Sitting next to the swimming pool at her retirement home in Orewa, Dianne Rothhammer leans back in her chair as she recalls the moment she had the inspiration for her SlipOn swimsuit design.
"It all started when I went to an aquatics Parkinson's class" she recalls.
"The husband of a sufferer was standing with me and told me it took his wife 30 minutes to get in and out of her suit.
"After hearing this I knew I wanted to find some way of helping her."
Judging by the various swimsuits, DVDs and flyers on the table in front of me, there is no denying her passion for her idea.
Before I can ask my next question, Dianne thrusts a swimsuit into my hands, insisting I examine it for myself.
"Open it, you will see how easy it is," she says proudly. "There's nothing else like this around. And the quality is the best you can get, I'll only use the best."
The 75-year-old US-born Aucklander came up with the idea of making a wrap-around velcro-fastened swimsuit that people with disabilities could get into and out of easily. Dianne developed the deceptively simple suit with a revolutionary design that opens at the front and lets wearers get in and out of the swimsuits without help.
It is targeted at people with upper extremity mobility limitation, such as health conditions like arthritis and fibromyalgia, for whom the benefits of water exercise are well known.
"After having the initial idea eight years ago, I hired a swimsuit designer and we set to work," she says. "Eight months later we came up with the suit; that is when my patent lawyer informed me that no one had ever thought of the idea to help physically impaired ladies get in and out of their suits. Now, eight years later, I hold a utility patent in most countries until 2020."
Dianne moved into a retirement home 18 months ago with her husband, but is by no means kicking back. She has teamed up with swimsuit designer and friend, Mary-Ann Lewis, to assist with the swimsuits which are entirely New Zealand-made.
"I enlisted the help of Mary-Ann to improve my suit with a bra shelve to make it look more attractive. I have a manufacturer here... and the work they do is of the high quality I need. We have had inquiries from every corner of New Zealand. There is nothing else like this on the market."
She strongly believes the suit will dramatically improve the lives of others.
"I predict that within five years, 30 per cent of women will want one. Larger ladies and pregnant women also love the suits, they are flattering and can stretch to accommodate pregnant bellies.
"When I set out designing the suits I didn't think of the potential it had, I made it for the one person."
Dianne plans to design smaller suits for children with mobility problems.
"We trialled the suits in a children's hospital and the feedback we got from the staff was incredible.
"Getting the children prepared for water exercise was no longer an ordeal and the children looked forward to going to the pool."
She adds: "I'm also looking at creating a suit for women who have undergone a mastectomy, combining pockets at the front of the suit that enables prosthetic breasts to be inserted."
"I see products that people need. It gives me a thrill to know that sufferers are able to have a better quality of life from wearing my suit."
SNAPSHOT OF A TRAILBLAZER
In the 1970's, Diane's daughter won an Olympic Gold and Bronze medal for freestyle swimming. Subsequently, she became so involved in the swimming scene that she started a company called Sprint Aquatics, that provided innovative products for swimmers. In 1974, she made FINA, the international ruling group for swimming, change the law with regards to female swimmers being allowed to wear a lycra suit that didn't feature a skirt.