Was an ‘amazing guy’
the community. RIP Chief,’’ another post said.
In a statement, Queenstown Rafting said the company was mourning the loss of one of the world’s leading rafting guides.
Queenstown Rafting operations manager Guido Leek said Chief was ‘‘just a legend’’.
‘‘You can’t get more experienced than he was, especially on that river. He was someone doing something he loved, he loved that river.’’
He said Haare started rafting in the eighties and was an integral member of Queenstown Rafting since 1996.
‘‘You never saw Chief grumpy or having a bad day, he was always happy. He kept on rafting time after time, day after day, year after year.’’
Head rafting guide Michel Lepage said Haare was always going out of his way for others.
‘‘He added half an hour onto his day just picking guides up and dropping them off. Chief had really made Queenstown his home and the Shotover his river.’’
She said Haare was loved in the rafting community and tributes were flowing in from all over the world.
‘‘We would get customers coming in to the office asking for Chief. We’d say ‘do you know him’ and they’d say no, they’d just heard of him and wanted to meet him – he was such a legend in the industry.’’
His bio on the Queenstown Rafting website explained his claim to fame: ‘‘With over 20 years and thousands of trips under my belt, I’m the longest-standing river guide for Queenstown Rafting.’’
Luke Taylor, general manger of Go Orange, which recently merged with Queenstown Rafting, said 11 passengers and three guides were on two rafts, which left Queenstown at 8am on Friday.
One of the rafts overturned about halfway through the trip, and Haare was found unresponsive in the water soon after.
‘‘Extensive CPR was performed at the scene including the use of a portable defibrillator until paramedics arrived, but he did not survive.
‘‘He was well-loved and highly respected. We are all devastated and staff have been offered support.’’
All rafting operations had been suspended and an internal investigation would be carried out, Taylor said.
WorkSafe New Zealand had been notified, and the company would ‘‘be providing full assistance to the authorities’’.
A special tribute was being planned for Haare, a Queenstown Rafting statement said.