North Island
The North Island or Te Ika-a-Māui is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the slightly larger but much less populous South Island by the Cook Strait. The island is the world's 14th-largest island. It has a population of 3,422,000 (June 2013 estimate).
Twelve main urban areas (half of them officially cities) are in the North Island. Listing from north to south, they are Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Napier, Hastings, Whanganui, Palmerston North, and Wellington, the capital, located at the south-west extremity of the island. Approximately 77% of New Zealand's population lives in the North Island.
Open Water Swimming
It is site of various open water swimming competitions including the Kapiti Island Swim.
Barry Devonport was the first person to swim across the Cook Strait when he crossed from North Island to South Island on 20 November 1962 in 11 hours 20 minutes. Several dozens of channel swimmers have since successfully crossed between North Island and South Island, many under the guidance of Philip Rush.
Swimming across the Cook Strait
Mark Sowerby and Joanne Norman swimming across the 23 km Cook Strait between North Island and South Island in New Zealand under the escort of pilot Grant Orchard in 8 hours 3 minutes on 31 January 2024. Videography by Jeff Tseng.
External links
- The Beauty and Challenges of the Cook Strait - and the Smiles of Success
- Aloha: Caitlin Completes Catalina – Onwards to Oahu
- Andy Donaldson Sets Cook Strait Record In 4 Hours 33 Minutes
- Samoa Swim Series 2023 and Beyond
- 10K Under 10°C, Ger Kennedy Joins Cold Water Swimming A-Listers
- Youth Is Served Again And Again And Again – Caitlin O’Reilly Completes NZ Triple Crown
- New Zealand Open Water Swimming Association Kicks Off With Record Swim By Jonathan Ridler
- Catalina To The Mainland Or Mainland To Catalina?
- What Happens In The Open Water, Stays In The Open Water
- World Open Water Swimming Association
- Open Water Swimming
- 40.2 Challenge Across Lake Taupo
- Quienes Sueñan y Construyen, The Life Of Antonio Argüelles
