April 03, 2026

#national: FINAL STROKES FOR THE OCEAN: RIDLER’S EPIC 1,367KM SWIM NEARS WELLINGTON FINISH

Matthew Tukaki Posted On April 3, 2026

Jono Ridler’s extraordinary Swim4TheOcean mission is entering its final hours, with the endurance swimmer preparing for his last push into Wellington Harbour ahead of a planned noon finish tomorrow.

After nearly three months in the water, Ridler has reached the penultimate day of his 1,367-kilometre journey, having already swum past Pencarrow Lighthouse and into the outer entrance of Wellington Harbour. His latest leg ended just south of Barrett Reef around 7pm Thursday evening.

He is back in the water today, aiming to cross between Pencarrow and Palmer Head and reach the Scorching Bay area, where the final leg of the historic swim will begin.

From there, Ridler will track along Wellington’s inner harbour, passing Oriental Bay before completing the final strokes into Whairepo Lagoon in central Wellington.

The milestone moment is expected at noon tomorrow, Saturday 4 April, marking the end of a journey that began at Waikuku Beach near North Cape on 5 January.

Ridler’s campaign has drawn significant national support, with more than 60,000 New Zealanders backing his call to end bottom trawling. His swim has become a powerful symbol of ocean protection, uniting supporters across the country behind the message of restoring marine health.

As of today, Ridler has swum over 1,354 kilometres across 463 hours in the water, with just over 12 kilometres remaining.

Supporters are being encouraged to follow his final push live and gather along the Wellington waterfront to witness the finish.

Once ashore, Ridler will walk to Parliament, where he will be met by Conservation Minister Tama Potaka, marking the delivery of his message directly to decision-makers.

The call for change arrives not just with Ridler, but with the tens of thousands of New Zealanders who have added their names in support of protecting the ocean.

Live tracking and updates on the final stages of the journey are available online, as Ridler closes in on completing one of the most ambitious ocean swims ever undertaken in Aotearoa.