Swimming New Zealand has established the Epic Swim Festival which will take place for the first time from 16-17 January 2010 in stunning Lake Taupo. This annual event will consist of 2km and 5km recreational open water swims plus mini swims for kids. The NZ Masters 2.5km Open Water Swimming Championships and NZ 5km and 10km Open Water Championships will also form part of the 2010 Epic Swim Festival.

This month sees scandal hit the Round NZ Swim competition. Yes the total swum has gone backwards!! - Why? Was it strong currents? Did someone leave the blocks before another member of the team touched the wall? Read on to find out more...

The latest version of MasterScrawl is now available online. To read NZMS's bi-monthly publication, click here.

The upcoming Sovereign Open Water Swimming series is now even more affordable, with a special discount available to registered masters swimmers. These events are perfect for experiencing open water swimming for the first time, or for more seasoned swimmers to enjoy pitting themselves against masters and non masters swimmers. The events are fast becoming the pinnacle of open water swimming in New Zealand, so this year is the right time to take part. For more details about the discounts available, follow the link below.

Well after 17 months we are nearly there, and I've got a feeling in my togs (no not THAT type of feeling) that this month is going to be the one where we crack the total. To date we have swum 14,701Km's - just 433 km's short of our target to swim around NZ. However, the team managed to swim 444Km's in the last month, so completing the event this month is no certainty. It's been a long way and we need all the help we can at the end to push on and complete the challenge. Who's going to be the swimmer that's going to crack the magic mark. All will be revealed next month, but only if you get your distances in. Read on for the summary to date.

The Sovereign New Zealand Ocean Swim Series is back this summer with six exciting events around New Zealand. This event presents challenges which are attainable for people of all shapes, sizes and abilities and gives swimmers the opportunity to experience sea swimming in a safe, fun environment. It could be the chance to swim in the sea for the first time, while others can aim to become an age group series winner.

Read on to find out more details and the dates of all the swims.

Swim Waikato Open Water event to be run at Lake Karapiro on the 12th of December.

The 5km and 10km events are Swim Waikato Championship events and are open to all SNZ members.

Non wetsuit swimmers will only be considered for the titles, but wetsuit swimmers can still swim the event.

SNZ Open Water age groups will apply, which are 13-15 yr, 16-17 yr and open, plus masters age groups at this stage.

More information to come.