Event location

The event headquarters is located on Tāhunanui Beach.

Registrations

You MUST complete your online entry before arriving, including entries for the OceanKids event - No entries at the registration desk.

Free with your swim entry

• Silicon swimming cap (you wear on event day)
• Branded finish line photo (digital sharing quality)
• Electronic timing device
• Hydration and a banana and more to refuel post event
• Trained lifeguards to watch over you while you swim and advanced medical personnel on site

Cut-off times

For safety reasons and to ensure the day runs to schedule, our swims have a cut-off time. The times vary for each swim distance.

The Big Tahuna 3.2km Cut-off: 2hrs

The Small Tahuna 1.3km Cut-off: 50mins

The Tiny Tahuna 500m Cut-off: 20mins

OceanKids Cut off: 100m - 5mins / 200m - 10mins

Age limits

The Big Tahuna 3.2km Age: 12 years and above

The Small Tahuna 1.3km Age: 10 years and above

The Tiny Tahuna 500m Age: 10 years and above

OceanKids 100m & 200m Age: 7 – 12 years old.

Swim caps & start groups

As part of your swim pack you will receive a silicon swim cap. Each start group has a different coloured cap. Start groups are determined by the speed group you selected in the entry form. If you have swum with us already this season please bring your cap to minimise the number of caps you collect and reduce our environmental footprint.

The start groups are calculated by our operations team and are organised by speed groups & entry numbers. These can vary from event to event, unless you are a Multi Event pass swimmer, and we are reluctant to change these as it can affect results.

Speed 1 & 2 – Fastest swimmers

Speed 1: 1:20 - 1:30 per 100m
Speed 2 – 1:30 - 1:40 per 100m

Mid 1 & 2 – Competitive but like a little bit more space on the start line

Mid 1 - 1:40 - 1:50 per 100m
Mid 2 – 1:50 - 2:00 per 100m

Comp 1 & 2 – Out there to challenge yourself and swim with friends and family

Comp 1 - 2:00 - 2:10 per 100m
Comp 2 – 2:10 + per 100m

Results

Once results have been published, if you cannot see your result or think there is an error, please come and see the team in registration as soon as possible and definitely BEFORE prizegiving. You can find the results here. 

Post-event nutrition

Once you have crossed the finish line one of our awesome crew will be there to meet you with water and a banana.

BYO drink bottle

As part of our goal to have a greener footprint, we will no longer be offering drinking cups so please remember to bring your own drink bottle. Thanks to the awesome team at the hydration station, you can fill your bottle with water. Look out for our water station and stay hydrated!

The Big Tahuna is proud to host the first event in Swimming NZ's Secondary School Open Water Championships.

This series offers a competition for Secondary School students (Years 9–13) to accumulate points by competing in at least three races of the same distance across the series (LONG or MID).

The events eligible for points towards the Secondary School Championships are:

• Nelson – 22 November
• Rotorua – 7 March
• The Mount – 18 April
• Rangitoto – 3 May

Competitive swimmers (Swimming NZ members) can also gain points towards the Top Club competition.
Swimmers can accumulate points across the series by competing at a minimum of three races of the same distance across the series (LONG or MID).

The events eligible for points towards the Top Club are:

• Nelson – 22 November
• Taupo - 10 & 11 January
• Russell - 21 February
• Rotorua – 7 March
• Karapiro - 21 & 22 March
• The Mount – 18 April
• Rangitoto – 3 May
  

For more information on both Series, see Swimming New Zealand's event information booklet.

Event Guide for The Big Tahuna

Please read the guide carefully before the event. This will ensure the event and your experience run smoothly.

The results can only be as good as the information provided. If the details on your entry form aren’t correct, we won’t know until it’s too late. Let’s avoid any last-minute surprises—CHECK YOU ENTRY INFORMATION HERE

Ensure ALL columns are completed – as this may result in you not have a finish time.

Information in the psych sheet is correct as of 12/11/2025. If you registered after this date, please log-in to your Race Roster account to check and amend any information if necessary.

All New Zealand Ocean Swim Series events are patrolled by trained lifeguards and first aid qualified personnel who are present to assist you at all times.

So that the events are safe and enjoyable for all swimmers, there are some rules for the event. Find out more here.

Bag storage area

An area designated to store your gear bag will be available for all event participants. This will be situated at the main event site on Tāhunanui Beach. You will need to bring your own small gear bag. Please note, our bag storage service is an ‘all care, no responsibility’ service, so please do not pack valuable items.

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Head to the Centre of New Zealand.

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