About Us
First Training was established in 1997 to meet a growing demand for training and qualifications from people involved in outdoor employment, education and recreation. This service has now expanded to include standard First Aid training and shorter courses so that workplaces and community groups can meet OSH requirements.
First Training's team of skilled facilitators are all experienced outdoor leaders and trainers. They all have a wealth of knowledge and experience gained over many years with outdoor instructing and guiding, NZ Outdoor Instructors Association, and Surf Life Saving. They can apply real experience to theory to bring the learning alive.
Our lead facilitators all have Pre-Hospital Emergency Care and NZ Resuscitation Council qualifications.
We have an advisory panel madeup of doctors, paramedics, educators and lay people.
First Training is NZQA registered and provides OSH Compliant courses.
- Hands-on courses using scenario-based interactive learning.
- Highly experienced facilitators at the forefront of the industry.
- NZQA units and OSH compliant courses.
- High degree of flexibility in terms of locations and timings.
- Our courses are NOT DULL!
Our Staff
Jo Piggins realised her passion for the outdoors after her
children went to school and she completed a Diploma in Outdoor Recreation
Leadership and a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation. Jo holds the Pre-Hospital
Emergency Care Technician award and has been involved in many first aid
incidents. Running, surf life saving and mountain biking, as well as standing
on the sideline supporting her children with their sports, fills in the spare
time. She says that "a glass of good red wine with friends is my perfect
finish to a day".
Chris Gulley has been involved in the outdoors from an early
age. He holds many outdoor qualifications and has a lot of personal
experience. He has hiked the entire Appalachian Trail in the USA and
adventured extensively in New Zealand (including a 4-month trip from Cape
Reinga to Bluff) and Alaska. When he's not working outdoors he's either out
enjoying it - mountain biking with his two dogs (Bodger and Jaspa), kayaking,
tramping or climbing - or doing renovations and drinking coffee. He is an
assessor for the Sea Kayak Operators Association of NZ and holds the
Pre-Hospital Emergency Care award.
Coryn Laloli Where there is smoke there is Coryn Laloli.
Coryn has been a firefighter with the Huia Volunteer Fire Brigade for 7 years
and is a Coordinator of the Medical Co-response Unit. She has gained various
New Zealand Fire Service qualifications and also ambulance qualifications
through time spent with St John's Ambulance. Coryn has been involved in many
humanitarian and first aid emergencies. She has completed a Taranaki
Polytechnic Certificate in Adventure Tourism and an Outward Bound Classic
Course. Her passions are anything to do with sport, having competed at
representative levels in swimming, cricket and hockey. In her spare time you
can find Coryn relaxing at home in Huia, pottering around in her garden or out
hunting with her husband.
Graham Frith left his "real job' in 1986 and began working in
the outdoors full time. Since then he has owned his own Outdoor Pursuits
business, managed an Outdoor Education Centre for a Trust, and guided and
instructed in New Zealand and overseas. His passion, is however, still
teaching and ensuring that people enjoy themselves safely in the outdoors.
Graham is a member of NZOIA and NZRA, and he is also a member of the Volunteer
Fire Brigade, in the lovely Hanmer Springs. His wife and son are both
Paramedics, and his daughter is a Physiotherapist, so you could say that
"fixing things" is in the blood. When not busy working, he can be found
outdoors, orienteering, kayaking, mountain biking or tramping; anywhere that
keeps him away from the gardening.
Angela Crates
Angela joined First Training after working in her own company for 8 years. Angela originally trained as an accountant but saw the light and now takes on the role of Administration Manager at First Training. Outside of work Angela spends most of her time involved with activities with her son, including being a Cub leader with Te Atatu Endeavour Sea Cubs, Manager of her son’s soccer team and involved with Junior Surf at Bethells Beach. She is super organised and super nice!
Bryan Reddish Bryan Reddish has been actively interacting with the outdoors his whole life. You can tell from the wrinkles that he has looked at one to many sunsets. He gained NZOIA qualifications in Sea Kayak, Bush and Cave and studied Parks and Recreation at Lincoln University and Secondary Teaching at Canterbury. His Medical background includes Ocean Medic, PHEC and the work done on himself and friends over the years of outdoor activities. After three years of working at Tihoi Venture School he has moved to the bright lights of Auckland for a quieter commute.