Expedition Crew
First Unit Videographer
Billy hasn’t always belonged to the wild. Nature wasn’t his first love, it found him later, in his early twenties, since then, it has never let go. What began as curiosity became compulsion. Since 2016, he’s chased every opportunity to disappear into open spaces, where dust, light, and silence shaped two lifelong passions: photography and overlanding.
Those passions now pull him toward the edges of maps. From the wide, wind-scoured valleys of the Canterbury High Country to the raw, volcanic stillness of the Icelandic Highlands, Billy is drawn to places that demand effort and reward it with wonder.
This expedition has been at the forefront of Billy’s mind for more than five years. Seeing it come to completion will close a chapter, but it also opens a much bigger book, one in which he hopes will see him explore not only the farthest reaches of New Zealand, but of the world.
Lead Navigator
Jack’s connection to the outdoors has been shaped over thousands of kilometres on the road and countless nights spent off the beaten track. An avid adventurer at heart, he has dedicated years to exploring New Zealand’s more remote and lesser-known regions, developing a deep respect for the landscapes and the self-reliance required to travel through them. What began as a passion for travel and exploration has evolved into a lifestyle centred around overland journeys, remote access, and purposeful adventure.
Through extensive time on the road, Jack has gained firsthand experience in navigating challenging terrain, living out of a vehicle, and pushing into places where preparation and capability matter most. Today, he brings that experience into every expedition and collaboration, driven by a desire to tell authentic stories from the wild and to partner with brands that value exploration, durability, and a genuine connection to the outdoors.
First Camera Assist
Kayla is most at home in nature, where her passion for exploring New Zealand’s untouched and remote landscapes truly comes to life. An animal lover through and through, she works with animals in her day to day life, and it’s rare to find her on an adventure without her dogs by her side, they are as much a part of the journey as the destination.
Kayla brings a calm, grounded presence to every expedition, playing a crucial role in the day to day organisation and coordination of the team while on the road. Alongside this, she comes equipped with the technical skills to capture high end point of view footage, ensuring the story of each journey is documented from an immersive, authentic perspective.
Navigator
Liam, is a passionate and experienced outdoorsman who has always had an affinity with the outdoors, going on his first camping trip at just 8 months old, he found himself being influenced by the likes of Steve Irwin and Bear Grylls, It was only natural that he found himself delving into the wild in his mid teens, which gave Liam the idea of joining the military until a friend pointed him towards an outdoor education course at university.
Off-roading took over Liam's life in his early 20's when a friend at the time bought his own four-wheel drive in which they used to travel across New Zealand which only motivated Liam to invest in something of his own. Eight vehicles and the odd whoopsie later, Liam still spends every waking moment either on the trails or thinking about returning to them, often spending weekends as a navigator in a comp truck.
Navigator
Jimmy’s passion for adventure has come from years of living and working on the road, where travel isn’t just a means of getting somewhere, but a way of life. Having spent the past few years constantly on the move, he has developed strong real world off road experience across a wide range of terrain, building the skills and confidence that only come from time living the lifestyle.
Equally comfortable behind the wheel or setting up camp in remote locations, Jimmy thrives on the unpredictability that comes with true adventure. His love for exploration, paired with practical experience in off-road travel and self-sufficient living, makes him a natural fit for expeditions that value resilience, adaptability, and a genuine appetite for the unknown.
Second Unit Videographer
Jamie was first introduced to the great outdoors in his early teens when he found himself on a high school trip up the Wanganui River which, simply put, was his light switch moment. Since that day, Jamie has devoted a significant amount of the calendar year to being in the wild. It was at the beginning of 2018 that Jamie found his interests peaked by the Overlanding scene that was slowly finding its feet in New Zealand, later buying his own four wheel drive only to find himself on his first South Island adventure, on which he and his partner got engaged.
Since then, Jamie has acted as a support driver on many expeditions on both funded trips and passions projects however he’ll be truly testing himself this time out as he gives up the drivers seat and picks up the camera as he looks to lead the second videographer on the Rakaia Redemption expedition.
Photographer
René is a storyteller, photographer, and lifelong adventurer with a passion for the outdoors. Growing up in New Zealand, he was equally at home behind a camera or behind the wheel of anything with four wheels, chasing stories that capture the raw beauty of the land and the people who explore it.
His curiosity has carried him from motorsport circuits in Japan to the remote backcountry trails of the Flinders Ranges, shaping a career built on creativity, grit, and a love of vehicles — with human-centric stories always at its heart. As the founder and editor of 4XJournal, René continues to document journeys both big and small, blending technical insight with a human touch. Whether out on assignment in the high country or working late to bring a story to life, René thrives where adventure and storytelling meet.
Navigator