An archival Fiji Times report shows Shotover Jet Fiji was named the 1995 FTIB Exporter of the Year in the service category, a recognition that highlighted the company’s rapid imprint on the islands’ tourism scene. The story, published on December 5, 1996, underlined how the Denarau-based operator had expanded Fiji’s visitor offerings by introducing “a unique and thrilling experience” only two years after launching operations.
Shotover Jet, an extension of New Zealand’s Shotover Jet Limited, began its first offshore services from Port Denarau on Denarau Island near Nadi in February 1994. The Fiji operation quickly gained a reputation for professional, high‑standard service, bringing a high‑adrenaline attraction to beaches and mangrove-lined channels well before jet‑powered rides became a feature along the Sigatoka River. The company’s move into Fiji marked its first operation outside New Zealand, the report noted.
The rides themselves combined close‑quarters manoeuvring through mangrove forests with high‑speed runs out into open ocean, often bringing passengers within a hair’s breadth of rocks and other obstacles. Drivers performed the full 360‑degree spins that became the hallmark “Shotover Jet drivestyle.” Despite the intensity of the experience, safety was stressed: all drivers completed at least 120 hours of on‑water training and paired thrills with commentary on Fiji’s culture and history for passengers aboard each trip.
The FTIB award recognised both the company’s service standards and its role in diversifying Fiji’s tourism product. Shotover Jet’s parent in New Zealand had already built a strong reputation, collecting accolades such as the New Zealand Supreme Tourism Award and recognition as a top visitor attraction. By 1996, Shotover Jet Limited was reported to have carried more than 1.5 million passengers over a 26‑year history, a tally that helped cement its status as a pioneer in commercial jet boating.
Hillary Finnie, manager of Shotover Jet Fiji at the time, reflected on the achievement, pointing to earlier international recognition for the group. “Our New Zealand company was awarded the Tradenz Award for excellence as an exporter of services in 1994. Winning the FTIB Exporter of the Year Award in our second year in Fiji was very exciting,” she told The Fiji Times.
The award and the company’s early success underscored a period in the 1990s when Fiji was broadening its tourism appeal beyond traditional beach and resort stays to include adventure and experience‑based products. Based at Port Denarau, Shotover Jet Fiji’s blend of adrenaline, safety procedures and cultural engagement helped establish a model for adventure operators aiming to offer world‑class thrills while integrating local storytelling and service standards.
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