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A really great start Zac, I think you just need to make a few refinements.
No.1 is my favourite. If it were my project, here's what I'd look at:
- The Leaf. While the fern is a potent symbol, it's one element too many. The kiwi already says NZ, so you don't need to state it twice.
If it really must stay, try incorporating leaf growth around the final i, after modifying kiwi as below.
The Bird. Try facing him in the opposite direction coming out of the second W. His beak would touch the tip of the first i, rather than crossing into the type. Don't modify the arms of the W until the bird outline forms above the letter. The current thinning towards the top looks a bit naff.
Typography. I would modify the S slightly so that the top and bottom were completely horizontal to the base line ie. straighten out the curves.
Colour. First, ensure the whole design works properly in B&W without any gradients. Then, while I prefer the green, it's not really water. So I'd look at blending both blue and green into more of a "deep ocean" kind of gradient, providing it works on the charcoal bkgnd.
Finally, I would advise your client that KIWIswim is an easier idea to grasp and say than SWIMkiwi.
Hope this helps.
