of his raft and his favorite movie is Bruno...
Jess
After traveling the world, Jess decided to come back home to River Valley. After all New Zealand has pristine water quality, towering mountains, world class whitewater, and 18 sheep to every person - what else could a river guide ask for. As a third generation raft guide, Jess is at home on the Rangitikei. Jess is a solid Grade 4/5 raft guide and he has also guided in Australia and Scotland.
He enjoys scaring himself in his kayak and loves taking long romantic walks with his beautiful girlfriend Swayze. Ocassionally, Jess can be found coaching the other guides on the art of keeping lasting relationships - after all he is a true kiwi gent...
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Arnie
Arnie is from the US and has spent the last decade and more avoiding real jobs in search of the finest whitewater the planet has to offer. Arnie has also guided rivers in India, Nepal, Turkey and throughout the US. He has always wanted to guide Grade 4/5 rivers in New Zealand and enjoys every day on the Rangitikei.
Arnie also enjoys long chats with Brian at the River Valley bar, with topics ranging from social networking to their respective weights, from hair loss to rowing catarafts! Arnie loves burgers, curry and ice cream - and insists Kiwis drive on the wrong side of the road..!
Ben
As an Australian, Ben uses any excuse he can to leave his country. He is a laid back character who is rarely ruffled even in the most challenging situations, especially when dealing with the rapids on the Rangitikei. Ben's great humour and "tassie" roots underlie his great life experiences.
Ben is living the life at River Valley, training to be a Grade 4/5 guide from the characters above. He enjoys late night skype sessions and a cold beer with the boys.
Marketing
Courtney has joined us from Europe for the summer, although originally a farm girl from the nearby Manawatu. Courtney is here to help with the marketing of River Valley and would be more than happy to answer any questions you have regarding what goes on at River Valley. Can be spotted relaxing near the river or riding her bike on the long hill trek home. Courtney@rivervalley.co.nz
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