Jono Ridler Swims Towards Gisborne, Passes 800km Mark

Jono Ridler has pushed past 800 kilometres in his Swim4TheOcean mission from Cape to Capital, with less than 600 kilometres projected remaining before he reaches Wellington. 

The ultra-distance swimmer, attempting the world record for the longest unassisted staged swim, is now 51 days into the endurance challenge. Being done in partnership with marine conservation charity Live Ocean, the swim is not just a physical and mental test, Ridler is swimming for ocean health, calling on New Zealand to transition away from bottom trawling both in our waters and on the high seas. 

Yesterday his first swim began at 4am in calm conditions, under darkness, a swim he says was both confronting and unforgettable. 

“It was a nice morning. It was both deeply uncomfortable and extraordinary at the same time. Extraordinary because of the bioluminescence in the water – every time I was taking a stroke, I could see it sparking up my arm. 

“Deeply uncomfortable because swimming at night is very unnatural and I couldn’t see anything below me. We’ve had some shark sightings the last few days. Being left alone in your own mind in the dark, your mind can go to bad places. But we made some good miles today,” he said.  

The Swim4TheOcean on-water team deploys shark shields as a deterrent. 

Water Safety Lead Ben Goffin explains: “One of the things we use is a shark shield that’s strapped to the boat. We have that dangling in the water and it sends out a small electrical pulse. 

“It’s uncomfortable enough to deter anything that wants to get too close to Jono.” 

Tuesday was a day of strong progress, Ridler doing nine hours in the water and banking around 22.5km to push through the 800km distance done milestone. Starting at 4am he was in the water until 8am before breaking, going back out to complete another five-hour stint through the afternoon until around 6:30pm.   

It was on Friday 21 February that Ridler rounded the easternmost tip of mainland Aotearoa New Zealand, tracing a path on the Swim4TheOcean live tracker between East Cape Lighthouse and Whangaokeno East Island. 

The milestone brought a noticeable shift in conditions. The crew recorded a four-degree drop in water temperature, and from here south they are navigating rocky beaches and exposed coastline that bears the brunt of southerly systems. 

As the team has tracked around East Cape and begun the push toward Gisborne, they’ve been met with extraordinary warmth from coastal communities. Iwi have welcomed the crew onto marae, locals have opened their homes community centres and provided space to rest, regroup and plan the next leg south. 

For Ridler and the Swim4TheOcean crew, these moments ashore are as meaningful as the miles in the water. They’ve spent time listening to people deeply connected to the moana, hearing stories of place, livelihood and change, and sharing conversations about the importance of ocean health and the responsibility to care for it for future generations. 

The days ahead look like a mixed bag and the Swim4TheOcean crew continually assess weather, sea state and currents, aiming to make progress whenever conditions allow. The next all-welcome community stopover is expected in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa Gisborne within the coming week. 

He is projected to arrive in Wellington in early April. When he does, Swim4TheOcean will carry a clear message to decision-makers: commit to ending bottom trawling. 

Close to 19,000 people have already added their name to the Swim4TheOcean call for action. 

Key facts – Swim4TheOcean (on 25 February) 

• Total distance swum: 801km  

• Distance remaining: 586.5km (projected) 

• Total hours swum: More than 270 hours 

• Start: Waikuku Beach, North Cape – January 2026 

• Finish target: Wellington – early April 2026