The Slow Paddle - Kayaking 1,000km for Mental Health and the Ocean

$4,820 of $20,000 goal

Given by 55 generous donors in around 5 months

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A 1,000km kayaking journey inspired by our mental health experiences to raise funds for mental health and the ocean.

Auckland

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In the summer of 2026, Isaac & Abigail will be kayaking close to 1,000 km down the east coast of Aotearoa - from Cape Reinga to Tauranga.

We’re travelling slowly and self-supported, letting the conditions shape each day. There’s no record to chase and no finish line to rush towards. The journey is about slowing down, paying attention, and reconnecting - with ourselves, with the ocean, and with the places we move through.

Both of us have experienced periods where life felt overwhelming, and where our mental health needed care and attention. During those times, being outdoors - especially on the water - helped us find moments of calm in the noise. Space to breathe, reset and keep going.

The Slow Paddle has grown out of that experience.

As we travel along the coast, we’re raising funds for two organisations doing vital work across Aotearoa:

👉 Lifeline, providing free mental health phone and text support to people who need someone to talk to

👉 Sustainable Coastlines, working to reduce plastic pollution and protect our coastlines and oceans

Every donation goes directly to these charities and you will get a tax-deductile reciept.

For daily updates, follow our journey in the Community --> www.slowpaddle.nz

Follow on Instagram @abigailhannnah

Thank you for being here, and for supporting this kaupapa.

Latest update

Part 1 finished - win a $1200 prize pack! 28 April 2026

The Slow Paddle - Part 1. 29.03.2026

Despite a wild summer, we clocked 560km from Cape Reinga to Mission Bay. We didn't make it to our goal of Tauranga, but we finished Part 1 of the Slow Paddle at Mission Bay in Auckland. And we will pick up the journey again next summer.

thank you to everyone online - friends and strangers, near and far, thank you for your advice, your support, your curiosity and your enthusiasm for what we're doing

thank you to everyone who's donated to our fundraiser - it is so important to us that this journey is bigger than us, and that we are able to give back to the ocean and to crisis care, because they shaped who we are today.

we've learnt so much, we've grown so much, we can't wait to do it all again!

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On average, fundraisers pay just 2% to use Givealittle. This is one of the lowest effective fees in New Zealand fundraising. We charge a 5% platform fee to cover the cost of running the platform. Because most donors choose to top up their donation to cover this fee, the effective cost paid by fundraisers is about 2%. That means around 98 cents of every dollar raised goes to the cause. Learn More