The strength of Te Atiawa returned at the 2024 Aotearoa Maori Surfing Titles held in Te Tai Tokerau over the long weekend as they took the Iwi of Origin back from hosts Nga Puhi on the final day of the event held on Sunday (27th October).
In a close battle, Te Atiawa claimed four titles during the day to edge past Nga Puhi’s three after two days of action that spanned both coasts as is the vast options available at the top of Te Ika a Maui.
While the attraction was the annual event that brings the Maori surfing whanau together, it was the manakitanga that will be remembered, the free surfing options up and down the coast and the exceptional kai daily.
Rarawa offered up small waves for the final day of the event with a wind swell below one metre and cross onshore norwest winds. The conditions were a stark contrast to the raw waves on day one when the event was relocated north to the Bluff on Ninety Mile Beach with solid 1.5m waves and strong offshore winds.
Nga Puhi surfer Jai Wallis claimed the Open Rangatira Tane Division on Sunday afternoon besting his older brother Zen in the final. It was a close matchup between the top three surfers in the final as the tide pushed in, and waves proved challenging.
Jai made a late charge in the final and it was a 6.13 on his last ride, a long running left that saw him snatch the lead off third placed surfer and double finalists Christian Fougere (Ngati Porou) who came up just short of wins in both. In the same exchange, Zen was able to edge past Fougere, Jai finishing on 11.40, Zen on 11.17, Christian on 10.83 and fourth placed Sonny Rapira – Martin (Te Atiawa) finishing in fourth.
Ngati Raukawa surfer Elin Tawharu defended her title in the Open Rangatira Wahine Division surfing to victory over Te Atiawa surfer Natasha Gouldsbury (Te Atiawa) for the second consecutive year but this time with a much closer margin with only 0.10 separating the two wahine. Indi-Lee Ruddell (Te Rarawa Kaiwhare) finished the final in third place unable to back up her win in the Under 18 Girls Taitamawahine Division and Grace Gundry (Te Rarawa) finished in fourth.
Max Phillips (Ngati Mutanga) took his first major national event in the Under 18 Boys defeating the aforementioned Fougere in the Under 18 Boys Taitamatane while Indi-Lee Ruddell took the Under 18 Girls Taitamawahine.
The Pitkeathly brothers (Nga Puhi) took home a title each with Peleki taking a convincing win in the Longboard while Zade had a seesaw battle in the Under 16 Boys eventually sealing the win with about five minutes remaining in the closest final of the day.
Double finalist Natasha Gouldsbury got a win in the Wahine Longboard Division to go with her runner up finish in the Rangatira Open Wahine.
Jamie Andrews (Te Atiawa) took a double win claiming the Stand Up Paddleboard and the Over 45 Men’s Division. Local Te Tai Tokerau surfer Jason Ruddell made the most of the small conditions in the Over 35 Men’s Division to claim the win for Te Atiawa.
Titles in the Under 14 Divisions went to Whaingaroa surfer Xander Banks (Tainui) in the boys and Jade Nias Phillips (Ngati Kahu) in the girls.
Full results can be viewed via Live Heats – https://liveheats.com/events/277247.
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, Good Surf Now and Surfing New Zealand.
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