North Island Surf Boats
Massive Turnout at Waihī Beach for North Island Surf Boat Championships and Trans-Tasman Test Series
Waihī Beach played host to one of the biggest surf boat racing events of the season, with the North Island Surf Boat Championships and the Trans-Tasman Surf Boat Series bringing together elite rowers from across New Zealand and Australia.
With 44 crews from New Zealand and four Australian teams competing, and over 1,000 spectators lining the beach, the event highlighted the strength of surf boat rowing in New Zealand, not just as a high-performance sport but as an integral part of the surf lifesaving movement.
New Zealand vs Australia – The Trans-Tasman Test Series
The Trans-Tasman Surf Boat Series saw New Zealand’s Oar Blacks go head-to-head with Australia’s top crews, with intense, hard-fought racing across all divisions.
The New Zealand Oar Blacks teams were:
· Oar Blacks Women: Red Beach Bullet
· Oar Blacks Men: Piha A
· Development U23 Women: Piha Piranhas
· Development U23 Men: Titahi Bay Two Stroke
Despite dominant performances from New Zealand’s U23 crews, who won their division, Australia claimed the overall series title, with their Open Men’s and Women’s crews proving too strong for the Kiwis.
NZ Team Manager Bruce Matheson was proud of the Oar Blacks' efforts, especially the development crews: "To win the U23 Trans-Tasman again here at Waihī Beach shows we have talent for the future. Our U23 Females, the Piha Piranhas, won all four races against a crew who had not lost a race all season across Australia. Our Open crews were up against some very experienced Australians, with their Open Male crew from Bulli Beach the current three-time Australian Champions. We keep trying and will now look at the development for future years. A big thanks to everyone involved, especially our management team of Amelia Lowe and Tanya Hamilton, and everyone involved in putting on another excellent event."
North Island Surf Boat Championships – The Best of NZ on Show
Now in its 27th year, the North Island Surf Boat Championships saw crews from all over New Zealand compete in U19, U23, Open, and Masters divisions. The full results can be found here: LiveHeats.
With some clubs travelling from as far as Christchurch and Dunedin, the event was a testament to the dedication of New Zealand’s surf lifesaving community. Some clubs supplied boats for others to use, and four boats were delivered from clubs around the country for the Australian teams—a true show of team spirit and collaboration in the sport. Bespoke, hand-carved Hinuera Stone trophies were awarded to the winning crews, thanks to sponsor Hinuera Stone.
Champion of Champions – The Ultimate Test
Day 2 saw the highly anticipated Champion of Champions event, where the best of the best crews competed in a round-robin format. The final standings were:
1st Place: New Brighton SLSC – “The Bangas” 2nd Place: Australia’s Bulli Gold (Silver) 3rd Place: Paekākāriki Surf Lifeguards (Bronze)
Growing Surf Boat Rowing in New Zealand
Surf boat racing has long been an integral part of surf lifesaving history, but it’s also an area of sporting growth, attracting new members, creating strong team bonds, and fostering club culture.
Tanya Hamilton, Surf Life Saving NZ’s High Performance Sport Manager, spoke about the sport’s ongoing development: "Surf boat rowing brings clubs together in a fun and vibrant way. It’s an incredible team sport that strengthens fitness, skill, and water awareness—all essential for surf lifeguards. Seeing clubs working together, lending boats, and supporting each other shows just how much passion exists for this sport."
The camaraderie among clubs was evident, not only in the competition but in the support off the water. Clubs worked together, sharing boats, offering logistical support, and travelling huge distances to compete.
A Massive Community Effort – Waihī Beach Delivers
SLSNZ President Jim Warwick, who attended the event, was impressed by the scale, organisation, and the massive level of engagement from both the Waihī Beach community and the wider surf lifesaving network.
"The scale of this event was incredible - not just in terms of competition but in how it engaged surf lifeguards, officials, volunteers, iwi and the wider community. The effort from Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services was phenomenal, from water safety teams in IRBs to the club’s Board of Directors, event management, and lifeguards who kept patrols running while hosting a major international event. It’s a great example of what makes surf lifesaving in New Zealand so special."
From rookie lifeguards (12-13 years old) delivering food to officials, to the catering teams who mashed 300 avocados and served 300 burgers, the event required a huge volunteer effort. The work party crews were on the beach at 6am daily, setting up arenas and managing logistics, while the water safety teams ensured a safe racing environment in RWCs and IRBs. Waihī Beach School tamariki supported the mihi whakatau, while locals Zeta and Paul Schuler sang the national anthems in a lovely touch for the opening ceremony.
With booming spectator numbers, an unforgettable atmosphere, and clubs from across New Zealand rallying together, Waihī Beach once again proved itself to be a premier venue for surf boat racing.
