The Central Otago paddler wants to be at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 and then the Brisbane Games in 2032.
His goals do not stop there.
"Further than that, it’s to be just like Finn Butcher — to be the Olympic champion," Collier said.
"I’ve got aspirations to get to that level."
Collier is no stranger to hard work and knows what the next few years will bring if he is to reach the pinnacle of canoe slalom.
He has a great role model in Butcher to help him get there.
Collier grew up around the Butcher family in Alexandra, working for their family business, the Orchard Garden, and formed a "really special connection" with the whole clan.
Butcher took Collier under his wing, pushing him to give everything a go on the water and it was a heartwarming moment for Collier to watch his inspiration be crowned the Olympic champion in Paris this year.
"We grew up and were watching the international scene from our TVs and laptops . . . and Finn Butcher was our link to that," Collier said.
"He was our in-person connection to the international scene.
"Seeing him achieve highly, but then also being such a community focused and driven person was really inspiring. I think it shaped a lot of the values that I also try and emulate."
Collier, 21, recently won the national under-23 title in K1 male at the New Zealand
canoe slalom championships
in Mangahao.
He came second overall to Butcher, and Central Otago Whitewater team-mates Thomas Goldsmith and Ollie Goldsmith snapped up third and fourth.
Collier, who is based in Cambridge, also placed second overall in the C1 male and in the under-23 section.
The national championships were held later this year — they were postponed due to flooding — and Collier was rapt with his performance considering he was just back from the international circuit.
He returned to New Zealand in August, and had a few weeks down time, before preparing for the national event.
It has been a solid international season for Collier, who embraced being part of the New Zealand senior team alongside Butcher, kayaking great Luuka Jones and Tokyo Olympian Callum Gilbert.
Collier said he had learned a lot from them.
He was also pleased with his sixth-placed kayak cross finish at an Olympic qualifier in Prague.
There will be little time to rest over the coming months for Collier.
Alongside his own training, Collier is coaching in Matamata and he has found it has given him a new outlook when it comes to his own paddling.
He helped out coaching in Central Otago, while still at Dunstan High School, which started his passion for coaching and passing on his knowledge to other paddlers was gratifying.
"It’s so satisfying to see the progression of the youth."
Collier, who is still studying at the University of Waikato, also hoped to head to China for more international competition over the new year.
