Deane Parker

‘My passion is inspiring others by video storytelling’.

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Deane Parker

‘My passion is inspiring others by video storytelling’.

“For as long as I can remember I have been passionate about exploring new landscapes, what's around the corner, over that ridge, or in that gorge”.

-Deane Parker

Photo: Grant Stirling - www.waiautoaodyssey.nz

About Deane

About Deane Parker

Mountain biking was the growth of my independence to the back country, even before I left high school. Scouring maps for rideable trails in the Top of the South Island. Rivers then drew me into another medium, to explore the depths of the multitude of the West Coasts' steep and thundering ribbons of cascading white water.

Starting a family steered me away from professional river running but I was never far from the back country rediscovering the bike and quickly rekindling the passion for back country trails especially in the high country of Canterbury and the Southern Alps.

Packrafts have also become one of my tools of adventure, lightweight white water capable inflatable rafts that can be hiked or biked into remote rivers. These boats make every landscape navigable.

In 2020 Deane was engaged by Quorum Sense as their visual storyteller and video content creator. Deane has captured footage of some of the most innovative farmers and growers in NZ

Adventure Films

In 2017 a team of 5 set out on an attempt to carry mountain bikes strapped to packrafts to paddle class 3 and access the unridden big mountain line of the imposing Dillon Cone. That attempt was unsuccessful. In 2022 three of the original team went back, to try again...

This bikepacking film brings you along for a ride on the stunning Kōpiko Aotearoa, an 1,100-kilometer route across New Zealand’s North Island. See the wonderful sights, meet the locals, and share in the physical and mental challenges of this bikepacking adventure.

'Forgotten Highways', a film of adventure and cultural discovery set in the Whanganui District. The film premiered at the 2020 NZ Mountain Film Festival, having received a 'Special Judges Award'. The film is a journey through a challenging landscape following the historical trails to and from one of NZ's most significant rivers (or Awa)

Follow Deane Parker a first time Brevet participant undertake a 250km weekend bikepacking event with 'The Flahute Presents', in the Canterbury high country of New Zealand.

Fluid Trails follows three adventurers as they make their way across Kahurangi National Park, New Zealand via mountain bike and packraft. The park is an ancient place of rare birds, rolling alpine tussock, earthquake shattered peaks and towering podocarp forests. A place of colonialism gold fever and endeavour.

3 adventurers, a film-maker and a photographer set off on a 6 day, 300km unsupported journey, by combining new bikepacking and packrafting technology. The Waiau-toa Odyssey was awarded the Best NZ Made Film for the 2017 New Zealand Mountain Film Festival. More about this Film : waiautoaodyssey.nz

Imagine a route, plot it, visualize it, plan it...embark. In this film that’s what two mates did with an ambitious 5 day loop of central Canterbury including a seldom biked crossing of the Main Divide at Harpers Pass.

Sam Jones, Deane Parker and cameraman Dylan Gerschwitz from @extremekidproductions set off on a trip that had been discussed for years. The loop contained a buffet of trail types from station roads to historic pack tracks to the Te Araroa route to the groomed singletrack of Craigieburn Forest and finally the bitumen of highway 73.

When you’ve pushed, pedaled and carried to the main divide through gale force winds and deep river crossings, Looking Down is Looking Up!

Partners

Thanks for images from Extremekid Productions and Grant Stirling, Stirling Images.

Adventure History

Professional outdoor work history

2004- present Thousands of kilometres of back country Bikepacking, hike in inflatable kayaking and pack raft trips and most recently bikerafting trips. since 2016 Deane has been acting as a brand ambassador during his trips, regular video blogs, gear reviews and Adventure Films.

2000-2004 Owner/operator of Riverplay, white water rafting and kayaking. Based in Hokitika and offering hike in inflatable kayaking and exclusive access to the Arahura river, also guided heli kayaking.

1995-2000 Director of Ultimate Descents, white water rafting and kayaking. Based out of Murchison and specialising in multi day heli rafting on the West Coast.

1989-1995 Mountain biking and road cycling, Nelson.

Film Work:

2021 Kopiko, The Film. An 1100km journey into the heartland of the North Island of NZ. Selected as a finalist for the 2021 NZ Mountain Film Festival.

2020 Forgotten Highways, The Film. A cultural and adventure experience filmed around the Whanganui National Park. Awarded a Judges choice at the 2020 NZ Mountain Film festival.

