Mick Hopkinson, of Murchison, ONZM, for services to kayaking and outdoor education
Mick Hopkinson was a kayak slalom Racer and has made several ‘world-first river descents’. He helped create the professional standards for outdoor instructors through setting up the New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Association. He established the New Zealand Kayak School, which offers free lessons to local kayakers and low-cost courses to youth in the Tasman region. Mr Hopkinson founded and became the Director of Castle Hill Outdoor Centre, the Outdoor Education branch of St Andrew’s College. He served as the Director of the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre near Turangi and helped set up the kayak instruction and River Rescue courses for the New Zealand Canoeing Association. He is an advocate for river conservation and a member of Search and Rescue New Zealand and St John.