10,000 Sov Tops to help Kiwis take charge this summer

Sovereign is helping Kiwis take charge of their health this summer by distributing 10,000 free Sov Tops across the country.

The Sov Top, a rash top designed to provide sun protection (SPF501), will be distributed along with other healthy living tools by the Sovereign Action Unit (a restored vintage ambulance) as it travels to 17 hot spots including Pauanui Beach, Coromandel (December 29); Harding Road Beach, Napier (January 1); Tahunanui Beach, Nelson (January 7); New Brighton Beach, Christchurch (January 11).

Recent research2 undertaken by Sovereign showed almost 70% of Kiwis prefer to exercise outside as opposed to the gym or home environment.

“Sov Tops are the ideal companion to summer – keeping Kiwis covered while they are enjoying the great outdoors. Rather than tell people to be healthy, we’re giving them tools to encourage an active, healthy lifestyle,” says Sovereign Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer Chris Lamers.

“Sovereign has spent the last 25 years being there for customers during their ‘moment of truth’; last year alone we spent $321 million dollars doing so. We think it’s time we broke the industry mould and began a movement that encourages Kiwis to take charge of their health, proactively preventing problems before they need our help fixing them,” says Lamers.

Sovereign’s research also revealed that 57% of Kiwis don’t think we’re a healthy nation, 66% admitted to suffering from insomnia or broken sleep and more than a quarter (27%) weren’t happy with their exercise routine.

“We’re doing what we can to help Kiwis take an holistic and proactive approach to their health that includes the four health essentials; exercise, sleep, eating well and happiness.”

To bring all four healthy living essentials to life, Sovereign has recruited two ambassadors - Nicola Reilly (foreverfit.tv) and Pua Magasiva (Shortland Street) - who will help Kiwis take charge of their health through events and activities across the country. There is also the Sovereign Tri Series, which kicks off in December, and includes events for all fitness and experience levels.

1 The Sov Tops, which are currently in production, will be tested by SGS (www.sgs.com), the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, with an anticipated SPF50 rating.

2 September 2014 research carried out independently of 1, 655 New Zealanders aged between 25 – 74.

For more information on the ‘Life.Take charge’ campaign, visit: sovereign.co.nz/takecharge

The Action Unit summer schedule
Auckland
Westfield St Lukes, 29 November
Sylvia Park, 30 November
Mission Bay, 25 January

Coromandel
Whitianga Beach, 27 December
Whangamata Beach, 28 December
Pauanui Beach, 29 December

Napier
Waimarama Beach, 1 January

Wellington
Westfield Queensgate, 15 November
Frank Kitts Park Amphitheatre, 3-4 January

Nelson
Tahunanui Beach, 7 January

Christchurch
Westfield Riccarton, 22 November
Sumner Beach, 10 January
New Brighton Beach, 11 January
Location TBC, 13 January

Wanaka
Location TBC, 15 January
Lake Wanaka, 17 January

SOVEREIGN SOV TOP LAUNCH – AMBASSADOR PROFILES
Nicola Reilly
Nicola Reilly is a Personal Trainer, Nutrition and Lifestyle coach and director of ‘online gym’ Forever Fit.

Forever Fit’s fitness programmes, blog posts, recipes and ‘ask-the-trainer’ podcasts all provide tools for people to get fitter and healthier. It’s not about diets, but providing facts about how to get fit.

Nicola has worked in the wellness industry for 12 years after gaining a Bachelor of Physical Education, majoring in Sports Science and Exercise Prescription, from the University of Otago.

Nicola’s qualifications include BPHED, University of Otago (Double major exercise prescription and sport science), Chek Holistic Nutrition And Lifestyle Coach 2, and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner.

Pua Magasiva
Pua Magasiva is an actor and personal trainer, best known for his role as Vinnie Kruse on Shortland Street.

Pua was born in Samoa and moved to Wellington, New Zealand when he was just two years old. He is an adamant family man with a wife and a young daughter.

While gaining an extensive list of acting and directing credentials, Pua found time to train and work as a personal trainer in Australia. He counts exercise and physical education as a personal passion and is known to take many of Shortland Street actors through intensive training sessions.