KEY POINTS:
A Norwegian man killed when his raft overturned was an extreme-sports competitor on the edge of a snowboarding career.
Tor Prestmo, 24, arrived in New Zealand a month ago, aiming to upskill as a whitewater rafting guide before returning home after summer to the alpine community of Oppdal.
He was undergoing a trial with rafting company River Valley and a decision on whether he would be trained and employed for the season was to be made in coming weeks.
But Mr Prestmo died on Saturday when one of two rafts on a commercial tour overturned on the challenging Fulcrum Rapids on the Rangitikei River, northeast of Wanganui.
His body was found wedged under a rock about 1 metre under the water almost a day later.
Brian Megaw, managing director of River Valley, described Mr Prestmo as an experienced and eager rafter, who had worked as a rafting guide in Norway since 2002.
Mr Prestmo was also an "extreme snowboarder" and skier, he said.
"When he went back, if he won two more races, he was going to get a pro-snowboarding sponsorship deal."
Mr Megaw said his staff, who had become friends with Mr Prestmo and who helped retrieve his body, were "much better today". There was some "closure" for them in being able to retrieve Mr Prestmo's body.
Maritime New Zealand was investigating the death, a standard procedure when there was a fatality.
Mr Megaw planned to contact Mr Prestmo's mother in Norway to extend his condolences.
New Zealand police are liaising with the Norwegian Embassy in Australia to return Mr Prestmo's body to his family.
