As challenges go, they don’t get much bigger than rowing across thousands of kilometres of the Pacific Ocean – and Detective Joe Konlechner can’t wait to get started.

Joe, who works in Child Protection in Taranaki, is one of the Moana Dogs – a four-strong emergency services team which also features firefighters Andrew Drum, Nick Graham and Hamish Clapp.

They are preparing to take part in the World's Toughest Row Pacific Challenge, which involves rowing from Monterey, California, to Hanalei, Hawaii, across 4500km of open ocean. They will be raising money and awareness for the Child Cancer Foundation.

The challenge is due to take place in June 2025.

“We expect to be rowing for about six weeks non-stop, doing two-hour-on, two-hour-off shifts,” says Joe.

“The journey itself will be completely unsupported so food and reliable water makers are going to be essential.

“We are all absolutely pumped but it is also beginning to feel a bit real now!”

Detective Joe Konlechner training for the challenge. Photo: NZ Police.

Joe and his teammates are getting into some serious training and working to raise the money they need for the challenge.

The team have engaged a specialist ocean rowing trainer, who runs a UK-based company.

They have been undergoing strength and endurance baseline testing – involving a lot of time on rowing machines provided by a sponsor – after which the trainer will prepare their training programmes for the coming year.

In September they will have a ‘survival at sea course’ in Auckland - one of the requirements for competing in the race.

In October they will travel to the UK – where the boat they have bought is waiting for them - to do 150 hours of certification training with Gus.

“This involves increasing periods of offshore rowing of up to 48 hours at a time,” says Joe.

“After that we will be in full prep mode, getting all the needed food and equipment together, before shipping the boat to California to start the race in June 2025.”

Joe says the team members are incredibly grateful for all the sponsorship support they have received so far. 

“It looks like this is going to be an epic adventure and hopefully we will be able raise some good awareness and donations for our cause.”

If you would like to know more about the team and the World's Toughest Row Pacific Challenge, go to the Moana Dogs' website

-Police Ten One Magazine.