For immediate release
10th January 2025
From: Surfing New Zealand
Sport: Domestic Surfing
Event: 2025 New Zealand Surfing National Champs
Divisions: Open Men’s and Women’s, Juniors, Longboards, SUPS, Kneeboard, Bodyboard, Adaptive
Date: 12th – 18 January
Location: Taranaki, New Zealand
Websites and Social: Surfing New Zealand #2025Nats
National Surfing Championships presented by Toi Foundation returns to Taranaki
The sixty second edition of the New Zealand National Surfing Championships has attracted a record field of participants that will zone in on the Taranaki region starting this weekend with options to be mobile dependent on the conditions the event will be held wherever the waves are best.
Over 400 entries have been received for the event which kicks off on Sunday and runs through until Saturday 18th January. It is the 10th time the event has been held in the West Coast region with the most recent being in 2019.
The National Championships brings together the best surfers in New Zealand and brings together the surfing community from all over the country to enjoy a fun week of sun and surfing at one of New Zealand’s most well-known surf regions.
The black sand beaches of Taranaki on the wild West Coast have a thriving surfing community and a talent pool stretching throughout all divisions including hometown legend Paige Hareb and 2 time National Champion Daniel Farr, who will both be looking to add another National title to their respective trophy cabinets.
Throughout the event keep an eye out for Sonny Rapira Martin, Simon Deken, Bachelor Tipene, Te Rapai Barbarich love, Dawson Tamati, and Jarred Hancox who will be looking to use their hometown advantage in the senior divisions and a number of other rising groms including Kalani Louis, Natasha Gouldsbury, Spencer Rowson, Skylar Mcfetridge, Tom Butland , Soren Bucka Christensen, Kai Shearer, Jordie Luke and Levi Devine Collins.
Also, up for grabs at the 62nd National Championships is the Peter Byers Overall Performance of the Event Award. Peter Byers started surfboard building in 1958 after being visited by Bing Copeland and Rick Stoner. The two California lifeguards taught him to shape boards and ride waves.
Remembered as one of the pioneering board riders and the founding father of board making in New Zealand Peter passed away in 2012 at the age of 71. That year and every New Zealand Surfing Nationals since, we have honoured the memory and pioneering work of Pete Byers with a beautiful surfboard shaped trophy shaped out of West Coast Kauri by local craftsman Clive Barron.
A total of 29 divisions are contested at the event including the premier Open Men and Women plus additional divisions comprising of age groups from Under 14 boys and girls through to Over 60s for males and females and Longboard, Stand Up Paddleboard, Bodyboard, Kneeboard and adaptive disciplines.
It is expected that finals of the event will commence from Friday with the main divisions concluding on Saturday 18th January. Action will take place from 8am – 5pm daily.
The event would not be possible without the support of the Toi Foundation. The 2025 National Surfing Championships is proudly hosted by New Plymouth Surfriders.
Daily schedules, live scores and results are available via www.liveheats.com/surfingnz.
Schedule of events (earliest possible day to commence divisions):
Set out below are previous champions of the major divisions contested for the past five years.
Open Men
2020 – Elliot Paerata – Reid (Piha)
2021 – Billy Stairmand (Rag)
2022- Daniel Farr (Tara)
2023 Dune Kennings –(Piha)
2024 Daniel Farr (Tara)
2025 ?
Open Women
2020 – Ava Henderson (Chch)
2021 – Saffi Vette (Gis)
2022 – Paige Hareb (Tara)
2023 Piha Rogers (WGM)
2024 Maya Mateja (Rag)
2025 ?
Under 18 Boys Division
2020 – Jack Lee (Whakatane)
2021 – Finn Vette (Gis)
2022 – Rakiatea Tau (Chch)
2023 Navryn Malone (Rag)
2024 Taimana Marupo (Mnt)
2025?
Under 18 Girls Division
2020 – Ava Henderson (Chch)
2021 – Ava Henderson (Chch)
2022 – Ava Henderson (Chch)
2023 – Tayla Green (Aus)
2024 Leia Millar (Piha)
2025 ?
Longboard
2020 – Ambrose McNeill (Chch)
2021 – Daniel Procter (Gis)
2022 – Jack Tyro (Chch)
2023 Oliver Janes (Auck)
2024 Jack Tyro (Chch)
2025 ?
The 2025 National Surfing Championships commences both the domestic NZ Surf Series, NZ Grom Series and NZ Longboard Series with events scheduled around the country this summer.
Further Information
For further information on the 2025 National Surfing Championships please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.
Imagery
High resolution action images of the surfing will be available to media free of charge upon request.
Social Media
Keep up with all the action by following @surfingnz on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Use the hashtag #Nats2025 to follow the story.
Surfing New Zealand is proudly partnered by:
Sport New Zealand
Sun Bum
Cookie Time, OSM, Bumper Bars
Ends
