Our Community

Supporting our community through sponsorship

Sealord places high value on corporate social responsibility, with a longstanding reputation for supporting community events, organisations and causes. Our sponsorship strategy considers a number of factors, and in particular whether the organisation has a community, marine environment, and / or Māori focus.

We are pleased to support the following organisations and events:

Coastguard Nelson’s new rescue vessel, Hohapata – Sealord Rescue

Sealord provided a significant $215,000 contribution to support the build of the new rescue vessel, with naming rights sponsorship for 20 years. Since its launch in March 2021, three people’s lives have been saved and another 150 people in strife at sea were brought home by the waka and crew.

Sealord crew member operating safety equipment during a rescue drill at sea – demonstrating strong maritime safety protocols aboard New Zealand fishing vessels.

Māori health organisation Te Piki Oranga (TPO)

Te Piki Oranga (TPO) is the only Māori health organisation serving the top of the South Island providing services to Māori covering personal health, mental health and addictions, Wellchild Tamariki Ora, and health social work. Transport costs are often a barrier for whānau to access health care. Sealord provides taxi chits and petrol vouchers for TPO to give to whānau, so they can get to their medical appointments.
Two people smiling and standing beside a black car with Te Piki Oranga Māori Wellness Services and Sealord branding on the rear window

Southern Seabirds Solutions Trust

Sealord has had a long association with Southern Seabirds, and has a seat around the table of the Trust’s Management Committee. Over the years Sealord has helped fund a range of initiatives led by the Trust, all with the aim of reducing the impact of fishing on seabirds. Sealord has twice been the recipient of the Trust’s Seabird Smart Awards in recognition for leadership in minimising seabird deaths in fishing. In 2010 skipper Ted Goomes and crew of Sealord vessel FV Thomas Harrison, and in 2022 skipper Jesse Crasborn and crew of the FV Rehua. Read the story about Jesse’s award win.

Seafood Saturday – Nelson

Sealord was pleased to be a platinum sponsor at the inaugural Seafood Saturday celebration event in Nelson on 25 March 2023. Organised by Seafood New Zealand, the event was a celebration of kaimoana from sea to table – the people, places and products. The Nelson event was a mix of free community activities and a ticketed degustation meal featuring seafood, with more Seafood Saturdays to be held in other fishing regions.