Committee
The executive committee of the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association.

Guiding
For the purpose of this document `guiding’ is defined as work with clients on a professional basis in the pursuit of either mountaineering, backcountry skiing and snow boarding, rock climbing, ice climbing, or glacier walking.

Executive Officer
The appointed officer of the NZMGA whose responsibility is the day to day running of the association. All initial enquiries and monies paid are done through the Executive Officer.

IFMGA
International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations. Also known as UIAGM (Union Internationale des Associations des Guides de Montagne). NZMGA is a member and sets its training and certification standards at the level of this international body.

NZMGA
New Zealand Mountain Guides Association.

NZMGA Course
Any of the training courses run by NZMGA for training and assessment in the disciplines of skiing, climbing, or glacier guiding.

NZSIA
New Zealand Ski Instructors Alliance.

Participant
A person attending an NZMGA course for training and assessment.

Professional Guidelines
NZMGA’s guidelines to its members of their working limitations and responsibilities to their association.

Supervising Guide
An IFMGA Guide or NZMGA Ski or Climbing Guide acting in a supervisory role within the training programme.
Supervision guidelines
NZMGA’s guidelines to its members on the work supervision requirements built into the system.

Technical Subcommittee
Those members of the NZMGA Committee who are IFMGA Guides.

Technical syllabus
The instruction syllabus determined by NZMGA.

Terrain Guidelines
NZMGA’s guidelines to its members of the terrain limitations of each level of qualification.

Training Officer
The appointed officer of NZMGA whose responsibility is the administration of NZMGA courses.

Categories of Guide

NZMGA recognises three streams of New Zealand guides – Ski, Climbing, and Glacier.
Ski and Climbing Guides may be Trainee Guides, Assistant Guides, or fully qualified Guides.
The international categories Aspirant Guide and IFMGA Guide are also recognised.

NZMGA Trainee Ski Guide and Trainee Climbing Guide
A member who has passed an NZMGA Guides Course Level 1 in either the skiing or climbing disciplines but has yet to complete the period of direct supervision required after completion of the course.

NZMGA Assistant Ski Guide and Assistant Climbing Guide
A member who has passed an NZMGA Guides Course Level 1 in either the skiing or climbing disciplines and completed the period of direct supervision required after completing the course.

NZMGA Aspirant Guide
A member who has Assistant Guide status in both skiing and climbing disciplines, plus at least 40 days supervised work experience in each discipline.

NZMGA Ski Guide
A member who has passed the NZMGA Ski Guide Programme.

NZMGA Climbing Guide
A member who has passed the NZMGA Climbing Guide Programme.

IFMGA Guide
A member who has passed both the NZMGA Ski Guide and NZMGA Climbing Guide Programmes to the international standard set by the IFMGA. The full name is IFMGA Mountain and Ski Guide.

NZMGA Glacier Guide
A member who has passed the NZMGA Glacier Guide Programme.