Special Thanks To My Sponsors

Waimarino
About Us Waimarino is a family owned and operated kayaking and adventure park located on the banks of the Wairoa River in Tauranga. Since the earily 1970's Waimarino has been at the forefront of developing young Kiwi's into world class athletles in the sport of kayaking. Barry and Barbera Anderson built this company up over the years, and now days their son Blair and his wife Charlotte have continued the dream...watch out for their two boys Alec and Marco as I'm sure they will continue the Anderson reputation for excelence. Trip Sponsorship Blair and Charlotte were my sponsors from the moment this trip began in late December 2009. I took my idea of this expedition to them just to see what they thought, but by the time I left they had convinced me that I was doing this trip and that they were my first sponsors. That was that! Since December both of them had been behind my trip every step of the way. As well as helping me with equipment, their advice and experience is an invaluable resource that I can always depend on.

Mission Kayaking
About Us Mission Kayaking was established in 1982 by two local Palmerston North boys, and has been producing top quality kit ever since. Mission Kayaking was the first plastic kayak manufacturer down under and has for 28 years now been refining designs and manufacturing purely NZ made kayaks, not to mention all the accessories that make your life that little bit more safe and fun. The Mission product range has steadily evolved over the years and in addition to its wide selection of paddle, PFDS and other accessories it now includes a wide variety of boats from recreational sit in and sit-on top kayaks through to fishing kayaks and high end plastic sea kayaks. Mission exports its stylish designs all over the world, relying on quality and innovation to compete. Trip Sponsorship Mission generously agreed to come on board with my trip in April. They are supplying me with their top level sea kayak, the Eco Bezhig as well as other asorted pieced of kayaking equipment. The Eco Bezhig is proving to be a serious weapon in my fight against the thousands of kilometres of ocean that I must cross. It is both extremely agile and stable under all weather conditions and simply loves to power through the relentless waves. This is how it has earned it's nick-name 'Waverly'. I look foward to the start of my trip this November, and I dream of the day when Waverly and I triumphantly paddle back into Waimarino at the completion of this trip.

Hydraulics
About Us From Hydraulics’ humble beginnings in the living room of two entrepreneurial locals to its current position as manufacturer of the world’s ultimate paddling equipment, the basic philosophy has remained unchanged. Hydraulics kayaking gear has always been designed and manufactured to allow you to enjoy the lakes, rivers and oceans as they should be. To allow you to experience the pleasure, fitness, refuge, sanity, adventures and challenges that paddling provides. Hydraulics was started by paddlers to allow fellow paddlers to be free to enjoy these experiences and special moments that we all crave for out on the water. Trip Sponsorship With their extensive range of kayaking gear and their reputation for quality, I was hugely excited to be offered sponsorship from Hydraulics. My trip will encounter some of the wost conditions emaginable and I will to rely daily on the equipment that I wear just for survival. Mission is supplying me with all of my base level kayaking equipment i.e. the things I put on first every day and could not do without. These items are specifically designed insulation layers that are both functional and stylish. They have also provided me with my PFD, and I can honestly say that I have never worn a more comfortable lifejacket in all of my life. Every day I look foward to putting this gear on. Not only is it comfortable and functional but it represents a standard of excelence that all of the Hydraulics team members aspire to.

Back Country Cuisine
About Us Back Country Foods Ltd operates from the city of Invercargill at the southern tip of New Zealand. The company owns freeze drying plant and other equipment necessary to manufacture our freeze dried meals. Many raw materials, for example meat and vegetables are produced by other food processors in Invercargill.Where possible the company uses local ingredients grown in the natural environment with a minimum of chemicals. The company takes pride in setting high standards of Quality and Food Hygiene. The company is licenced to the highest export standards and conducts regular testing on its products to ensure they meet strict standards. The business was established in July 1998 by Arthur Ballantyne who was Managing Director until mid 2009. Arthur and his wife Shirley sold their interests in the company on their retirement. Arthur’s expertise and experience continues to be available to the Company on a consultancy basis when required. These days Back Country Foods is owned by Kara and Brent Crossan, and equity partner Invest South Limited. Kara and Brent have a strong community sense with a great love of the outdoors. Trip Sponsorship Back Country Cuisine were the first company that I had to actually approach for sponsorship. Not being used to asking for things it was a very timid phone call that I made on Friday the 26th of March, just to ask if I could send through a proposal. On the following monday I got a call from Brent wanting more details and offering complete food sponsorship for my trip. To say that I was fizzing at the bunghole would be an understatement. In late April I visited the Back Country Team down in Invercargill. I was hugely impressed with their setup, and it was great to be able to met Kara, Brent and Analese. For this trip I will be relying on Back Country Cuisine freeze dried meals for the majority of my 3 main meals, and I look foward to experiencing the wide range of combinations that they have.
