Paul Caffyn, ONZM, Runanga
For services to sea kayaking and water safety. Mr Caffyn is an internationally recognised sea kayaker, who has dedicated more than 35 years to promoting sea kayaking and promoting water safety in New Zealand and internationally; most of this has been on a voluntary basis. He has been editor of the ‘New Zealand Sea Canoeist’ magazine for 20 years, and edits a 200-page manual for New Zealand sea kayakers. He maintains a database of recreational paddling incidents and fatalities, and provides expert witness reports for coronial inquests. He co-founded the Kiwi Association of Sea Kayakers in 1991 and has been on the committee ever since. He has worked with Maritime New Zealand and Water Safety New Zealand, promoting safe kayaking for recreational paddle craft. He was the first kayaker to paddle around the three islands of New Zealand, and around Great Britain, Australia, Japan and New Caledonia. Mr Caffyn’s year-long 1982 journey around Australia is considered one of the most significant sea-kayak voyages ever made, and he was the first to paddle solo around the coastline of Alaska.