2019 Fluid Trails- Kahurangi Bikerafting Epic, The Film. An 11 day journey around Kahurangi National Park by packraft and bike. Selected as a finalist for the 2019 NZ Mountain Film Festival. Salsa Cycles coverage here. Alpacka Raft coverage here. Aqua-bound coverage here. pinkbike.com coverage here.

2018 Looking Down is Looking Up, The Film. Bikepacking film made as a collaboration with production company, Extremekid Productions and sponsored by Salsa Cycles. salsa coverage here, bikepacking.com here

2017 Waiau-Toa Odyssey, Bike & Packrafting Odyssey Adventure Film. Best NZ made film for the 2017 New Zealand Mountain Film Festival! Film website here.

2002 episode of Explorers, a TVNZ production that retraced some of the perilous journeys undertaken by New Zealand's pioneers. Filmed on the Buller river.

2002 episode of Adventure Guide TV, aired on TVNZ1 a 30 minute film of the first raft descent of the Upper Arahura river.

1998 Mild Seven commercial, river safety and stunt double at Maruia Falls.

1997 IMAX panda movie, river safety and stunt double on Buller river.

First Descents

2018 East Branch Poulter River?

2002 first raft descent Upper Arahura river

2002 Falls Creek, Hokitika, West Coast

2000 Bliss Falls, Toaroha River, West Coast

1999 Parapara River, Golden Bay

1998 Slate River, Golden Bay

1998 first raft Descent North fork Mokihinui river, Buller

1997 Cobb river, Golden Bay

1997 Upper Waingaro river, Golden Bay

Instagram

Another inspiring NZ Mountain Film Festival weekend, the introduction to Forgotten Highways was first up on the Pure NZ session, humbling to be included in the calibre of #adventurefilm in the 2020, 18th edition. Home grown film making is alive and well #downunder. Would loved to have had more time to catch up w heaps of folk and spread the inspiration to make films 👊 Kapai @nzmountainfilm @extremekid_productions @rab.nz @lumixnz @neilstichbury @makingtrax.co.nz @rose.green.nz @thegreenservice @uncle_muel @miltys_mountains and so many others.... #nzmountainfilmfestival #nzfilm #nzfilmfestival #film #filmmaker #lumixambassador #lumix #wearerab

Big day today introducing my new film Forgotten Highways at the @nzmountainfilm festival. It’s been a years journey to bring this film to fruition. A journey I always wanted to tell a story of inclusion and cultural discovery to a part of #aotearoa that was completely new to me. Massive appreciation to the team that collaborated on this project. @extremekid_productions and @thegreenservice for huge help with post production and research. The rest of the team @uncle_muel and @rose.green.nz for propping me up during the lows. For now if you want to watch the film head over to the NZMFF website to purchase your online ticket. Or stay tuned to @salsacycles for an online premiere sometime in the near future 😉 . . . @trackme.nz @alpackaraft @aquabound @salsacycles @groundeffectclothing @rab.equipment @julboeyewear @cyclewerksnz @goatcyclesnz @teravail @absoluteblack @lumixnz @bikeraftguide . . . #adventurefilm #bikerafting #filmfestival #thisisbikerafting #packrafting #nzmountainfilmfestival #thisispackrafting #film #packraft #filmcommunity #filmmaking #adventurebybike #wearerab #themountianpeople #filmfestival #bikelife #bikepackingnewzealand #nz #bikepacking #getlost #getoutandride #outsideisfree #lumixambassador #homesafe

Wow some good news! Fantastic result to find 2 lost trampers (hikers) after 19 days. I ain’t passing judgment on why or how I’d rather focus on ensuring this doesn’t happen to my adventure buddies or myself. I’m rest assured (as is my family) that I always carry a device that allows me to stay safe regardless of a 2 hour ride or a multi day epic. Yes I have support from @trackmenz, and yes these services incur a subscription. I’ve only had the latest tech from Trackme for last couple of years. Before that I used a purchased Spot for years and before that when Melissa Scarlett and I set up Riverplay in 2001 we were one of the first rafting operators (in NZ) to use an Iridum satellite phone as part of our safe operating procedures. My opinion is to be in the backcountry without this sort of insurance is irresponsible and throwing the dice 🎲 #gethomesafe 😊 #lost #trackme #trackmekiwi #trackmenz #getlost #lostinthebush #homesafe #safeashouses #bikepacking #bikepackingnz #hiking #hikingnz #tramping #trampingnz #nzmountainbiking #mountainbiking #backcountry