Active New Zealand
About Us Active New Zealand isn't just another tour company. They believe that scenery needs to be experienced, not seen through a bus window. An ACTIVE NEW ZEALAND trip is not a hiking tour - but you'll do some incredible hikes. It's not a cycling tour - but you can do some great bike rides! It's not a lazy vacation - but you'll finish their trips more rested than if you'd spent two weeks in bed! They like to visit some pretty wild places - on foot, by bike and by sea kayak - but they also like our creature comforts. Our days end with hot showers, sumptuous meals and clean sheets. They even arrange rest days, where you can lounge about with a good book and not get up till dinnertime. Most important of all, our emphasis is on exceeding your expectations. They'll take you to our mountains, rainforests, lagoons, fiords, volcanoes - and we'll walk, cycle and paddle through them. You don't have to be a tri-athlete to come on one of the trips - but you need to be interested in experiencing New Zealand's incredible scenery in an active manner! Trip Sponsorship For my expedition I have been very fortunate to be sponsored by Active New Zealand. They were generous enough to offer me some financial assistance to purchase a few pieces of kayaking equipment. Keep an eye out for my bright orange paddle jacket, my black helmet, and by booties which were all purchased with their help. They also gave me a couple of their own tops and hats which I'm loving. Thanks heaps guys.
Curbo Rehab
About Us Fully New Zealand owned and operated; Cubro Rehab offers a comprehensive range of rehabilitation equipment. Since the two Currie brothers set up the company in 1983, Cubro Rehab has always been based on the ethos of going the extra mile for customers . ISO accredited to AS/NZS ISO 9001:2008 for rehabilitation and hospital equipment; this certification demonstrates our commitment to quality management and customer satisfaction. With the Head Office and Showroom located in purpose-built premises in Tauranga, Cubro Rehab has prospered and grown into a progressive, well-resourced supplier of rehabilitation products with superior quality service. Our product showroom in Auckland is available by appointment for joint OT/client visits and training. Our South Island Distribution, Sales and Service centre located in Christchurch ensures Cubro Rehab offers superior customer support and service nationwide. We offer a family orientated culture of care and a team motivated with many years experience in a variety of fields within the healthcare and aged-care industries. Trip Sponsorship Having major problems with my feet, legs, and bum going numb after long paddles I decided to do something about it. Cubro Rehab provided me with a gel cushion that is designed to relieve the pressure points in my lower spine.
Bivouac/MSR Good For Life Scholarship
About Us The Bivouac Good for Life Scholarship is a scholarship that is awarded each year by the Adventure Philosophy Team to aspiring adventurers. Adventure Philosophy is a team comprising of 3 very talented athletes; Graham Charles, Mark Jones and Marcus Waters. The scholarship comprises of a mix of financial assistance and equipment and it is very generously supported by Bivouac Outdoors and MSR. I have been very fortunate to be awarded this scholarship for 2010 and find it greatly comforting to be supported by some amazing companies and some very accomplished adventurers. Thanks heaps guys.
Jean Müller / EMF Industrail
About Us Although Jean Müller may be a name that you haven’t heard of before, the electricity supplied to your home or business will probably have passed through Jean Müller fuses and switches before powering your toaster, computer or machinery. Those large grey cabinets that you will see on the street or the large green transformers marked with “Danger – High Voltage” will contain Jean Müller equipment. Jean Müller have been manufacturing electrical products for more than 100 years in the German town of Eltville on the banks of the River Rhine surrounded by Riesling vineyards. Jean Müller is represented in New Zealand by EMF Industrial Ltd of New Plymouth who specialise in the supply of low voltage power distribution equipment and power quality devices. Sponsorship To support me on my trip my Uncle Brian, through Jean Müller, has sorted me out with a much needed GPS. This is a new Garmin 62 series handheld that I mounted to my kayak with a proper bracket. I will use in conjunction with my maps to accurately and safely navigate my way round the country. Thanks heaps for that Uncle.
Salcom
About Us Salcom are Christchurch based developers and manufacturers of communications equipment. Their products include marine 406 MHz EPIRB’s, locator beacons, beacon receivers and a cross section of transmitters and receivers used for radio paging applications locally and internationally. Salcom are the New Zealand distributors for SPOT, the satellite messenger I am using that will enable you to track my progress as I circumnavigate New Zealand. Sponsorship I was given a contact for Salcom right at the beginning of my sponsorship quest. After a quick email, I had been sponsored a SPOT for my trip...no hesitations. I received my SPOT in early November and I have since been enjoying learning how to send the safety messages and activate the tracking function. So a massive thanks to Gary and his team for sorting me out right from the beginning. Click here to read my review on this product.
GoPro
About Us Used by more professional athletes, film and TV producers, and demanding enthusiasts than any other wearable camera in the world, the HD HERO is a full blown professional wearable camera, at a consumer price. Whether you’re kayaking, skiing, mountain biking, sky diving, surfing, base jumping, skateboarding, snowboarding, or motocross riding, you can film your latest hijinks or take stills to boot. You can take consecutive pictures, 3-photo bursts or self timer to strike a pose with your mates! Sponsorship My GoPro has been kindly sponsored to me through Southern Approach. I am using it for both photos and video whilst out and about on the high seas. For every day usage, I have it mounted to my kayak with a suction cup mount. But when things get exciting, I switch it over to a helmet mount so I can capture all of the action...just for you guys. A Massive thanks to Ali and her team at Southern Approach for hooking me up. Click here to read my review on this product.
