Thank you to those making it all possible

Swim4TheOcean has been built on belief.  

Belief that urgent change was required to bring an end to bottom trawling.   Belief in Jono Ridler and that a swim could help spark a national conversation and international attention. And, at Live Ocean, belief that we were ready to take on an issue this big with a mission this ambitious. 

But big ideas need a lot of support and we wouldn’t be here without the incredible belief of Swim4TheOcean’s Platinum Supporter TMNZ, our Gold Supporters – Generate, APL, Forsyth Barr and StabiX, our Silver Supporters – Pak’n Save (7 stores listed below), LeisureShed, PredictWind, Dentons, Patagonia, Go Media and SwimScape and a long list of others – Armstrong Foils, Brittain Wynyard, EcoFlow Store, GMTS Group, Hirepool Equipment Hire, ITM Tuakau, Musashi, Sony, The Honda Shop, Safety at Sea and SunZapper.  

Platinum Sponsor

TMNZ – We’re incredibly grateful to have TMNZ (Tax Management New Zealand) as Swim4TheOcean’s Platinum Sponsor. 

TMNZ is New Zealand’s first Tax Pooling Intermediary. They are a business committed to delivering innovative tax solutions to more Kiwi businesses, to help our economy grow. And they invest 100% of their profits for a restored and thriving Aotearoa through Whakatupu Aotearoa Foundation.  

Gold Sponsors  

• APL – APL is the largest window solutions provider in Aotearoa and has been proudly family-owned and NZ Made for 50 years. APL has an ongoing commitment to the local community, the environment, and the regeneration of Aotearoa’s natural biodiversity. The APL team recognises the vital role ocean restoration plays and is a long-term partner of Live Ocean with a focus on marine science and innovation with global implications. APL has gone beyond their existing support for Live Ocean to sponsor Swim4TheOcean.

• Forsyth Barr – Forsyth Barr is a New Zealand business and now operates 25 offices across the country. The company was Live Ocean’s first foundational partner and an integral part of Live Ocean’s formation. Like Live Ocean, they’re a local organisation with a global outlook and a belief that New Zealand has world-class talent and environment that needs supporting. Forsyth Barr has gone beyond their existing support for Live Ocean to sponsor Swim4TheOcean.

• Generate – As a proud NZ-owned KiwiSaver provider, Generate is committed to helping Kiwis achieve their retirement goals while fostering a thriving environment for the future. Generate is also a long-time and hugely valued support of Live Ocean and each year. Generate has gone beyond their existing support for Live Ocean to sponsor Swim4TheOcean.

• StabiX – StabiX is ground zero for durable amphibious boats that push the limits of what a boating experience can be. We knew we needed something pretty special for this mission, and when we asked StabiX came on board to help make this mission possible – generously providing the use of the brand new StabiX amphibious boat you see in our swim coverage.   
   

Silver Sponsors  

• Pak’n Save stores including Whangarei Pak n Save (Todd & team), Abany Pak’n Save (Jason & team), Botany Pak’n Save (Russ & team), Tauranga Pak’n Save (Dean & team), Papamoa Pak’n Save (Rob & team), Gisborne Pak’n Save (Brookes & team), Napier Pak’n Save (Sonya & team). This group has come together to ensure Jono and the on-water and shore-based operations team are powered up and well fed with a supply of stores and produce to the meal preparation team.  

• PredictWind – this New Zealand company providing the fully customised live tracker allowing people to follow this epic mission and Jono’s progress and the conditions he’s facing real-time in a way that’s never-been-done before in the world of ultra-distance swimming.  

• Patagonia – kitting out our team in the best apparel to ensure they are ready for all conditions, on and off the water.  

• Leisure Shed – these legends have helped with the epic Swim4TheOcean Concept caravan and facilitated countless other wants and needs we’ve talked to them about along the way.  

• Dentons – A long-term partner of Live Ocean, providing expert legal guidance.  

• Go Media – Making our charity marketing budget go exponentially further and taking Swim4TheOcean to the masses with outdoor billboard placements around country. 

• SwimScape – For their marathon swimming expertise helping make this swim possible. 
   

Crew Sponsors  

• Armstrong Foils – Contributing funds, equipment and sharing the message to other ocean lovers.  
• Brittain Wynyard – Providing deck chairs, water coolers, headlamps, sleeping bags & chilly bins. 
• EcoFlow Store – Providing Ecoflow power stations to ensure the team are powered up and ready to go on land and water.  
• GMTS Group – Keeping us connected with data and equipment for all content and connection needs.
• Hirepool Equipment Hire – Providing the use of a large double axle furniture trailer.
• ITM Tuakau – Providing us with a large double axle trailer.
• Musashi – Providing nutritional supplements for Jono.
• The Honda Shop – Keeping the team powered up with a EU22i generator.
• Safety at Sea – Providing life jackets for the on-water team.  
• Sony – Supplying top of the range camera equipment for our content team.
• SunZapper – Providing Jono’s extreme zinc sunscreen, and more for the mission team!  

Thank you all for backing this mission, it is so exciting to see it come to life. Thank you for your trust. And thank you for helping make Swim4TheOcean a reality.  

Go, Jono!