My 2nd favourite adventure of last Summer, dipping my toe in the water of a gravel event. Ride What Ya Brung was the result. Summary; gravel bikes are cool, can handle some terrain, and are light and fast. Will be planning some longer sojourns on the Cutty...@salsacycles 🙌 “Why? So many folk asked me that, you know my trail riding buddies. It was almost if I’d said I was changing...insert- occupation/sexual orientation/spouse/to road cycling. Who hasn’t heard about the rise of gravel cycling?” https://www.deaneparker.nz/blog/2020/2/19/ride-what-ya-brung Pics thanks to my good mate Dylan @extremekid_productions look him up if you need any photography or videography work. My first major collaboration with @trackmenz and their technical support keeps me safe and #homesafe. The @the_flahute runs a good gig and I highly recommend Shailer Hart’s low key bikepacking brevets. . . . @trackme.nz @salsacycles @groundeffectclothing @rab.equipment @julboeyewear @cyclewerksnz @goatcyclesnz @teravail @lumixnz . . . #microadventure #event #neverstopexploring #brevet #grassupthemiddle #bikeadventure #thisispackrafting #gravelgrinder #gravelbike #lifebehindbars #masteryourterrain #adventurebybike #wearerab #themountianpeople #lifeonthetrail #bikelife #bikepackingnewzealand #nz #bikepacking #getlost #getoutandride #outsideisfree #lumixambassador #homesafe

This post is in support of @rab.nz and thanks to @neilstichbury for supporting my #adventurefilm projects. @rab.equipment have become essential items in my gear. Rab downwear is the best quality gear for ultra lightweight cooler climate trips, I can trust my ZeroG jacket and Mthyic sleeping bag in the coolest environment. The Yarn. The West Coast has plenty of gems and has long been the region of NZ for aspiring hard kayakers to explore upper reaches of steep creeks and tight canyons. Most only accessible by helicopter or hard arse bush tracks. The paddling community on the coast are tough as nails and I have respect for the guys and girls still heading into the Awa’s that flow west, off the southern Alps. The river in the picture is the Toaroha, tributary of the Hokitika. It has a lower run, Grade 3-4 but the canyon upstream was an enigma during my time paddling rivers on the West Coast. I flew over it twice w legendary pilot Bruce Dando and whilst some of it looked enticing the sheer walls, slot canyons and massive waterfall in the middle made the hairs on the back of my neck prickle. In the early 2000’s I was guiding clients on kayaking trips out of Murchison and on one trip w a coupe of confident clients plus mates I asked Dando to drop us off a bit further upstream and suggested we walk a few hundred metres further to the last drop falling out of the gorge. The waterfall was easy and we all ran it successfully. I claim it as a first decent. Bliss Falls. Subsequently a team of the most experienced boaters on the coast found a line to put in below the big waterfall and ran the bottom half of the canyon, the video I’ve seen looks incredible and hats off to those w the 🎱 to get stout and run that, the big drop has also been run too. The paddler in the pic is Fraz, Fraser Champion, a crazy Canadian good bloke who spent a couple of years boating on the west coast in my time, helped me out at Riverplay doing some safety kayaking. Exceptionally good boater. Unfortunately the river took him away, way too early in an accident, a bit later in Canada. Taking a moment for the lost adventure buddies 🙏😔 Kia kaha team 🙌

This post is in support of @goatcyclesnz and @cyclewerksnz . Cyclewerks was pretty much the first brand that supported my filmmaking. Bryce has been involved in the bike industry for eons and his brand Cyclewerks imports and distributes some of the best brands in the business of #adventurebybike including #salsacycles Cycles, and @revelatedesigns 👌 Sam and Dave at Goat are the epitome of a new skool bike shop specialists in all things bikepacking brevet, hip commuting or just straight out booze biking. I love these guys they’ve gone the extra distance for my film projects to get mine and team members steeds in A1 conditions then I go out strap my bike to a packraft, scrap it on rocks totally immerse it then thrash it on all terrain, drop it of to the boys and it comes home going like new. Everyone’s saying it, #support local and I want to echo that. In future please do your research, where directly is your hard earned money going when u make a purchase, are you supporting local families? The Yarn, This pics are taken my last trip pre lockdown. My ride is a 2019 @salsacycles #salsahorsethief Horsethief. On the Whanganui project was only the 3rd time I’d ridden the Horsethief and I was questioning if it was right tool until right after I spent an hour and a bit carrying it out of the Whanganui Awa. As soon as I was able to start riding on the Matemateonga Gnarl, the Horsethief came into its own. Totally prefect ride for the expedition. Stay tuned for more, I’m gonna drop a full video review of this rig real soon. I can announce that the film resulting from the trip is called ‘Forgotten Highways’ and pending selection will be premiered at the @nzmountainfilm NZ Mountain Film Festival in another small support of keeping it local. Please take a moment to think about all the event and festival organisers at this time. Send them some love, a message or thumbs ups 👍 all it takes. and keep it alive Mark 🙌 Thanks so much for supporting my channel Bryce, Dave and Sam can’t wait to show you the new film #kiakaha #ambassdor #adventureambassador #supportlocals #supportadventurebrands #silverlinings #staystrong #adventure #support #gettingthrough

