Aotearoa Maori Surfing Titles Confirmed for 2016

For immediate release

27^th July 2016

From: Surfing New Zealand
Sport: Surfing
Event: Aotearoa Maori Surfing Titles
Dates: 22 – 23 October 2016
Location: Taranaki
Website: Surfing New Zealand

Aotearoa Maori Surfing Titles Confirmed for 2016

The 2016 Aotearoa Maori Surfing Titles will take place in Taranaki this year – the birth place of the esteemed event.

Aotearoa’s biggest gathering of Maori surfers, family and friends will take place during Labour Weekend (22 – 23 October) and will be hosted by Waitara Bar Boardriders Club.

The event has long been held in high regard and has unearthed a number of young surfing talent. However, the focus of the event has always been as much on bringing Maori surfers together as it has been about high performance surfing and competition.

The Aotearoa Maori Surfing Titles is simply the waka for a celebration of Maori surfing and two great days shared amongst one another. In that sense, the event offers up a number of divisions from juniors through to seniors as well as longboard and this year the introduction of standup paddle boarding which has become popular with Maori surfers nationwide.

The Titles were first held in Taranaki in 1993 before being held in a number of regions throughout New Zealand.

Waitara Bar Boardriders Club President Jamie Andrews has been a solid advocate for Maori surfers. In 2015 he was part of the Maori Surfing Team who finished runner up to hosts New Caledonia at the Melanesian Cup. Andrews himself won the SUP Division and placed runner up in the Longboard Division.

Andrews is looking forward to hosting manuhiri (visitors) from around Aotearoa saying that they can expect Whanaungatanga (kinship), Manaakitanga (hospitality, generosity and kindness) plus the challenge of surfing at the best possible surf on offer along the wave-rich Taranaki coastline.

“The competition will be a mobile event held in the Taranaki Rohi (area) at the best spot on the day, anywhere from Mokau to Patea” says Andrews.

“Taranaki has a staunch history of Te Ngaru Toa (wave warriors) some who have dominated the New Zealand surfing scene from the early 80′s in to the 2000’s. Names like Jason Mathews, Pipi Ngaia, Jason Lellmen, Brent Hutchieson, Motu & Dwayne Mataa, Kylie Pullen Jayson Zimmerman and Bachelor & Thandi Tipene all have a proud Taranaki background” added Andrews.

The tradition looks set to continue with Waitara Bar Boardriders Club and their work aiding at-risk youth into the sport of surfing and encouraging youngsters to get out there and have a go. Hosting the Titles allows the club to show their community and club members what Maori surfers are capable of and what can be achieved in the sport.

The talent pool of Maori surfers nationwide also reflects that of the Taranaki region.

Ricardo Christie (Ngati Kahungunu) is the country’s most celebrated Maori surfer having competed on the World Tour in 2015 climbing as high as 31^st in the world. Christie continues his international campaign on the World Qualifying Series this year where he is ranked inside the top 50 surfers.

This year seven of twelve New Zealand Junior Surfing Team members are Maori surfers and they will compete at the World Junior Championships being held in Portugal from the 17 – 25 September. The team includes future star Kehu Butler (Mount Maunganui) who is already winning events on the international stage at the age of 15.

Ex-Maori and National Title holder Daniel Kereopa (Tainui) is another Kiwi role model that has surfed in numerous Titles events. The 2015 Ultimate Waterman champion has always shown his flexibility in the water changing from shortboard to longboard to standup paddleboard as well as many other water craft. Kereopa is likely to compete across several divisions at this year’s event.

Surfers from both the North and South Island and numerous Iwi the length of the country are expected to participate at this year’s Titles.

The event will commence with a powhiri at Owae Marae in Waitara on Friday evening. Two days of surfing will take place before the poroporoaki will conclude the weekend back at Owae Marae on Sunday evening.

The event can be entered online via www.surfingnz.co.nz from early September.

Information
For more information on the 2016 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 2016 Aotearoa Maori Surfing Titles would not be possible without support from hosts Waitara Bar Boardriders Club, Evitan Events and Surfing New Zealand.

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