Flying Kiwi Team

Meet the team Photo taken by: (Flying Kiwi Traveller)

The Flying Kiwi adventure team

Here are a few of the regulars!  

If you are interested in joining the Flying Kiwi team then check out our recruitment page.

dennis

Dennis

Marketing Director (owner)

Originally from Manchester in the UK, Dennis has been in New Zealand since his school days. In charge of all things Marketing related, he is committed to showing travellers the real New Zealand.  Away from the office Den is a keen biker and involved with many local and national organisations related to the travel industry and the varied interests of his family.

Vonnie

Vonnie

Accounts Manager (owner)

Vonnie has a background in HR and hotel management and takes care of the Flying Kiwi accounting. Passionate about fitness and sport, she enjoys travel and the outdoors.  In her spare time (not much) she is mother to two boys and coaches/manages a number of sports teams.

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Brenda

General Manager

With a taste for adventure, Brenda took her Kitesurf ‘kit’ around the world working for Air New Zealand as an International Flight Attendant. No newcomer to the world of tourism, she has created, managed and owned a successful adventure tourism company. After working in Australia as Sales Manager for a tropical island resort she has returned to New Zealand to join Flying Kiwi, where she now channels that experience, imagination and energetic enthusiasm into her role as General Manager.

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Neil

Business Development Manager / UK Sales

Neil is our marketing guru and currently resides in the UK. He is a footie and surf mad web wizard who is biding his time for a return to the land of the long white cloud. Neil lived in New Zealand for almost 7 years and fell in love with the outdoors lifestyle.

He currently looks after product marketing and many of our European agents and partners.  If you have feedback on anything Flying Kiwi then please get in touch.

Tim

Tim

Operations Manager

Tim grew up in the UK and has been around adventure all his life. Camping holidays throughout Europe, coupled with “back to basics” survival trips with The Scouts, really set Tim up for the life he lives now. Travelling to New Zealand in 1999, Queenstown and more recently Nelson have become his home. A corporate careerist turned extreme sports athlete, the one thing that has never changed is Tim’s desire to explore the world around him.

 

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Steely

Operations Coordinator

Hi, I'm Mark, a.k.a. "Steely". Born and bred in sunny Nelson, after leaving college I worked in the timber industry then studied adventure tourism, which lead me to becoming a tour coach Driver/ guide for Flying Kiwi (It's the best job ever!). In my spare time I like to make the most of the outdoors and am passionate about windsurfing, mountain biking, Jetskiing, rock climbing, running, scuba-diving, fishing, trail bike riding, hiking and swimming just to name a few. Adventure is life!! 

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Jo

Tour Consultant

Johanna is our longest standing team member, first falling in love with New Zealand and Flying Kiwi when she arrived here as an intern from Germany in 1997. After completing a Tourism Degree in a small town near the German Alps, she could not stay away any longer and returned to New Zealand to start a full time position with us. Coming from a rather busy part of the world, she appreciates wide open spaces. She has a 9 year old daughter to keep her on her toes, but always makes time for a bush walk, yoga or a good game of squash to help her stay sane!

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Penny

Tour Consultant

After a few years working elsewhere Penny just couldn’t stay away and has recently rejoined the great Flying Kiwi family! She’ll be the one answering all your tour questions and helping you plan your adventure to this amazing country.  Born and bred around the top of the South Island, she left the area after high school to study then travel oversea’s. She has worked all over the world as a dive instructor before deciding that there was no where like home and returned to Nelson where she enjoys getting out into the mountains, camping, fishing and exploring the country with her 2 children. She’s also a mad keen runner, having done several marathons and is currently training for an Ironman.

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Robbie John

Tour Leader

Kia Ora! My name is Toby, but everybody calls me Robbie John. I was born and raised in the rural North Island. I have recently finished studying Adventure Tourism at NMIT, Nelson. I enjoy being outdoors and I love to travel, so I have turned my dreams into a reality and a new journey. I have had many great adventures, with many amazing and unexpected experiences.  Experience is the key to happiness and my partner and I are excited to have the privilege of guiding our visitors through the great journey that is Aotearoa, New Zealand.