This post is in support of @groundeffectclothing .Ground Effect is the leading bike apparel manufacturer in NZ, in my opinion..I’ve been using GE gear for all types of riding and bikerafting for the past year or so and have never been more comfortable in all conditions. Their clothing is ideal for all my #adventurebybike applications. I pinch myself often to be on the #revolutionaries team for GE and am incredibly proud to represent. The Yarn. This picture is from my latest project, anyone that’s done the #TA or the Bridge to Nowhere trails will have seen the Niu Pole close to the high point before the descent to the Mangapurua valley. I’m as white as they come, a pakeha and whilst proud of our Maori culture have no lineage or identity to NZ’s ethnic group. For me this trip was as much cultural journey as an adventure one. The characters we came across and the footsteps we followed all resounded of ancient history, before the white fullas turned up and from then the endeavour to build settlements. We paid homage to a #taniwha early in the trip and not being a spiritual person thought nothing of it, and apart from one hiccup, (the taniwha swotting my drone out of the sky and ingesting it into the dankest, steepest forest possible), we really did have good fortune for the entire trip. Very grateful to the team for carrying camera gear, rolling B camera and keeping me feed and watered while I was fluffing w shots and tech. @rose.green.nz @thegreenservice @uncle_muel Stay tuned for more stories from the Whanganui project. Please show your support to local businesses such as Ground Effect Clothing. If though delivery is not possible right now imagine having that new jacket on your doorstep immediately as the lockdown lifts for your first venture into the backcountry. For more #stoke on GE check out my blog; https://www.deaneparker.nz/blog/2019/8/30/groundeffect #kiakaha #ambassdor #adventureambassador #supportlocals #supportadventurebrands #makingthebestofabadsituation #staystrong #adventure #support #gettingthroughit #groundeffect #nzmade #madeinnz #kiwimade #kiwi

This post is in support of @ultimatedescents.nz 🙏 UDNZ runs my favourite #rivers in the South Island. @tim.marshall.3511 is one of the most experienced rafting operators in NZ and Tim has been involved in the professionalisation of the #rafting industry here and also internationally. Half day family trips to hard core #helirafting multi day trips. The Yarn... The rapid in the picture is called Roaring Lion. Named after a side creek of the same name. It is more a section at 800m long, we used to break it into 3, #class5 sections. In my day we took much more risk commercially rafting. We ran some of these sections in all flows had many near misses, learnt a lot every trip but we coined the term ‘every trips an epic’ about the 3 day trip on the #Karamea River as ever time we ran it the ‘Lion’ it would catch us out, even if it was a 8 hour #portage top to bottom. The rapid was formed in the 1929 Murchison earthquake w those massive boulders falling of the limestone ridge in the background ‘Garibaldi Ridge’. The slip debris formed the most fearsome #rapid I ever rafted. I was shit scared every time I paddled up to the shore above it as it rumbled and water vapour formed a mist from the turbulence in the opening drop ‘into the lions den’. The risk are real running Roaring Lion. Those bus sized boulders made potentially deadly sieves (gaps in the rocks where water disappears into and who knows if a person went in if they’d come out) and massive hydraulics. The pic shows the third and final section. The guide is Pops, I’d love to know if he’s out there. Pops has completed the first drop and is hunkered down during the second and crux drop to line up for the final section ‘The Sphincter’ where u need to come out of that drop and exit out the bottom left of picture and not get pushed the other way into the house sized boulder and one of the biggest sieves of the whole ‘Lion’. I’d love to hear from you if you’ve got a tale of the ‘Roaring Lion’. Also in the picture is @wazza_bart in black and me in yellow covering the sieve on shore and Rob Coe in Safety #kayak ready to chase if needed. See more in comments 👇

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Cell: 0275840039

email: deane@deaneparker.nz

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