Gordon & Mary Rayner

Gordon, a native Kiwi, is an active kayaker, and the sport has taken him and his family to many different parts of the world (he met his wife, Mary, on a kayaking and rafting rally in Russia in 1989). The two of them have coached whitewater and slalom kayaking to local kids for 20 years, many of whom have represented New Zealand internationally. He has advocated for the protection of Central Otago's whitewater rivers for many years, and retired from full time practice as a lawyer at the end of 2019, which now allows him to pursue other interests that include ecological projects and travel to wild places. An experienced hiker, Gordon has an abiding love of New Zealand's natural history.