Guide agonises over her future

Jodie Sullivan is comforted at the funeral of Floyd Fernandes. Photo /

The future of the instructor who led an ill-fated canyoning trip into the Mangatepopo River is up in the air, and colleagues say she is still too grief-stricken to make any decisions.

The Weekend Herald understands outdoor pursuits instructor Jodie Sullivan was continuing to mourn among friends and family at the Outdoor Pursuits Centre near Turangi yesterday after attending each of the seven victims' funerals in the past week.

Ms Sullivan led a group of 11 Elim Christian College students and their teacher, Tony McClean, on a canyoning trip on the river on April 15 when a flash flood increased the river's volume dramatically and the seven were swept to their deaths.

A survivor of the tragedy, Sarah Brooks, the grieving father of teacher Tony McClean, Elim Christian College staff and a local river expert have backed Ms Sullivan, saying she should not be blamed for the tragedy.

But despite these public endorsements and an outpouring of support through emails and phone calls to the centre at Tongariro National Park, it remains unclear whether Ms Sullivan will continue in her role.

The chief executive of the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre, Dr Grant Davidson, said Ms Sullivan had not made any decisions about her future. An internal investigation into the accident, the result of which would be made public, had begun.

"At this stage we think it's wise just to give her some time to get herself and things together ... she has been incredibly brave in dealing with this.

"She's as okay as anybody in her situation could be but she's obviously still feeling immense grief."

Ms Sullivan, who had been in the job for three months and had gained experience in similar roles overseas, drew praise from Dr Davidson for attending the funerals.

"I think it shows a lot of courage and integrity."

He said OPC staff had "suffered quite heavily" and had counselling sessions this week in dealing with the organisation's worst tragedy.

Meanwhile, the rahui (temporary ban on activities) placed on the Mangatepopo River remains, despite the OPC opening its doors again to groups last Sunday. Dr Davidson said the lifting of the rahui was "a matter for the tangata whenua to decide".

"But my belief is that at some stage in the near future the parents will be visiting the site.

"It won't be until after that that anything happens."