Pacific Outdoor Equipment
About Us POE are based in Bozeman, Montana (USA) and are innovators that care about the environment. They aren’t a sewing factory but they make great fabric based outdoor gear. They build innovative gear from welded fabrics for human powered sports and their main motivations can be drilled down to 4 point: Good gear = Less waste. If it isn’t fun, why do it? Do no harm by basing decisions on a code of integrity and responsibility and innovate relentlessly. Sponsorship POE is supplying me with all of my dry bags for this expedition. What are dry bags? They are simply a bag with a waterproof closure that I am keeping all of my gear in (the kayak isn’t 100% waterproof). I have quite a range of these that are used for different items...everything from toilet paper to my sleeping bag. A Massive thanks to Ali and her team at Southern Approach for hooking me up.
Sea to Summit
About us Sea To Summit was established in 1990, after Tim Macartney-Snapes’s successful expedition to Everest from the Bay of Bengal using lightweight equipment that would survive the journey. The gear was made by Roland Tyson, who is one of the company’s directors, from humble beginnings in Perth, Western Australia. Sea To Summit are now a company that churns out innovative gear for camping, travel, and accessories for kayak adventures. Sponsorship These guys have hooked me up with a range of essential items for my trip. Things that just make a whole lot easier when you are in the outdoors….mosquito net, map case and ironically enough even a kitchen sink (it’s a folding pot basically haha). A Massive thanks to Ali and her team at Southern Approach for hooking me up.
H20 Audio
About Us H2O Audio is committed to developing the best high-performance waterproof sport headphones and waterproof accessories anywhere. Whether it's swimming, running, surfing, diving, kayaking, wakeboarding - it's your sport, your music - we want to help bring your music with you wherever you go, no matter where you go! Sponsorship These guys have hooked me up with a waterproof system for my iPod for on my trip. It’s a tough piece of kit that connects to some equally tough waterproof headphones. I think it will help me get through some of those long and lonely hours while out on my big adventure and no doubt keep me sane. A Massive thanks to Tom Yule for hooking me up.
Sharkskin
About Us Sharkskin is a proprietary brand of Neptune Sports, Australia’s largest manufacturer of water sports exposure protection products. Sharkskin delivers many benefits to water sports enthusiasts that are unachievable with less technically advanced products such as neoprene. These benefits are achieved by laminating 3 separate materials together, all with different properties. The outer layer is made from a durable UV resistant Lycra nylon blend, the middle membrane is both windproof and waterproof, and the non-chaffing inner thermal layer provides warmth and comfort against the skin. Sharkskin is the product of choice for water sports enthusiasts who enjoy their sport all year round…..regardless of the forecast. Sponsorship Sharkskin is hooking me up with a sweet range of paddling tops for my expedition. These are technical pieces of clothing that are designed to help me battle the elements while out on the ocean. Strong, tough, and warm, I’m really looking forward to putting these through their paces.
2C Solar Light Company
About Us Despite all of our advances, how reliant we are on light. Our safety and enjoyment of the great outdoors completely depends on it. Imagine if there was a self-charging light, one that would leave your hands free, one that could be incorporated into everyday clothing……. The 2C Solar Light Cap was developed to address the need for light weight adventure gear – less stuff to carry because the solar charged light is integrated into a hat. A hat to protect from the sun while it charges its internal NiMH batteries, and provides all night light on dimmer or 3 hours on full. Used by adventurers to also enhance survival, reduce pollution, and save costs, Certified IP66, FCC, CE, RoHS and Highly Commended at the Australian Consensus Green Tech awards, it has been used crossing the Sahara by Steve Gurney, climbing Everest with Marty Schmidt, and crossing the AbuDhabi finishing line with Richard Ussher. Sponsorship The 2C Light Company is sorting me out with a range of their hats. My primary hat is and always will be the Solar Light Kayak hat. This is just the bright orange hat that I always wear. I have also been given a couple of other solar caps to try out so I’ll let you all know how they go.
Em's Power Cookies
About Us Em’s Power Cookies were created by 3x Speight’s Coast to Coast Champion Emily Miazga. Trained as a dietitian, Em used her skills to create the perfect energy food that provides sustained energy for sport, while also tasting really awesome! When most people try and Em’s Power Cookie for the first time they’re usually pleasantly surprised how good they are. They are ideal for adventure sports, and especially multi-day expeditions. So for Tim’s kayak mission, we can’t think of anything better to fuel his adventure! Sponsorship Em's power Cookies has kindly helped me out with a range of awesome snacks for my trip. As I am a bug guy, who eats a lot, I need to be putting in top quality food to help give me the energy I need for a day on the water. These cookies are the goods...tasty and nutritious they are hard to beat when ever I need an energy boost.