Athlete - Researcher - Biosecurity Advocate
Ashton Reiser is one of New Zealand’s top kayaking talents, currently a member of the NZ Elite Sprint Kayaking team. Having been practicing his water skills since his surf lifesaving career commenced in his teen years, Ashton, now at 26 years of age, currently is ranked number 11 in the world in the K1 500m.
Ashton started kayaking with the North Shore Canoe Club when he was 15, driven by a desire to perfect his paddling technique, with his sights set on kayaking as an Olympic sport, where New Zealand has a long and proud tradition. He wants to follow in the paddling glory of Sir Ian Ferguson and other Kiwi kayaking greats, to get the most out of his potential as one of the world’s top athletes.
Ashton prides himself on being a grounded person, multi-talented at that. When he is not training or kayaking, Ashton is busy studying for a Masters of Science at the University of Waikato. He is currently working in partnership with the Department of Conservation to research the best methods to detect pest fish in New Zealand's lakes using environmental DNA technology. Ashton is also a biosecurity advocate for the Waikato Regional Council and the Ministry for Primary Industries, where he works with community groups and major water-sports organisations to stop the spread of aquatic pests.
