North Shore locals cherish our beautiful coastline, and we understand it needs protecting. One of our own has done something about it, and on a national scale. North Shore ultra-distance swimmer Jono Ridler has recently completed one of the toughest endurance feats ever attempted – swimming 1,300+ kilometres along New Zealand’s east coast. But Swim4TheOcean was never just about distance; it’s a bold call to protect our marine backyard, turning personal grit into a powerful movement for change. Jono's call to action to end bottom trawling and protect a healthy future for our kids was epic. Channel Mag covered Jono's 2023 Swim4TheGulf, and now Liz Cannon follows up with a chat with Jono about how Swim4TheOcean went and what's next for his personal campaign to save our ocean.
Channel Mag: North Shore locals will remember your 2023 swim finishing at Campbells Bay. When you picture 'home', what do you see? What does the Shore mean to you?
Jono Ridler: Home is many things: sitting under a pohutukawa at the beach, walking along the coast with my family, going for a swim at Takapuna, or enjoying a hot cuppa at the local café. The Shore is on the doorstep of some of the most stunning coastal scenery in all the North Island, in my humble opinion – from the white sand beaches of the East Coast Bays to the islands of the Gulf. I think I’m qualified to give an opinion on that now.
After that first epic feat of endurance, what triggered you to dig even deeper and challenge yourself to complete Swim4TheOcean earlier this year?
Swim4TheGulf cemented for me the potential that sport has to drive positive change. It tugs on a part of what it means to be human – digging deep to strive for something that can seem beyond belief. It can create an enormous platform for good. I undertook Swim4TheGulf in a bid to drive ocean protection and restoration into the national conversation. Swim4TheOcean was built on this same foundation, but it took it to another level. We take so much from our ocean but give so little back. This was a chance to give something back.
One of your team members, Harry Oliver (partner of Char, one of our Benefitz sales team), was the nutritionist for the team. How did Harry's work influence and support your journey?
Harry was an incredibly important part of the Swim4TheOcean team. His role went far beyond nutrition, although keeping a team of seven fed and functioning for 90 days was no small task in itself. As land logistics lead, Harry coordinated everything happening on shore each day, often in really challenging conditions. Around East Cape, especially, with remote beaches, difficult access and road closures, the land operation at times became even more complex than what was happening on the water. He was one of the humble legends behind the scenes who helped make the whole mission possible.
For us locals who swim, paddle, sail or walk the dog along our North Shore beaches, explain why the health of the ocean is under such pressure?
The ocean is interconnected, and under pressure from a combination of things: warming waters, pollution, habitat destruction and unsustainable fishing practices. For those of us lucky enough to spend time in and around the water on the North Shore, it can still look beautiful on the surface. But underneath, our marine ecosystems are struggling. The Hauraki Gulf is one of the most important marine environments in the world, but in recent decades we’ve seen major loss of kelp forests, declining fish and seabird populations and the proliferation of kina. That has a real impact on the balance of the whole ecosystem. The positive thing is that nature can recover if we give it the chance. I was really encouraged to see new marine protections introduced in the Gulf recently, even if there’s still more to do. It shows that when people care enough to act, change is possible.
Swim4TheOcean centred around a direct message: end bottom trawling. Why is that so important?
Bottom trawling is a fishing method where heavy-weighted nets are dragged across the seafloor. It’s incredibly destructive to marine habitats and ecosystems. The first cab off the rank is ending bottom trawling on seamounts – underwater mountains of the sea that underpin the health of the ocean. These ecosystems are incredibly delicate and slow-growing. Recovery can take centuries, if it occurs at all. What surprises a lot of people is that New Zealand is still allowing bottom trawling on seamounts in the high seas of the South Pacific. We’re now the last country doing it there. For me, it comes down to a simple question: if we know better, why wouldn’t we do better?
More than 73,647 people backed the call, and you took that voice to Parliament in late April. How did that go?
We are incredibly proud of the support behind Swim4TheOcean. Representing the voices of more than 73,000 New Zealanders at Parliament was a real privilege. Blair Tuke and I met with decision-makers from across the political spectrum, including Minister Shane Jones, Minister Tama Potaka and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. The conversations were constructive, and our message was clear: New Zealanders want stronger protection for the ocean and a pathway away from destructive fishing methods like bottom trawling. We’re calling for protections for seamounts, an end to bottom trawling in the South Pacific high seas, and support for the industry to transition toward better alternatives.
As a North Shore local, what makes this national issue so important on a local level?
As North Shore locals, we’re incredibly connected to the ocean. Whether it’s swimming, sailing, fishing, diving, or simply walking the beach, the moana is part of everyday life here. The Hauraki Gulf is effectively our backyard, and it’s one of the most significant marine ecosystems in the world. When the ocean struggles, eventually we feel it too – through declining biodiversity, degraded habitats and the loss of what makes this place special. I think people on the Shore understand that protecting the ocean isn’t some abstract environmental issue. It’s personal.
What experiences during the swim have stayed with you? Did anything stand out that you'd like to share?
There were so many special moments: from staying in maraes and shearing quarters, to being able to swim past some of New Zealand’s most remote but equally spectacular coastline, to experiences with marine life. Once we passed Cape Kidnappers, dolphin encounters came thick and fast. At times, we would be in the water with these super pods of hundreds of dolphins. You could first hear the whistling in the water, minutes before they came. As they came closer, the chatter would become so loud that you could hear it above the water as well. And then, they would come rushing all around me, swimming inches from my fingers. Moments like this connected me back to why we were out there in the first place.
What does success look like for you, and what's next?
Success for me is leaving an impact that lasts for generations. I want my daughter to be able to have all the experiences that I have had and more. The ocean is so much more than just something that we take from; it’s something that we’re deeply connected to. In terms of what’s next, there’s more to come in the overlap of my passion for open-water swimming and my love for the ocean. It’s too early to say what form that will take, but I’m excited to see that unfold. In the immediate future, our work continues to drive meaningful action following Swim4TheOcean.
When you stand on one of our beautiful North Shore beaches now, what’s one action you’d love Channel Mag readers to take?
Don’t underestimate the power of your voice. Whether it’s supporting marine protection, having conversations with friends and family, engaging with our democracy, or backing organisations doing good work – collective action really does matter.
To learn more about Jono Ridler, ultra-marathon swimmer, environmentalist and speaker, visit Jono's website: jonoridler.com
Images credit: Joshua McCormack
