Jono Ridler completes record 1367km swim the length of North Island, greeted by big crowd in Wellington
Endurance swimmer Jono Ridler has completed his sensational 1367km journey by swimming the length of the North Island.
Ridler swam the final 6.07km this morning and arrived at Whairepo Lagoon at midday in front of a vocal Wellington crowd to finish the adventure he started 90 days ago.
He wanted to swim the length of the North Island with the aim of exploring more environmentally friendly alternatives to commercial fishers who use the industrial fishing method to harvest catch.
“It was a very surreal moment, but represented how much people have come around what we’re doing and what we represent,” Ridler told the Herald.
“It was just insane, people lining the footbridge, lining around the lagoon, just crowds of people as I was swimming through.
“We had seen digitally an increase in the groundswell over the last week or two, but I had no idea that it would be anything like it was in terms of the public showing. Wellington came out in a big way to support us.”
Beginning at Waikuku Beach near North Cape on January 5, Ridler swam along the east coast of the North Island coastline and spent more than 465 hours in the water in just togs, goggles, a swim cap and earplugs.
He would spend about six hours in the water at a time, and take six-hour breaks to rest and refuel.
After getting out of the water, the 36-year-old led a convoy of people to the steps of Parliament, where multiple ministers waited, including Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka and Minister of Climate Change Simon Watts.
There, Ridler was presented with a taonga, which was a hoe (paddle), made by Johnny Hauraki.
“I had some kind of preconceptions around how things would play out, but this has just completely blown it out of the water,” Ridler said.
“We wanted to bring Kiwis into the story of the ocean and ignite New Zealanders in the race for a healthy ocean.
“I think we’ve been able to achieve all of that and so it’s in my view, at least in my eyes, it’s been a tremendous success and I wouldn’t change any of how it’s played out.”
Ridler’s Swim4TheOcean campaign, alongside Live Ocean, has accumulated over 66,000 signatures to end bottom trawling and the petition will be received by Parliament on April 29.
Live Ocean founder and New Zealand sailor Blair Tuke was also there to show his support.
Ridler said he couldn’t have done it without the backing of his wife, who supported him on the journey when he first came up with the idea.
“My wife made a big sacrifice in all of this and looking our daughter for three months while also working,” Ridler said.
“She was the first person I talked to about this idea back in 2023, and she got fully behind it.
“I’m looking forward to spending some quality time with both of them.”
In 2023, Ridler completed a record-breaking solo swim of 33 hours around the Hauraki Gulf that started on Great Barrier Island and ended at Campbells Bay.
Ridler is unsure what his next big challenge will be.
“I‘m just going to enjoy this moment for a little bit,” Ridler said.
“I know that the ocean advocacy piece is something that I’ll continue with certainty.
“It’s just what that looks like. So I’m excited to find out what happens next.”
Ridler has completed the triple crown of New Zealand open-water swimming: Cook Strait, Lake Taupō and Foveaux Strait.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.