The call of the wild rivers
Mick Hopkinson has been shot at, killed a crocodile to avoid being bitten and nearly drowned a hundred times over – all during adventures taking part in his number one passion – kayaking.
It’s Hopkinson’s dedication to his sport and enthusiasm for passing on his knowledge that he is to be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to kayaking and outdoor education.
He said he had ‘‘a lot of fun’’ completing a number of world first river descents since his first and most challenging expedition on Ethiopia’s Blue Nile in 1972 with friends.
‘‘We were young, dumb, naive, and 22 years old.’’
He travelled the river after others had tried and failed.
He said it was ‘‘teeming with crocodiles and the locals shot at you’’.
‘‘We had various crocodile attacks but one of them came up right next to my kayak. I shot it. I had a revolver – I put the revolver between its eyes before it opened its jaws.’’
Other successful world first river descents include Dudh Kosi that runs off Mount Everest, Karnali in Western Nepal and Indus in western Tibet.
He said he owed a lot of his world firsts to kayaking being a new sport when he started out.
‘‘Nobody was doing it and we were out there doing all the first descents. It’s quite exotic really.’’
Experiencing the joy of New Zealand’s river rapids has given
Hopkinson an appreciation for them and a strong interest in preserving our rivers. He said there was too much focus on damming rivers instead of utilising wind and solar.
His achievements include setting up the New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Association in 1987, establishing the New Zealand Kayak School, founding Castle Hill Outdoor Centre in 1985, helping to set up New Zealand Canoeing Association kayak instruction and river rescue courses and he has served as the director of the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre.
He has also received awards and was entered into the International White-Water Hall of Fame in 2008.
Hopkinson said he had ‘‘mixed feelings’’ about adding the New Year’s Honour to his accomplishments as all of his work was a team effort.
‘‘I guess it’s a reflection of your involvement in lots of team events that make a small difference.’’