Cold exposure is common in New Zealand’s outdoor environments - from rapid weather shifts to cold water exposure - and carries several risks.

For those working in search and rescue, event coordination, health and safety, or healthcare, having a solid understanding of how to recognise and respond to the major effects of cold stress is essential.

Get insights from world expert Professor Jim Cotter

Professor Jim Cotter

In the first part of this engaging presentation and Q&A session, Professor Jim Cotter - a world expert in environmental and exercise physiology from the University of Otago - will share key insights into the science behind cold injuries such as hypothermia and how they play out in outdoor and emergency environments.

His decades of research include a cold exposure experiment with filmmaker James Cameron, testing survivability following the sinking of the Titanic.

Professor Cotter will explain:

What happens to the body in cold conditions - from the initial cold shock response to hypothermia
Who is at risk and why
What effective response and early treatment can look like in the field
What does and doesn’t work in prevention

If there is interest and time, we can discuss the therapeutic effects of cold stress.

Prof Cotter is no stranger to the cold himself, regularly swimming in Otago's frosty southern waters.

Hear lived experience of cold exposure

During the Q&A, Professor Cotter will be joined by two people with firsthand experience of cold exposure - Rob Creasy and Bethany Rogers.

Rob Creasy

Rob Creasy

Rob is the Regional Manager - Southern at Coastguard Tautiaki Moana. He has a strong background in search and rescue, elite sport, and exercise science. Rob served in the New Zealand Defence Force as a Navy diver, trained as an infantry soldier, and worked as a Bridge Watchkeeper aboard HMNZS warships. He also held leadership roles as Officer in Charge of three warships under Logistics Commander (Maritime).

After leaving the military, he worked as a high-performance sports scientist preparing Olympic and world-level athletes. Rob is also a decorated multisport athlete with multiple age-group world titles in triathlon and long-distance events.

He completed a PhD in collaboration with Professor Jim Cotter, focusing on cold exposure and human performance. Rob will draw on both his own experiences and his work supporting and rescuing others in cold environments.

Bethany Rogers

Bethany Rogers

Bethany is a Queenstown-based writer and adventure athlete. She recently competed as a Frozen Fern at the International Ice Swimming Championships in Molveno, Italy.

Ice swimming must be undertaken in water colder than 5°C, and Bethany has just completed an Ice Mile (1.6km) at St Bathans. She is a local member of the Southern Lakes Swim Club, which swims year-round in Lake Whakatipu.

Bethany will give some insights into her response to cold water, and the warming-up process afterwards.

What you'll gain

Whether you're involved in outdoor safety, supporting others in the cold, or want to sharpen your understanding, this session will give you:

Key insights into recognising and managing cold exposure
Practical tools for responding safely in both water and air
Knowledge to support others or yourself in intentional cold exposure

Event details

Start time:	Doors open at 6:45pm. Session starts at 7:00pm.
Parking:	Available at the Frankton Marina carpark - just a short walk from the Coastguard unit.
Refreshments:	Tea and coffee available before the session begins.

Join us for free or donate to support Coastguard Queenstown!

Everyone is welcome to attend at no cost. If you’re able, please consider donating to help Coastguard Queenstown keep our community safe on Lake Whakatipu. As a charity, we rely on donations to fund training, rescue gear, and support for our skilled volunteers who are out in all weather, all year round. Every bit counts - thank you for your support!