When Rolf arrived in the Waikato in 2011, the Waikato Orienteering Club had been in recess for 18 months. Rolf set up a committee which he chaired and recruited others to assist, soon after the club was running a number of events.
Rolf fulfilled the landowner liaison role for the Hawkes Bay Orienteering Club for four years, before moving to Waikato. He was the President of the Orienteering Waikato Club for nine years from 2011-2019. Rolf remained on the Orienteering Waikato committee, having a large input, from 2020-2025, and has recruited many other committee members.
During his time on the committee Rolf has been big on strategy, and has been integral in instigating Orienteering Waikato’s recent logo refresh and pushed for the introduction of Orienteering Waikato shirts.
Rolf was pivotal in developing the concept and introducing Rugged Rogaines which are now Orienteering Waikato’s most successful series. He was instrumental in introducing a number of orienteering and rogaine series in the Waikato and as lead numerous major events.
Rolf was also the instigator of the Save the Sanctuary Rugged Rogaine fundraiser in 2025 which raised nearly $9,000 for the Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari when funds were badly needed.
National Volunteer Week (NVW) honours the collective energies and efforts of volunteers across Aotearoa New Zealand. ONZ thanks many people who give their time and skills to our community without recognition, simply as a contribution to the sport so many more can participate.
