Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services Shines at Aon New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Championships

Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services athletes have returned from the AON New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Championships with strong performances and valuable experience after four days of intense competition at Midway Beach, Gisborne (March 6–9).

The championships threw everything at the competitors – large swells and high winds on the first two days forced event organisers to relocate some events 1km down the beach to Waikanae, where conditions were more manageable. Saturday brought sunshine and cleaner surf, allowing for a full day of competition back at Midway Beach, while Sunday’s strong winds and rain saw the U15-U17 rescue events shifted back to Waikanae.

Waihī Beach was represented by a 14-strong Senior team, two Masters competitors and our Men’s Surf Boat crew. The Senior team performed exceptionally well, with multiple athletes reaching semi-finals and finals against some of the country’s top lifeguarding talent. While they narrowly missed out on podium finishes, their determination and strong showings in challenging conditions were outstanding.

The club’s Masters competitors also delivered solid results, securing several individual placements and showcasing their experience and skill in tough racing conditions.

A standout achievement came from the club’s U23 Male Surf Boat team, which secured a bronze medal in the Short Course event and finished third overall in the New Zealand Surf Boat Series. The series included four major competitions: the Whangamatā Classic (December 7), Central Region Senior Championships (January 11–12), Eastern Region Senior Championships (January 26–27), and North Island Surf Boat Championships (February 8–9), with points awarded based on the best three results.

Many individual athletes achieved top-six placings, a remarkable feat given the depth of talent at nationals. Simply reaching a semi-final or final was a significant achievement, with unpredictable conditions and high-performance competition testing even the most seasoned athletes.

“We’re incredibly proud of how our athletes performed,” said Aron May, Senior Sport Squad Team Manager. “They showed grit, resilience, and sportsmanship across all four days of racing. Every athlete represented the club with pride – our blue and white colours were a familiar sight in finals arenas throughout the weekend.”

There’s no off-switch for our lifeguards; while the competition season winds down, the focus now shifts to off-season training and ongoing beach patrols to keep the community safe. Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services is already looking ahead to building on this momentum next season.

About our Lifeguards

Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services has been protecting the local community and training highly skilled lifeguards for over 90 years. The club’s athletes are not only competitors but also volunteer lifeguards, dedicated to keeping Waihī Beach safe year-round.

U23 Male Surf Boat Crew Luke Butler, Rian Butler, Nick Wagstaff (sweep), Jack Harray, Will Murphy, Aidan Butler