22nd January 2026
From: Surfing New Zealand
Sport: Surfing
Event: 2026 New Zealand Festival of Longboarding
Location: Papamoa Beach, The Domain, Bay of Plenty
Event Info: Surfing New Zealand
NZ Festival of Longboarding arrives on the shores of Papamoa Beach this coming February.
Papamoa Beach will see the return of the New Zealand Festival of Longboarding next month, the event set to bring together the longboard surfing community of Aotearoa for a fun weekend of stylish surfing across the 7th-8th February.
Coupled with a focus on participation and enjoying what the Bay of Plenty coastline has to offer, the event doubles as a selection event for the New Zealand Longboarding Team with the representative opportunity set to attract our top talent.
Defending champions Matt Newdick (Auck) and Gabi Paul (Piha) are yet to confirm their attendance at this year’s edition of the event, yet with recent double-division victories at The SNZ National Championships held in Gisborne, both Jaxon Willows and Izaro Williamson Sasia have both made their intentions clear with early entry into the event and chasing the coveted win for NZ Team Selection.
The two junior surfers both won the double-double in Gisborne, winning not only their respective U18 Longboard Titles but also both taking the win in the Open Men’s and Open Women’s grand finals respectively.
The New Zealand Festival of Longboarding offers divisions ranging from Under 18 Boys and Girls through to Over 60s as well as the traditional Old Mal Division. Over 100 entries are expected for the event which forms part of the New Zealand Longboard Series.
The New Zealand Longboard Series comprises six events including the National Championships held in Gisborne earlier this month, the Gathering of Stoke in Gisborne, the Ray White Duke Festival of Surfing, South Island Championships and the Exit Surf Men’s Canterbury Champs and Women’s Canterbury Championships.
Top competitors from around the country will compete over the two days with New Zealand Longboard Team Selection on the line.
Longboard surf action will take place at Papamoa Domain from 8am – 5pm daily on Saturday and Sunday. All heat draws and scheduling plus live scoring can be viewed on Live Heats.
Further Information
For further information on the 2026 New Zealand Festival of Longboarding please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Gavin Bisman on 027-446-4174 or email : gavin.bisman@surfingnz.co.nz
Imagery
High resolution action images of the surfing at the event will be available to media free of charge. Email @Ben Kennings
Hosts
The New Zealand Festival of Longboarding is proudly hosted by the Papamoa Boardriders Club.
Follow the event
Follow the action via all social media platforms – @surfingnz across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Surfing New Zealand is proudly partnered by:
Sport New Zealand
ACC
Sun Bum
Kiwi Holiday Insurance
Ends