For immediate release
23 October 2024
From: Surfing New Zealand
Sport: Surfing
Event: Aotearoa Maori Surfing Titles
Dates: 26 – 27 October 2024
Location: Ahipara, Northland
Website: Surfing New Zealand
Te Tai Tokerau to welcome Aotearoa Maori Titles again for 2024
Te Tai Tokerau is set host Aotearoa’s top Māori surfers this coming Labour Weekend with a big contingent of competitive surfers from around the country making the trip north to Te Tai Tokerau. The Aotearoa Māori Surfing Titles is being held at Ahipara with the two-day event commencing on Saturday 26th October.
With a stacked draw and over 100 surfers, this weekend is always a highlight of the season. The lure of pumping Northland waves has attracted a large field of surfers across the fourteen divisions being contested, all manuhiri looking to make the most of the long weekend and northern manaakitanga.
In 2024 we will see the Rangatira Tane contested by a large field of surfers both old and new. Some surfers that will make the long journey north include Te Rapai Barbarich-love, (Te Atiawa), Chris Malone, Over 35s Tupu Champion, Rangatira Tane 2023 Division winner Navryn Malone (Mahaki), Hone Douglas Whakatohea, Sonny Rapira-Martin Te atiawa, and Corbin Nepe, Ngati kahungungu ki Tamatea amongst many other top surfers.
What is always a fiercely competitive division the Over 35’s Tira Kakāhi is looking stacked with talent including Dawson Tamati, Te Atiawa, Ronny Keeti Rolfe , Te Atiawa, Tainui and local surfers Adam Bowmar, James Phillips and Jason Rudell. A stacked Over 45’s Tira Kakāhi will see a new champion crowned with Mike Kiwi (Ngai Terangi) unable to attend this year’s event.
ACC will be at the event for the first time, and injury prevention leader James Whitaker is heading to the Far North and can’t wait to witness the camaraderie and competition. “We know that this is a special week on the surfing calendar and Ahipara is a beautiful spot, and it will be a great place to host these nationals,” Whitaker said.
He said ACC claims data shows surfing is the leading cause of water-related injuries in New Zealand, and the body wanted to prevent harm with its messaging and support at the event.
In the women’s Open Rangatira Wahine defending champion Elin Tawharu (Ngati Raukawa) returns to Te Tai Tokerau against a wide field of experienced local wahine. Indi Lee Ruddell Te Rarawa Kaiwhare, off the back of an excellent performance in Dunedin will be one to watch as will her mum Renee Ruddell, Grace and Sky Gundry (Te Rarawa), Natasha Gouldsbury Te Ati Awa , and local super grom Jade Nias Phillips are just some of the wahine who will be looking to end Tawharu’s winning streak.
Te Tai Tokerau surfers will be a force to reckon with this weekend filling multiple divisions. They will be led by Under 18 Girls Division winner – Indi-Lee Ruddell, Jason Ruddell, Adam Bowmar, and James Phillips. Taj Phillips, Grace Gundry, Nixon Edwards, Katie Matuschka and Indi Lee Ruddell will be some of the grommets making up the junior divisions for Te Tai Tokerau.
With 2023 Champion Jaime Andrews returning to defend his SUP Tupu title we will see a fierce battle go down between the men whilst Zen Wallis (Ngapuhi) returns to defend his Men’s Longboarding title against a stacked draw. Natasha Gouldsbury (Te Atiawa) is also returning to defend her much sought after Wahine Longboard title.
A new taonga was presented at the poroporoaki in 2022 with Ricardo Christie and his whanau awarding the Tangaroatanga – Innovation Award – He tohu maumahara o Taniora – Danny Carse. This year this precious Taonga will be awarded to another surfer.
Around 21 Iwi will be represented at the event all working toward the Iwi of Origin title currently held by Nga Puhi. This will be the fourth time the event has been held in Te Tai Tokerau in its 27-year history.
The Maori Titles has a unique feel to it with a mix of top New Zealand surfers as well as many who focus their attention on Labour Weekend as the only time, they pull on a coloured jersey in competition.
Divisions range from Under 14 Boys and Girls through to Over 45 Men and Women plus Longboarding and Stand Up Paddleboarding. Whanau and friends attend the event as a celebration of surfing with the Friday evening powhiri setting the kaupapa for the long weekend.
The event takes place on Saturday and Sunday of Labour Weekend (26-27 October). On Friday evening (6:00pm sharp), the powhiri will be held at Roma Marae where manuhiri are welcome to stay for the duration of the event.
The event is mobile and a decision on where the event will be held will be made on Friday evening.
The full draw will be able to be viewed on www.liveheats.com by searching Surfing New Zealand. Live scoring will be available subject to phone coverage.
A schedule of events and location for each day will be confirmed at the powhiri on Friday night.
Please see below for defending champions from the 2023 Aotearoa Maori Titles.
Open Men’s Division – Navryn Malone (Mahaki)
Open Women’s Division – Elin Tawharu (Ngati Raukawa)
Under 18 Boys Division – Tai Murphy (Ngati Awa)
Under 18 Girls Division – Indi-Lee Ruddell (Te Rarawa)
Under 16 Boys Division – Harrison Biddle (Te Aupouri)
Under 14 Boys Division – Luca Thompson (Tainui)
Under 14 Girls Division – Kyra Wallis (Ngapuhi)
Over 35 Men’s Division – Chris Malone (Mahaki)
Over 45 Men’s Division – Mike Kiwi (Ngai Terangi)
Men’s Longboard Division – Zen Wallis (Ngapuhi)
Women’s Longboard – Natasha Gouldsbury (Te Atiawa)
Stand Up Paddleboard Division – Jamie Andrews (Te Atiawa)
Information
For more information on the 2024 Aotearoa Maori Surfing Titles, please contact Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.
Imagery
High resolution images will be available to media upon request. Images will be distributed free of charge.
Partners
The 2024 Aotearoa Maori Surfing Titles would not be possible without support from Northland Inc, Puhi Te Aewa, Dropin surf and supply, Te Rarawa Kaiwhare, Sticky Johnson and Surfing New Zealand.
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