Competition Update - More Opportunities to Race in Open Water Next Summer

dale493
May 7
5 min read

Announcement of the Open Water Calendar for the 2025-26 Summer

Swimming NZ is proud to be continuing our partnership supporting and being involved in the whole Banana Boat NZ Ocean Swim Series for the 2025 - 2026 summer. The series consists of seven competitions held around the country with a new addition to the calendar. With different distances on offer at each competition, it's an excellent way to inspire you to Unlock Your Greatness in the water with your friends and whanau by enjoying the Kiwi summer and swimming in some of New Zealand's iconic swimming locations.

As part of our continued partnership, we are excited to announce that for the first time there will be opportunities for both secondary school students and swimming clubs to be recognised for their performances across the whole series.

New Opportunity for Secondary School Students

For secondary school students, we have replaced the zonal championships offered in the past few years with recognising those who race in the series. For the 2025 - 2026 summer, students will be recognised for their performances across the whole series by achieving series points, meaning students will need to participate in at least three series competitions to be eligible for national series rankings in the age groups 12-13 years, 1415 years and 16-19 years. This aligns perfectly with our goal to promote more swimmers getting involved with open water swimming and we are thrilled to be providing more opportunities across the summer to do so. This also provides more competition than we have had within the respective zonal championships in previous years.

Useful Information for Eligibility

Age Groups for Male & Female: 12-13 years, 14-15 years, 16-19 years

Distances: Mid and Long Swims

Rankings: National

Frequency for Eligibility: Complete three swims in the series (must all be the same distance - eg: long swim)

Eligibility: Current Student of a Secondary School in NZ

Please note you can represent your school and club at the same time. Presentations will be made at the end of the end of the series (after The Rangitoto Swim).

New Opportunity for Swimming Clubs

Another new initiative for next summer is the introduction of a club competition across the series. For the first time, swimmers can represent their clubs during the series and contribute to becoming the Top Club across the Banana Boat NZ Ocean Swim Series. The Ocean Swim Series team will be offering prize money and a trophy to the winning club, and it's easy to be involved by racing at any of the competitions within the series and stating your club upon entering either the mid or long distance swims. We think it's a great initiative and aligns with our goal to further promote and support open water swimming into the future.

Useful Information for Eligibility

Distances: Mid and Long Swims

Member: Current Swimming Member of a SNZ Club

Please note you can represent your school and club at the same time.

National Championships

Within the series, Swimming NZ will continue to be hosting two national championships in conjunction with the respective series competition.

For the third consecutive year, the 2026 NZ Open Water Swimming Championships will be held in Lake Taupo on 10 - 11 January 2026 as part of The Epic Swim. After an increase in the number of clubs and swimmers in 2025 from the previous year, we can't wait to see clubs include the championships as part of their plans for the start of 2026. Many clubs loved having a training camp nearby and got their swimmers involved across the range of distances and a team relay in the beautiful waters of Lake Taupo. Don't miss out on the fun in 2026 by ensuring your club adds the championships to their calendar.

Likewise, the 2026 NZ Secondary School Open Water Swimming Championships will be held in the stunning Blue Lake near Rotorua on Saturday 7 March as part of the Legend of the Lake. The weather was perfect for the 2025 edition and everyone who attended had a lovely time. Make sure you encourage your friends from school to add Rotorua to your calendar in 2026.

Swimming NZ's Head of Participation, Competitions & Engagement, Dale Johnson, is looking forward to the open water season next summer.

"We are excited to be continuing our partnership alongside Dan and his Banana Boat NZ Ocean Swim Series team. We are stoked to be supporting the whole series next summer and providing more incentives for students and our clubs to get involved in the open water."

Johnson also expressed gratitude for the continued collaboration in delivering the national championships.

"We are grateful for the continued partnership of delivering our NZ Open Water Champs in Taupo and our NZ Secondary School Open Water Champs in Rotorua as part of this series. We are looking forward to hosting these champs again next summer in collaboration."

Banana Boat NZ Ocean Swim Series Event Director, Dan Feisst, is also excited about the summer ahead.

"Over the past few months we enjoyed a great summer and are very excited to launch the upcoming season. The introduction of Lake Karapiro will see a festival of swimming across the weekend! There is something for everyone, with a variety of distances from 100m to 25km on offer."

Multi-pass entries for the Banana Boat NZ Ocean Swim Series have now opened, with entries for individual competitions opening soon. Check out their website for all the details and enter now to get the best prices for next season. Don't miss your opportunity to get involved in the open water next summer and Unlock Your Greatness.

Ocean Swims Website

Want to be involved in a swimming competition to help fill the gap after the end of the summer season, don't miss the opportunity to be involved in the 2025 NZ Masters Swimming Championships in Auckland between Friday 23 - Sunday 25 May. Open to anyone aged 18+ years and no requirement to be a member of a swimming club, come and get involved in the pool. After the racing, hang around to enjoy the social camaraderie whilst watching our top swimmers race at the 2025 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships.

Entries close this Sunday 11 May so don't miss out.

NZ Masters Champs