In 2003 some South Island based guides talk about getting together. Jonas Asmussen comes up with the idea of an association for guides and contacts Isabelle Lotscher and Jutta Blank. Isa donates $200 for phone cards to ring other guides and Jutta  supplies  Jonas with guide's contacts details and suggest to get in touch with New Zealand Tour Driver’s Guild (NZTDG) where Jutta used to be a member.

 

Jonas Asmussen, ProGuides (PG) founder summarises:

• The main point was to create a voice for tourguides that would be heard in the industry - a voice that would represent the interests of guides e.g. in negotiations with  inbound operator contractual partners /employers  about issues that came up again and again in conversations with colleagues, who felt they were quite powerless as individuals and to create a forum where this voice could find its shape, where people could actually meet, virtually in a discussion forum on the net and in person through conferences, parties and so on.

• Personally I thought that a professional body would give us some weight in discussions with other professional bodies and government departments about matters concerning our work like legislation about driving hours, logbooks, DoC concessions, training standards and recognition as a highly skilled profession. In order to gain this weight, I thought it important that we became pro-active by setting membership standards, a Code of Conduct etc. and began to raise our profile by making people aware of what we do and how much we are part of shaping the image of NZ as a destination, but also how much we have to offer in terms of "quality control". It is already part of the job we do for the tour operators, but in my opinion we are in a prime position to provide a coherent picture of the performance of the whole industry in the eyes of our passengers.

• I also had some strong views on the current training and qualification regime and how we as the ones with the practical experience could improve it to make it meaningful and actually beneficial for experienced guides as well as new trainees.

• I thought in the long term we could convince the powers that be to protect us as a profession by licencing guides, because they would see this also as the best way to protect the interests of NZ as a quality destination. Last year (2010) John Key made it clear that this is not going to happen, but I still think it is a worthy goal, not only to keep competition from overseas guides out, but also to stay in control of how we want to present ourselves to visitors as a destination.

4 October 2003 Lyttelton – founding of ProGuides

First meeting of 13 guides (predominantly ex/current C&E) and the chairperson of NZTDG Miles McIlraith
An application for incorporated association PG was signed there and then with NZTDG as signatories.
(Subsequently however this was not used but redone in Hanmer Springs the following year)
Nevertheless NZTDG did stay in touch and were helpful answering any questions PG had.

2/3 May 2004 Meeting in Hanmer Springs

32 Members. 15 sign the form to become an incorporated non-profit society.
Logo has been created and 0800 number established (Logo & badges created by TMA Design, Auckland)
Interim Committee: Jonas Asmussen Chairperson, Claudia Duffy Vice-Chair, Siegrun Koop/Herbie Mues Treasurer, Isabelle Lotscher Membership Secretary.
Party: Come as your worst tourist

18 June 2004 Registration as Incorporated Society

11 September 2004 – First AGM in Nelson

Committee: Jonas Asmussen Chairperson, Claudia Duffy Vice-Chair, Siegrun Koop/Herbie Mues Treasurer, Isabelle Lotscher Membership Secretary, Klaus Rexer, Tine Becker, Jutta Blank, Lu Tyree, Marjorie Wilson.

2005

7/8 May 2005 Meeting in Auckland

Committee: Claudia Duffy Chairperson, Herbie Mues Vice-Chair, Brita Odersky Secretary, Isabelle Lotscher Membership Secretary and Treasurer, Jonas Asmussen, Jutta Blank, Klaus Rexer, Siegrun Koop, Tine Becker, Wilhelm Lehmberg.
Sent letters to IBO’s offering the Find-A-Guide service
DoC concession issue – Started meetings to get a National Concession for our members with Andy Thompson
Worked on Code of Conduct
Fundraising for local events only – not on a national basis
PG & NZTDG take up mutual membership. They also make each other mutual beneficiaries in their legally requested
folding clause.
Started contacting Immigration NZ about implications of overseas guides leading groups through NZ without work permits and without proper local knowledge taking work away from us

9 /10 Sep 2005  the famous first Punakaiki Social

Held at Te Nikau Resort. ~20 members attended for caving, flax weaving, whitebait patties, party time, Truman Track extension at 6am, moon set at 1.05am and lots of fun

3 December 2005 Annual X-mas BBQ in Auckland

6/7 May 2006 Conference in Christchurch

Committee: Claudia Duffy  Chair, Jonas Asmusssen Vice-Chair, Herbie Mues Secretary, Jutta Blank/Siegrun Koop Membership Secretary, Isabelle Lotscher Treasurer, Birgit Aikman, Tine Becker, Wilhelm Lehmberg, Lu Tyree, Tim de Jong, Matthias Schellhorn.
Re-align membership criteria and mission statement to provide a more relevant focus
Identify core membership benefits and values
Align PG with industry organisations to maximise the leverage they provide
PG has got a higher profile by now within the tourism industry
More job offers through email and also the Find-A-Guide page on the website
ATTTO certification has been taken up by more and more members
Involvement with TIA regarding DoC Concession issues. Join Bus and Coach Association (BCA) in their concession process but extend ad hoc walks for up to 2 hours.
Upgrade to our website
Introduction of Early Bird Fee
TIANZ offered (5-% reduced) $150 membership fee for PG members which was discussed and declined.
Membership drive to double our membership
TRENZ in Chch and some members will attend and hand out information about PG

