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Live sport on SN this weekend'It's life-changing': Wish4Fish founder's mission with world-first fully accessible boat
Erin Speedy • August 28th, 2026 2:44 pm
Wish4Fish founder Bryce Dineen | Photo: Supplied
Today for Bush and Blue, The Rural Roundup hit the water to talk to a very special man, Bryce Dineen.
Bryce is the founder and Chairperson of Wish4Fish Charitable Trust, which helps people with disabilities and health and wellbeing limitations get out on the water, and enjoy the ocean, fishing and freedom.
An outdoorsman, fishing lover and sport-mad man himself, Bryce became a C4 tetraplegic after a shallow-water diving accident in 2007, when he was just 29 years old.
Determined it wouldn’t get the better of him, he kept photos of family and fishing on the ceiling of the Burwood Spinal Unit, looking up at the ceiling 23 hours a day.
“I had a passion for getting out on the water and I knew it was gonna be extremely tough, not only for myself, but also, you know, other people that live with disability,” he said.
He got stuck in, and founded Wish4Fish charitable trust in 2011.
The Wish4Fish catamaran | Photo: Supplied
After fundraising $2.4million to build a fully accessible catamaran, in 2021 they launched Project Noah – a nationally iconic boat for NZ’s disability community.
“We believe it's the first worldwide to tick all those boxes around accessibility. Everything from access to the vessel, stern, port and starboard, elevator to take you up to the fly bridge, the ceiling hoist, electric beds, accessible shower and toilet. Basically, anything that I need on land is being put on the water there to support our clients moving forward.”
For someone sitting out on the water, with the sun on their face and a fishing rod in hand, it can offer a chance to forget about their disability for a day.
“It's life-changing to give the gift of something that I used to take for granted but now can empower them, can empower their families and loved ones and you do see changes,” he said.
The trust supports not only those living with physical disabilities, but also people on the neurodivergent spectrum, and those facing mental health challenges .
Project Noah is making fishing accessible for everyone | Photo: Supplied
Forming a camaraderie out on the water, Dineen says people feel safe to talk and open up about their challenges and issues.
With a strong support crew around them, those conversations can also help connect people with the wider support networks they may need.
“It’s not always about fishing. It's about the experience and turning their adversity into opportunity. So yeah, it truly Half-cup kind of scenario, that's for sure.”
Listen to the full interview:
You can nominate your loved one, or support and donate to Wish4Fish at wish4fish.co.nz
