With momentum building and support growing, the team remains on track for the next community stopover at Omanu Beach later in the week.
Jono Experiences Whenuakura Off Whangamatā as Swim4TheOcean Pushes South
By Live Ocean
04/02/2026
Read time: 3 min
Article Summary
Main Points
The day included a moving moment at Whenuakura Island, where Jono received a taonga and took part in a karakia with Ngāti Pū before continuing south.
After a powerful welcome into Whangamatā the night before, Jono and the Swim4TheOcean team set out from the beachside town, launching the StabiX support vessel off the beach and heading north to the last marked waypoint.
Following a four-hour morning swim, Jono exited the water beside Whenuakura Island (Donut Island), just off Whangamatā, having covered close to 12km in good conditions.
The afternoon swim was preceded by another significant moment for the ultra-distance swimmer, now almost one month into his epic swim from North Cape to Wellington. After being gifted a taonga carved from sperm whale bone by local carver Nicholas Tautahi, members of local iwi Ngāti Pū guided Jono as he swam into the centre of Whenuakura Island for a karakia.
“Ngā mihi nui to Ngāti Pū for an amazing welcome. This taonga was carved from the jawbone of a sperm whale. It’s very special to me already and I know it will give me strength when things get hard,” said Jono.
“We still have a long way to go. To everyone who’s followed us in person or online, thank you for coming along for our kaupapa – our mission. Please keep sharing it with your family, friends and communities, and help us build this into something huge.”
Jono set off on his second swim of the day, tracking south along the coastline in a moderate westerly breeze. Passing Whiritoa, he exited the water after another four-hour swim.
A total of 21.3km was added for the day, bringing Jono’s total distance swum to just over 464km.
Base camp was Whangamatā once again, with the operations team opting to transfer back to the beach in lower swell, rather than continue on to Waihi Beach where they would have been navigating unfamiliar breakers.
Today, Jono is aiming to complete another two swims, pushing south and staying on track for the next all-welcome community stopover at Omanu Beach Surf Life Saving Club, Mount Maunganui, on Thursday, 5 February at 4pm.
8,648 people have now signed the call to end bottom trawling.
Total distance covered: 462.63km
Yesterday’s swims – at a glance
Swim 1
Started at 7:04am
Time: 4 hours 4 mins
Distance: 11.8km
Average speed: 2.7km/h
Swim 2
Started at 4:09pm
Time: 3 hours 59 mins
Distance: 9.5km
Average speed: 2.4km/h
1,000 Miles. 90 Days.
A Swim For The Ocean.
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