3 December 2006 Annual X-mas BBQ in Auckland

5/6/7 May 2007 Conference in Auckland

Committee: Claudia Duffy Chair, Didier Bodin and Matthias Schellhorn Vice-Chair,  Mark Middleton Treasurer, Siegrun Koop and Jutta Blank Membership Secretaries, Herbie Mues Secretary, Birgit Aikman, Tin de Jong, Wilhelm Lehmberg, Chris Sloan.
Party: Kiwiana
Achieved goal and doubled Membership
Letters had been sent to several government departments regarding illegally working overseas guides and driver/guides
We placed an ad in the NZ Travel Industry Diary under the Tour Guiding Services
Started subscription to Nigel Conventry’s Inside Tourism, a weekly email industry newsletter
Chairperson attended the TIA conference
Chairperson met with Conservation Minister Chris Carter regarding the DoC Concession
Made PG merchandise available – hats, luggage tags and badges

September 2007 Social in Golden Bay

1 December 2007 Annual X-mas BBQ in Auckland

BCA sign off their DoC Concession but it does not include guiding ( a lot of their members are however not happy with the outcome)

2008

16/17/18 May 2008 Conference in Christchurch

Committee: Claudia Duffy, Chair, Matthias Schellhorn Vice-Chair, Jutta Blank Membership Secretary, Mark Middleton Treasurer, Vernon Reid Secretary, Birgit Aikman, Lu Tyree, Tine Becker, Didier Bodin, Clark Pollitt, Jack Clyne.
Speakers: Susanne Becken – Lincoln University, Dennis Robertson – LTNZ, Industry panel: Geoff Gabites – Adventure South, Juergen Thiele – C&E Tours, Russell Schofield – Johnston Coachlines, Mike Tamaki – Tamaki Heritage Group.
Party: Wildlife
Wrote up some minimum guidelines for being a touguide in NZ
Started Google PG forum
Started a membership swap arrangement with Interpretation NZ
Started looking into a Public Liability Insurance Scheme for our members
$4 AirBus Deal in Auckland

22 November 2008 Annual X-mas BBQ in Auckland

6/7/ June 2009 Conference in Auckland

100 Members reached! Excellent conference
Committee: Claudia Duffy Chair, Wilhelm Lehmberg Vice-Chair, Lu Tyree Secretary, Siegrun Koop Treasurer, Jutta Blank Membership Secretary, Birgit Aikman, Tine Becker, Didier Bodin, Clark Pollitt, Sharron Hickman.
Highlights from the conference: Dr Darren Gravely - Volcanology 101, MOTAT visit, Communications workshop, Sculpture walk in Domain, Big Picture in Fish Market.
Start of PG calendar so guides can meet while on tour in evenings or on days off
Article in BCA magazine about tourguides and its challenges
Ongoing dialog with Immigration NZ regarding illegal guides and driver/guides from overseas
Party: Black Light Party
Impacts of Swine Flu and the recession
We come up with a new model for the DoC Concession and continue our discussions with them

29 November 2009 Annual X-mas BBQ in Auckland

14/15/16 May 2010 Conference in Christchurch 

Committee: Claudia Duffy Chair, Wilhelm Lehmberg Vice-Chair, Lu Tyree Secretary, Siegrun Koop Treasurer, Jutta Blank Membership Secretary, Birgit Aikman, Tine Becker, Didier Bodin, Clark Pollitt, Sharron Hickman.
Highlights of conference: John Key, PM and Minister of Tourism attended, Paul Yeo, CEO ITOC confirmed a proposed MoU between both associations will go ahead, Walking tour of Lyttelton, Visit Kaiapoi Pa, Keith Woodford about A1/A2 milk, bike riding through Christchurch,
Party: Polynesian Party
Started a PG Facebook Page

10 – 12 September 2010 Social in Rotorua

5 December 2010 Annual X-mas BBQ in Auckland

26/27/28 May 2011 Conference in Auckland

Committee: Claudia Duffy Chair, Wilhelm Lehmberg Vice-Chair, Lu Tyree Secretary, Siegrun Koop Treasurer, Jutta Blank Membership Secretary, Birgit Aikman, Tine Becker, Sharron Hickman, Ngahuia Tahau, Kirsten Rodsgaard-Mathiesen.
Highlights of the conference: Prof Paul Moon on the  lead up to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi; Prof. John Montgomery on the sustainability of fisheries and the Leigh Research Centre;Guided walking tour of Parnell; Visit at the Navy Museum at Torpedo Bay.
Party: In an Octopus’s Garden Party on board of Explore NZ boat
11 July 2011 – Became an ITOC Allied Member