This qualification will provide the outdoor recreation sector with individuals who are able to lead, mentor and educate developing leaders, guides and instructors in specific outdoor activities. These individuals can also instruct and/or guide participants in high hazard and/or technically complex outdoor or recreational environments.

This qualification will further extend the instructional competence of individuals who already hold extensive applied instructing experience in dynamic, multiple-hazard outdoor activities.

Graduates of this qualification are able to work independently and contribute to the daily operation of, and work under, a Safety Management System (SMS).

Graduates will have specialised knowledge and skills to provide senior leadership for a specific outdoor recreation activity depending on which strand is achieved.

Graduates will contribute to the cultural, social and economic wellbeing of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Graduates of this qualification may apply for full registration on the New Zealand Register of Recreation Professionals (NZRRP).

Graduates of this qualification will be able to:

- Implement and review policies and systems to manage risk and safety for an outdoor activity operation within the parameters of an organisation's safety management system.
- Apply specialised technical knowledge and experience to manage the provision of outdoor recreation activities in a range of dynamic environments.
- Select and apply a range of pedagogical principles and practices to educate individuals in the instruction and/or guidance of a range of technical competencies for specific outdoor activities.

Graduates of the Alpine strand will also be able to:
- Apply leadership, technical competency and experience to educate others and lead alpine climbing trips (including multi day trips) up to and including Logan Grade 2 in moderate alpine terrain, managing dynamic risks.

Graduates of the Bush strand will also be able to:
- Teach other instructors, guides and leaders how to instruct bush walking activities.

Graduates of the Caving strand will also be able to:
- Instruct the skills required for positive, educational and safe caving experiences.
- Teach other leaders, instructors and guides how to guide caving activities.

Graduates of the Education Outside The Classroom strand will also be able to:
- Lead autonomously and have responsibility for the professional learning and performance of others in EOTC programme delivery and management.

Graduates of the Mountain Biking (Grade 5) strand will also be able to:
- Specialise in instructing and guiding mountain biking activities on trails up to and including Grade 5 including trails in 'remote locations'.
- Teach others how to guide and instruct mountain bike activities up to and including MTBNZ Grade 5 trails.

Graduates of the Senior Raft Guide (Grade III) strand will also be able to:
- Specialise in instructing raft guiding skills, teaching other leaders how to guide rafting activities and leading trips, on moving water up to and including Grade III, and operating as a Senior Raft Guide Grade III.

Graduates of the Senior Raft Guide (Grade IV/V) strand will also be able to:
- Specialise in instructing raft guiding skills, teaching other leaders how to guide rafting activities and leading trips on moving water up to and including Grade V, operating as a Senior Raft Guide Grade IV/V.

Graduates of the Senior River Boarding Guide (Grade III) strand will also be able to:
- Specialise in instructing river boarding skills, teaching other leaders how to guide river boarding activities on moving water up to and including Grade III, operating as a Senior River Boarding Guide Grade III.

Graduates of the Senior River Boarding Guide (Grade IV/V) strand will also be able to:
- Specialise in instructing river boarding skills, teaching other leaders how to guide river boarding activities on moving water up to and including Grade V andoperating as a Senior River Boarding Guide Grade IV/V.

Graduates of the Rock Climbing strand will also be able to:
- Instruct in multi-pitch rock climbing skills required for a positive experience.
- Teach other leaders, instructors and guides how to instruct rock climbing activities.

Graduates of the High Ropes strand will also be able to:
- Teach other instructors and leaders how to lead and instruct high ropes activities and to provide safe experiences on high ropes.

Graduates of the High Wire strand will also be able to:
- Teach other guides and leaders how to lead and guide high wire activities and to provide safe experiences on a high wire activity.

Graduates of the Sea Kayaking strand will also be able to:
- Instruct the skills required for positive, educational and safe sea kayaking experiences in open and exposed water.
- Teach other leaders, instructors and guides how to guide and instruct sea kayaking activities.

Graduates of the Whitewater Kayaking strand will also be able to:
- Instruct the skills required for positive, educational and safe whitewater kayaking experiences on Class 3.
- Teach other leaders, instructors and guides how to guide and instruct whitewater kayaking activities.