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Aaron

Tour Leader

Oh hey there. Yeah nah so New Zealand is pretty sweet as aye. I Love to travel but if I spend to much time away from New Zealand I start missing all our good food like...meat pies, marmite and great hoppy beers. We have it so good in New Zealand, so much good nature to enjoy any kind of out door activity you can think of especially on my home island - the South Island, so many sweet as rivers and mountains. I'm looking forward to showing you around.

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Sam

Tour Leader

Kia ora, I've been incredibly fortunate to spend many years traveling the world, working in a variety of tourism roles. Whilst guiding Northern Lights tours in the fjords of Norway, I realised I had to come home to New Zealand and show off our amazing country. For me there is nothing better than getting outside on adventures and looking for wildlife.  My next big challenge is the 2020 Pyoungyang marathon in North Korea - You are of course welcome to join my daily training runs on tour!

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Mike

Tour Leader

Kia Ora! I’m Michael, but feel free to call me Mike. I fell in love with the outdoors growing up in the stunning Taranaki region. Always eager to be outdoors enjoying the wonders this country has to offers is at the base of who I am. Having spent over a decade in tourism in all the best places in both New Zealand and overseas, I feel privileged every day to be able to share this amazing country with you. I love trying new things and living out of the box, as that’s where we grow the most. But most of all, I’m looking forward to seeing your endless smile while enjoying this spectacular country. Peace, Love and Laughter!

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Jamie

Tour Leader

Kia Ora, my name is Jamie and I hail from Australia. Having travelled the world hiking long trails wherever I could, I settled into guided expeditions in the Outback and over in Canada. I have always loved New Zealand, and it’s endless adventures and now I’m so excited I get the chance to show off this amazing country and explore  the Land of the Long White Cloud with you all.

tara

Tara

Tour Guide

Kia Ora! I'm Tara. Just a classic kiwi girl from Wellington. The great loves of my life are travel, food, reading, hiking and paddle boarding. I have spent a few years abroad but the beautiful Aotearoa keeps pulling me back! I enjoy getting off the beaten track and making great memories and trying new things. I can't wait to show you all my amazing country, kiwi style!

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Janelle

Tour Guide

Hello, I’m Janelle and I grew up on the remote and rugged West Coast of New Zealand's South Island in a small town called Greymouth. I am passionate about the outdoors and up until joining Flying Kiwi have been working as a sea kayak guide in both New Zealand and Australia. Rain or shine I will always have a smile on my face and I looking forward to meeting you all!

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Jackie

Tour Guide

Hey Travelers! My name is Jackie. I am originally from New York and a Registered Dietitian. My love of food and the outdoors has brought me around the world and eventually to sunny New Zealand. After exploring New Zealand a few years back I knew I had to come back and this time I am lucky enough to share the excitement I had about the country with all of you. Can’t wait to meet you!

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Nick

Tour Guide

Kia ora! My name is Nick. I am a passionate outdoorsman. Since studying a diploma in adventure tourism at NMIT I have been able to turn my hobbies into a career. Some of these hobbies include, whitewater kayaking, canyoning, snowboarding and tramping. I am stoked to be here at Flying Kiwi and cannot wait to show you around this beautiful place we call home!

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Clodagh

Tour Guide

Kia Ora future Flying Kiwi whanau, my name is Clodagh (rhymes with Yoda) and I am from Wellington. I've spent the last few years chasing winters so I am pumped to be back in New Zealand this summer! I'm looking forward to big yarns, campsite feasts and epic adventures as we explore this beautiful country together.

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Lea

Tour Guide

Kia Ora Folks! My name‘s Lea and I‘m from Munich in good old Germany. Before coming to New Zealand my passion for travelling took me around the world for a couple of years. NZ‘s amazing landscapes, it‘s culture and wonderful people got me hooked straight away and made we want to stay - plus with a love for all sorts of outdoor sports like surfing, rafting, hiking and snowboarding this place is absolute paradise for me. Now I am super excited to travel around this beautiful country with all of you and make some awesome memories along the way. I‘m sure you will fall in love with this place as much as I did!