Mighty River 20 year commitment key to Rowing NZ success   14 Jul 2015

14 July 2015

Mighty River 20 year commitment key to powering Rowing NZ success

Mighty River Power today cemented a 20 year relationship and support for Rowing New Zealand through extending the Company’s sponsorship commitment to 2018. This long-term support has already helped power New Zealand to 37 gold medals, some of the country’s most memorable sporting moments, and global leadership in the sport.

CEO, Fraser Whineray, said Mighty River Power was proud to have shared in the outstanding successes of Kiwi rowers on the world stage since 1998, with Karapiro hydro lake being the home of Rowing New Zealand and the training ground for its elite athletes and junior rowers. Lake Karapiro is renowned as a world-class rowing facility and has helped build the “Best Rowing Nation in the World”. New Zealand finished top of the medal table in the 2014 World Cup Series and the World Rowing Championships, and was this weekend named 2015 World Cup champions once again finishing top of the medal table ahead of Germany and Great Britain.

“Rowing is part of our Company’s heritage and we are delighted to be backing Rowing New Zealand as the athletes prepare for the World Championships in France in September and the Rio Olympics in 2016.

“The sport is a perfect fit for Mighty River Power to be powering our current national rowing teams, and the next generations of up-and-coming Kiwi talent on the water. Lake Karapiro provides a world-class sporting venue and also delivers home-grown renewable energy for New Zealand.”

Mr Whineray said Karapiro – one of nine hydro stations on the Waikato River – generates enough renewable electricity every year to power about 50,000 homes or about 150,000 plug-in electric vehicles.

He said that in addition to the sponsorship, Mighty River Power was thrilled to have teamed up with Bankstream to power up Olympic medallists Peter Taylor and Rebecca Scown with electric hybrid plug-in Audi A3 e-trons.

“Peter and Rebecca will be running on home-grown renewable electricity getting to and from training as the pair power-up for future success. At the equivalent cost of 30cents/litre, this cuts running costs for the twice-daily drive to Lake Karapiro and makes a real difference to the environment through reduced carbon emissions.”

Rowing New Zealand Chief Executive, Simon Peterson, said he values the long-standing partnership with Mighty River Power – with support for both elite athletes and the younger generation of rowers being a vital part of the sport’s success.

“We currently have our sights set on 2016 and beyond to the 2020 Olympics so it is wonderful to have our partnership with Mighty River Power confirmed for another three and a half years. Our younger generation of rowers are aspiring to be Olympians and a key part of their development pathway is the Mighty River Power Junior Regatta held every February – it’s where our country’s young talent get to compete and our future stars shine.”

Mr Peterson said it is great to see two rowers enjoying the benefits of leading-edge technology both on and off the water. “Our rowers have the best technology in the world, so it is a good fit for Peter and Rebecca to also experience the latest generation of plug-in electric vehicles with the Audi e-trons.”

ENDS

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