Pitch Deck: Rakaia Redemption

2022: Havelock Valley

2022: Godley Valley

Concept

In August 2026, the crew will depart from Auckland with their sights set firmly on the Rakaia. They will have three weeks to attempt driving their vehicles to Ramsay Glacial Lake, marking the border of the Adams’ Wilderness Area. From there, they will assess whether it’s possible to continue to Lyell Glacial Lake; if not, the mission will continue on foot.

With two videographers and a photographer dedicated solely to capturing this journey, no detail will be overlooked. The goal is to produce a series of films that combine new footage with highlights from previous expeditions, building a narrative that illustrates just how challenging this adventure is.

Rather than forcing a narrative, the films will let the expedition unfold organically. Talking-head segments will be captured before, during, and after the trip to outline expectations, share experiences, and reflect on the journey. By blending raw adventure footage with personal perspectives, the story will document the full scope of this ambitious expedition.

Crew

From the original expedition, Billy Nunweek, Jack Laurent, and Kayla Westal form half of the core crew that successfully reached the headwaters of both the Godley and Havelock Valleys. Liam Padden joined the team during the subsequent attempt on the Rakaia and will return for this expedition.

New additions to the crew include Jamie Rayel, James Power, Rene Vermeer, and Guy Prendergast, with plans to recruit two additional expedition members and a fifth vehicle prior to departure.

Billy, Jamie, and Rene will lead the creative output of the expedition. Billy and Jamie will focus exclusively on video capture, while Rene will be responsible for still photography. Jack will act as lead navigator, with Liam, James, and Guy driving the remaining vehicles.

At present, four vehicles are confirmed for the expedition: Billy’s 1994 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, Jack’s 2009 Toyota Land Cruiser Troop Carrier, James’ 2021 Toyota 79 Series Land Cruiser, and Guy’s 2005 Toyota 105 Series Land Cruiser.

More detailed biographies for each crew member, along with links to their social channels, can be found here.

Past Expedition Media

The first expedition in 2022 resulted in a 50-minute feature film, captured and edited by Will Scown of DaysRun. Still imagery from this expedition was captured and edited by Billy Nunweek. In addition, a written account of the journey into the Godley Valley was published in 4xJournal (Issue 005). A second written piece is currently being drafted for Issue 006. You can view all media here, or in the Expeditions tab above.

Although the second expedition in 2023 was filmed in full by Billy Nunweek, Will Scown, and Josh Hilliam, no final film was produced due to the team’s inability to reach the objective and their intention to return and complete the mission.

The intention is to release the original 2022 feature film publicly in early August 2026 to coincide with the launch of this new project.

Brand Value

Within New Zealand’s four-wheel drive community, it’s abundantly clear that the appetite for well-produced, narrative-driven adventure content set at home is at an all-time high. This is evident in the rapid growth and engagement surrounding Griff Hill’s YouTube channel, Troopn_Adventures. For years, many of us have looked across the ditch to Australia—at the work of 4WD 24/7 and Harry Fisher of Fire to Fork—wishing there was an equivalent locally produced offering. That gap in the market still exists.

While New Zealand is our foundation, the intended audience extends well beyond it. We are targeting viewers in Australia and the United States, aiming to engage men and women aged 25–40 who are drawn to adventure, the outdoors, and off-road travel. This audience is actively seeking authentic expedition-style storytelling and will be captivated by New Zealand’s unique landscapes, the four-wheel drive culture, and high-quality production that prioritises character, challenge, and environment.

If you’ve received this pitch deck, it’s because you’ve been selected deliberately. Through our own field testing, we have confidence in your products and believe they are built to perform in extreme conditions. This expedition provides an opportunity to demonstrate that reliability in real-world scenarios—by subjecting them to some of the most demanding terrain and volatile weather New Zealand has to offer.

2023: Rakaia Valley

Distribution Plan

The finished film and associated content will be released on YouTube via a newly created channel under the media house Caia Cruisin’ Productions. The ambition is to have this film ready for submission for the 2027 New Zealand Mountain Film Festival with the online release due immediately after.

In addition, 4xJournal will publish a feature article following the expedition and prior to the film’s release. This will serve to build anticipation and drive audience interest toward the eventual online launch.

The distribution strategy will remain flexible, as the final format of the project—whether a series of shorter films or a single feature-length piece—will be determined once the expedition is complete and the full scope of the captured material is assessed. We are giving this project the space it needs to breathe to ensure we can do our story justice.

Brand Partnership and Deliverables

Deliverables will be tailored to meet your brand’s specific needs, offering far more than a logo in the credits. Opportunities include on-screen visibility in the film, custom cutdowns for your social channels, still imagery, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive licensing of all produced material.

We are seeking brands interested in becoming a Presenting Partner. This partnership provides exclusive rights to on-screen presence with no competing brands, as well as prominent representation across our vehicles and expedition content. Presenting partners will also receive direct product mentions within the content, ensuring clear association with the brand—for example, naming your product directly in context rather than generically.

While we are open to supporting partners who may not be presenting partners, exclusivity in these cases cannot be guaranteed. All partnerships require a financial investment, as this project is primarily seeking strategic brand partners rather than gear sponsors.

Past Brand Partners

We have previously partnered with a number of leading brands across the photography, outdoor, and four-wheel drive sectors, including:

• Canon New Zealand

• Fujifilm NZ

• Dometic

• Enerdrive

• Front Runner Australia

• Parrotdog

• Alu-Cab Global

• Judge and Company

• Roam Vehicle Outfitters

• Jetstar Australia

These partnerships demonstrate our ability to deliver high-quality exposure and engagement for brands within challenging and authentic adventure environments.