Membership

Swimming New Zealand is proud to partner with State Insurance, an organisation that has been helping New Zealand communities for over 100 years.

State’s sponsorship of the swim and swim safety sector will help save lives by ensuring thousands of kiwis learn to swim, enjoy the water and survive; across all communities and all walks of life. It will also help provide resources to support those who go on to develop their swimming careers to compete on a national and international stage.

Risk prevention and the protection of New Zealand communities is the core of State’s business strategy. State works with local councils and other bodies to help communities plan to minimise potential risks caused by crime, weather or other environmental conditions and it runs highly successful programmes such as State Driver Reviver; where State staff volunteer their own time to man rest stations for drivers travelling long distances on major holiday weekends, to help prevent road accidents caused by driver fatigue.

State's Executive General Manager, Mary-Jane Daly, said that State’s sponsorship of the swim and swim safety sector was a natural extension to this strategy, expanding it from the land to the water. "While it is easy to think about risk in the context of tangible assets, our biggest assets are human and it is our families we look to protect the most."

Swimming New Zealand chief executive Mike Byrne agrees. "Swimming and other water sports are iconic Kiwi activities and we want every New Zealander to enjoy these but our first priority is their safety." Swimming New Zealand has been involved in the swimming community for over 120 years and has exceptional 'learn to swim' programmes.

With the support of State, Swimming New Zealand has recently launched the ‘State Kiwi Swim Safe’ programme, specifically targeted at primary and intermediate school children. State Kiwi Swim Safe is an enhanced education programme being delivered throughout New Zealand and is also supported by Surf Life Saving New Zealand and WaterSafe Auckland.

The aim is to reach and educate more Kiwi kids on the importance of water safety and swimming skills. For more information visit www.kiwiswimsafe.org.nz