One man’s 1000-mile ocean swim to spark action for a healthy ocean

In January New Zealander Jono Ridler will begin an unprecedented 1000-mile ocean swim from North Cape to Wellington – a world-record endurance attempt to unite the country around the race for a healthy ocean and a clear call to end bottom trawling.

Called Swim4TheOcean, the mission will see Ridler attempt to swim the entire east coast of the North Island in long rotating shifts, day and night, over roughly 90 days. People across Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world will be able to follow every stroke at Swim4TheOcean.org via a live swim tracker.

Ridler is best known for his 33-hour nonstop, 99 km swim from Aotea Great Barrier to Auckland in 2023 – the longest ever in New Zealand. This time, the 35-year-old Aucklander is attempting to go further than anyone has before in an unassisted staged swim, using his epic effort to shine a light on ocean health.

“My Hauraki Gulf swim showed me how endurance sport can bring real attention to ocean issues, and that people care,” Ridler says. “This next mission will push me to my limits. I’ll be swimming around the clock, coming ashore only to rest and refuel. It will be incredibly challenging, but I feel strongly that we can and must do better to care for the ocean. That purpose will get me through the tough moments.”

Ridler is partnering with Live Ocean, the marine conservation charity founded by champion sailors Peter Burling and Blair Tuke. As Jono pushes south, he will carry a clear message to decision makers: it’s time for New Zealand to make a quick transition away from bottom trawling, and first cab off the rank is on seamounts and other vital marine ecosystems.

“We back ourselves as leaders and innovators here in New Zealand,” Burling says. “It’s time to find solutions that support our fishers to transition to practices that protect the seabed. We need to make bottom trawling part of our history, not our future.”

Tuke says New Zealanders have a special connection to the moana and a responsibility to look after it.

“Sport can be an amazing unifier, and Jono is putting himself on the line here. We want Kiwis to come around Swim4TheOcean and show their support for a healthy ocean.

“In Aotearoa we’re guardians of one of the world’s most special ocean spaces. The ocean is the life support system of the planet, a food source and livelihood for many, and home to taonga species found nowhere else on the planet.  There is no place for destructive practices in a healthy ocean.”

More than 120 rest stops (between swim shifts), and six community stopovers are planned along the route, giving coastal towns the chance to welcome Jono ashore and show their support for a healthy ocean.

Swim4TheOcean is backed by Platinum sponsor TMNZ alongside supporting swim sponsors including APL, Forsyth Barr, Generate KiwiSaver and StabiX.

Follow the mission at Swim4TheOcean.org and on Live Ocean’s channels @itsliveocean.