New Zealand’s most decorated Olympian, Dame Lisa Carrington, has signed a deal to become the inaugural global brand ambassador for Zespri, the world’s largest kiwifruit marketing group.
The four-year global partnership highlights Zespri’s commitment to health, quality, and excellence—values they say Dame Lisa has exemplified throughout her record-breaking kayaking career—with a focus on inspiring individuals to stay focused on their health and wellbeing, in part through the goodness of Zespri Kiwifruit.
To launch the partnership, Zespri has released a cinematic short film inspired by the concept of “Flow”—a state of alignment between purpose, nature’s rhythm, and performance. It offers a rare glimpse into how Dame Lisa draws on nature, discipline, and resilience to fuel herself both on and off the water, while reflecting Zespri’s philosophy of growing kiwifruit in harmony with nature’s flow.
A Shared Commitment to Quality and Excellence
The collaboration unites two Kiwi icons deeply connected to the Bay of Plenty, the birthplace of Dame Lisa and the heart of New Zealand’s kiwifruit industry, which produces around 80% of the country’s kiwifruit1. The collaboration will spotlight Dame Lisa and Zespri’s shared passion for helping others thrive through good nutrition, healthy habits, and building a legacy of positive impact that goes beyond individual achievements.
More than just a shared origin, the partnership represents a union of purpose and drive, according to a release. As one of the most decorated athletes in canoe sprint history, Dame Lisa remains focused on upcoming major international competitions, grounded in the flow that guides her training and mindset. At the same time, Zespri is committed to working with nature’s flow to make more nutritious kiwifruit accessible worldwide. By expanding its global footprint, now reaching over 100 million households, Zespri aims to help people thrive through better nutrition and natural goodness.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Dame Lisa Carrington,” said Jiunn Shih, Zespri Chief Marketing, Innovation and Sustainability Officer. “Her discipline, consistency, and drive for progress perfectly mirror our approach to growing and marketing great-tasting, high-quality Zespri Kiwifruit. Together, we look forward to connecting with a broader audience of sports and wellness enthusiasts, as well as inspiring people everywhere to prioritise good health and nutrition as they find their own flow.”
Fresh off her announcement to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Dame Lisa said: “I’m incredibly proud to partner with Zespri. It’s exciting to have the opportunity to champion New Zealand kiwifruit on a global stage. Good nutrition is a key part of my performance, just as it’s central to Zespri’s mission. I’m excited for what’s ahead.” With 15 World Championship golds and 8 Olympic golds, Dame Lisa is tied with Usain Bolt as the ninth most decorated Olympic gold medallist of all time (a fact she wasn’t aware of until it came up in a recent interview).
Inspiring Action: Building Habits, Creating Flow
The 90-second cinematic film offers an intimate look at how Dame Lisa finds her flow, beyond her athletic achievements, revealing the quiet strengths and habits that power her from within. Her journey is a reminder that sustainable success is built on small, consistent choices: good food, good habits, and energy that carries us forward.
Zespri and Dame Lisa hope to inspire people to discover their own flow and build everyday habits that fuel a life of nutrition, purpose, and progress.
The film explores how Dame Lisa and Zespri each harness nature’s flow. For Dame Lisa, flow is both literal and personal—she moves with nature, finding her rhythm through intentional, consistent training. Similarly, Zespri draws on nature’s rhythm and New Zealand’s fertile soils to grow nutrient-dense kiwifruit with care, dedication, and purpose, a philosophy that has helped it become the number one fruit brand across its 15 core markets.
The launch will also feature a campaign microsite with the full cinematic film, episodic videos, and a series of blog articles deep diving into Dame Lisa’s values and what nutrition means to her.
Zespri has sponsored Dame Lisa Carrington individually and is not a sponsor of the NZOC, IOC, nor has any relationship with the Olympic movement in general.
Discover the full film and learn more about the collaboration at https://www.zespridifference.com.