Swimming for the 99.6% unprotected: an ocean swim world record attempt
Swim4TheOcean: Jono Ridler photographed by Joshua McCormack, 2026
It’s an unprecedented human endurance effort. An international record swim attempt. A call to end bottom trawling. Jono Ridler and Live Ocean are on a mission to achieve something extraordinary for Aotearoa, with Swim4TheOcean.
An epic ocean swim for a healthy ocean
Marine conservation charity Live Ocean Foundation and ultra-marathon swimmer plus healthy ocean champion Jono Ridler have teamed up for Swim4TheOcean: a three-month long endurance swim of epic proportions. It’s an ambitious record attempt to swim the entire east coast of Te Ika-a-Māui the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand, raising awareness for ocean health.
Swim4TheOcean began at Waikuku Beach at North Cape, right at the top of the North Island, and has already traversed some of the most iconic and exposed rugged coastlines of Aotearoa. Jono began the swim on 5 January 2026, with Ngāti Kuri representatives gathering to acknowledge the beginning of his record attempt. He is well on his way to completely swim down the east coast to Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington. Jono aims to reach Wellington in early April 2026.
Jono Ridler photographed by Joshua McCormack, 2026
Protecting unique marine ecosystems
The goal? To create national awareness, igniting New Zealanders around the race for a healthy ocean to protect New Zealand’s vital and unique marine ecosystems. The swim is also a call to end the environmentally destructive fishing practice of bottom trawling.
In 2023, Jono swam 99 km for 33-hours non-stop and with no wetsuit from Karaka Bay, Aotea Great Barrier Island to Campbells Bay, Auckland, creating a fresh New Zealand record with Swim4TheGulf. It was the longest swim ever completed in New Zealand. In partnership with Live Ocean, Jono raised awareness for the declining health of Tīkapa Moana, the Hauraki Gulf.
This latest epic ocean swim harnessing human endurance as a platform to spotlight ocean health is a 1000 mile, approximately 1600 km journey. To be a contender for a world record for the longest unassisted staged swim ever means togs, goggles, swim cap, and earplugs are all allowed, but no wetsuit. Currents and weather pending, Jono embarks on round-the-clock swim shifts. Significant blocks of time are spent in the water with each swim GPS marked and logged, then time onshore to rest and refuel before getting back in the water. At times it has meant swimming at night to make the most of fickle ocean currents.
“It was both deeply uncomfortable and extraordinary at the same time,” Jono commented.
Jono Ridler and Swim4TheOcean support crew photographed by Joshua McCormack, 2026
99.6% unprotected
Aotearoa is home to one of the most unique and sizeable ocean spaces on Earth. New Zealand has the incredible privilege to be responsible for the fourth largest ocean territory on the planet, with a maritime territory fifteen times larger than our landmass, but we only protect 0.4% of it. That’s ≈ 4,000,000 km², with ≈ 99.6% unprotected.
Our ocean is under huge strain, yet New Zealand is still bottom trawling seamounts (sea mountains) in our own waters. We are the only nation bottom trawling seamounts in the high seas of the South Pacific. Bottom trawling entails dragging heavy weighted nets across the seafloor, destroying habitat and biodiversity, and releasing stored carbon.
“It’s about the ocean, and the life in it. It’s simple. We need a healthy ocean for a healthy future,” Jono states.
Jono’s swim is much more than a radical record-setting swim. It’s a request to the entire country to protect the ocean’s most vital habitats. It is also a call to the New Zealand Government to end bottom trawling on all seamounts at home and in the high seas by the end of 2027.
Support from the United Nations
Public support for this important kaupapa is growing, with many offering support at community stopovers, and joining in for kōrero or a selfie with Jono as he comes ashore from his latest swim leg. Signatory numbers are increasing on the call to action.
Swim4TheOcean has been endorsed officially by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development as an United Nations Ocean Decade Activity. International recognition like this means Swim4TheOcean is part of a global programme advancing ocean science, protection, and restoration.
Jono Ridler greets tamariki from a local kura at Whāngārā Beach, photographed by Joshua McCormack, 2026
Connecting with coastal communities
During the Swim4TheOcean journey Jono has swum through the iconic Hole in the Rock, traversed the Hauraki Gulf, made his way around the tip of the Coromandel, and navigated the complex waters of Cape Runaway and the East Cape where currents converge, conditions change without warning, and sea temperatures drop very low. Jono reached the staggering milestone 1,000km mark during his swim across Hawke’s Bay.
Jono and the support crew have made some brief day stops to connect with coastal communities along the way including in the Bay of Islands, Goat Island, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Whangamatā, Mount Maunganui, Gisborne, and Napier.
On 5 February 2026, a few of the TMNZ team were able to welcome Jono ashore as he completed the day’s swim at Omanu Beach Surf Life Saving Club.
Arriving ashore on 28 February 2026 at Whāngārā Beach, Jono was welcomed with a special pōwhiri given by tamariki from a local kura, followed by plenty of questions for him there on the beach. Footage of this occasion was captured in episode 9 of the Swim4TheOcean weekly video update.
Jono Ridler photographed by Joshua McCormack, 2026
Investing in the future of Aotearoa
Whakatupu Aotearoa Foundation and TMNZ believe in investing in the future of Aotearoa, and particularly in protecting the health of our ocean. Swim4TheOcean is a mission that TMNZ is incredibly proud to back.
TMNZ invests 100% of profits towards projects supporting a restored and thriving Aotearoa, through Whakatupu Aotearoa Foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to catalyse transformation in areas of crucial vulnerability, particularly supporting a resilient natural environment and thriving communities - for future generations.
This significant opportunity to support Jono Ridler and Live Ocean is a way for us to join the collective effort, helping expand this call to implement meaningful change for Aotearoa to end bottom trawling and protect New Zealand’s unique marine ecosystems.
Whakatupu Aotearoa Foundation and TMNZ have proudly partnered with Live Ocean since 2020.
Jono Ridler and Swim4TheOcean support crew photographed by Joshua McCormack, 2026
All photos supplied by Live Ocean and used with permission.