This qualification builds on the:
- New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Instruction) (Level 5) with strands in Alpine, Bush, Caving Streamway, Education Outside The Classroom (EOTC), Mountain Biking (Grade 4), Rock Climbing, Canoeing, High Ropes, Sea Kayaking, and Whitewater Kayaking [Ref: 3661];
- New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Guiding) (Level 5) with strands in Bush, Caving, Mountain Biking (Grade 4), National Raft Guide (Grade III), National Raft Guide (Grade IV/V), National River Boarding Guide (Grade III), National River Boarding Guide (Grade IV/V), Rock Climbing, Canoeing, High Wire, Sea Kayaking and Whitewater Kayaking [Ref: 3660].

Graduates may be able to pathway to relevant higher-level study.

Organisations or workplaces within the Outdoor Recreation sector may be covered by The Vulnerable Children Act 2014, dependent on their organisation type or whether they provide services to organisations' responsible for children and/or youth. Where a learner engages with an organisation and/or activity that is covered by The Vulnerable Children Act 2014 they must successfully meet the safety check requirements. For the purpose of this qualification, engagement may mean employment, practical experience or any learning and assessment within a programme leading to this qualification.

Pre-requisite for entry to programmes for the Alpine strand: New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Instruction) (Level 5) with Alpine strand [Ref: 3661], and the New Zealand Certificate in Avalanche Risk Management (Level 5) [Ref: 3490].

Pre-requisite for entry to programmes for the Education Outside The Classroom strand: New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Instruction) (Level 5) with EOTC strand [Ref: 3661] or be able to demonstrate equivalent skills and knowledge. It is strongly recommended that those wishing to enter this strand be a New Zealand certified teacher.

Pre-requisite for entry to programmes for the Mountain Biking (Grade 5) strand: New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Instruction) (Level 5) Mountain Biking strand [Ref: 3661] or be able to demonstrate equivalent skills and knowledge.

Pre-requisite for entry to programmes for the Senior Raft Guide (Grade III) strand: New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Guiding) (Level 5) National Raft Guide (Grade III) strand [Ref: 3660].

Pre-requisite for entry to programmes for the Senior Raft Guide (Grade IV/V) strand: New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Guiding) (Level 5) National Raft Guide (Grade IV/V) strand [Ref: 3660].

Pre-requisite for entry to programmes for the Senior River Boarding Guide (Grade III): New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Guiding) (Level 5) National River Board Guide (Grade III) strand [Ref: 3660].

Pre-requisite for entry to programmes for the Senior River Boarding Guide (Grade IV/V): New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Guiding) (Level 5) National River Board Guide (Grade IV/V) strand [Ref: 3660].

Pre-requisite for entry to programmes for the Rock Climbing strand: New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Instruction) (Level 5) Rock Climbing strand [Ref: 3661].

Pre-requisite for entry to programmes for the High Ropes strand: New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Instruction) (Level 5) High Ropes strand [Ref: 3661].

Pre-requisite for entry to programmes for the High Wire strand: New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Guiding) (Level 5) High Wire strand [Ref: 3660].

Pre-requisite for entry to programmes for the Sea Kayaking strand: New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Instruction) (Level 5) Sea Kayaking strand [Ref: 3661].

Pre-requisite for entry to programmes for the Whitewater Kayaking strand: New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Instruction) (Level 5) Whitewater Kayaking strand [Ref: 3661] or New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Guiding) (Level 5) Whitewater strand [Ref: 3660].

Requirement for the award of the following strands:
Senior Raft Guide (Grade III), Senior Raft Guide (Grade IV/V), Senior River Boarding Guide (Grade III), Senior River Boarding Guide (Grade IV/V).

To meet the requirements of the Maritime New Zealand Rule Part 81 learners must demonstrate that they have current River Rescue Skills. This must be evidenced by the completion of a New Zealand Rivers Association for Professional Guides (NZRA) River Rescue Workshop, Whitewater Rescue Technician (WRT2) or River Rescue Certification for Professionals (RRC-PRO) or NZRA recognised equivalents. This workshop must have been completed within the last 18 months and therefore may need to form part of the programme towards the relevant strand.