SLSNZ Announces Finalists for the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty Awards of Excellence 

Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) is pleased to announce the finalists for Coromandel and Bay of Plenty Awards of Excellence.

 

The annual Awards of Excellence recognise and celebrate the skill and commitment of surf lifeguards who make a meaningful contribution towards saving lives, developing great New Zealanders, and keeping beachgoers safer. That mahi not only includes the hours watching over people on our beaches, but also those who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes training current and future surf lifeguards, managing administration, and coaching and participating in surf lifesaving sport. 

 

SLSNZ Eastern Regional Manager, Avan Polo said, “Every year, I’m reminded just how special our surf lifesaving community is. The finalists in this year’s Awards of Excellence represent the best of what we stand for—people who give their time, energy, and passion not for recognition, but because they care deeply about others. Whether they’re on the beach, in the clubhouse, or behind the scenes, their commitment makes a real difference. I’m proud of the impact they continue to have across the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty” 

 

The Coromandel and Bay of Plenty Awards of Excellence will bring together Hot Water Beach LS, Tairua SLSC, Pauanui SLSC, Onemana SLSC, Whangamatā SLSC, Whiritoa LS, Waihī Beach LS, Mt Maunganui LS, Omanu Beach SLSC, Pāpāmoa SLSC, Maketū SLSC, Pukehina SR, Whakatāne SLSC and Ōpōtiki SLSC.  

 

This year’s awards ceremony will be hosted by Pāpāmoa Surf Life Saving Club and will take place from 5pm on 26 July 2025.   
More information on the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty Awards can be found here.  

 

Full list of Eastern Region Lifesaving finalists: 

 

Rookie Lifeguard of the Year  

 

Duncan Kuter – Tairua SLSC 

Zac Armstrong – Waihī Beach LS 

Charlie Richardson – Omanu SLSC 

William Magill – Pāpāmoa SLSC 

Talia Meads – Maketū SLSC 

 

Full list of Coromandel Lifesaving finalists: 

 

DHL Surf Lifeguard of the Year  

Mathieu Reid, Pauanui SLSC 

Grace Westenberg, Whangamatā SLSC 

Nicholas Wagstaff, Waihī Beach LS 

DHL U19 Surf Lifeguard of the Year  

Meg Harper, Hot Water Beach LS 

Toby Low, Tairua SLSC 

Daniel Lewis, Whangamatā SLSC 

DHL Patrol Support of the Year  

Philip Marks, Onemana SLSC 

bp Search and Rescue Contribution of the Year  

Jock Rosie, Pauanui SLSC 

Rachel Luke, Whangamatā SLSC 

bp Powercraft Contribution of the Year  

Louis Batten, Onemana SLSC 

Andrew Cochrane, Waihī Beach LS 

Junior Surf Contribution of the Year  

Briarna Higgs, Tairua SLSC 

Maya Cosford, Pauanui SLSC 

Tayla Clark, Onemana SLSC 

Instructor of the Year 

Bella Muir, Tairua SLSC 

Charlotte Toumadj, Onemana SLSC 

Chiara Woodford, Waihī Beach LS 

Beach Education Instructor of the Year 

Danielle Travers, Whangamatā SLSC 

Tai Rimmer, Whangamatā SLSC 

Lily Taylor, Whangamatā SLSC 

Ruth Kayes, Omanu Beach SLSC 

Paid Lifeguard of the Year 

Jackson Schofield, Tairua SLSC 

Emily Carter, Pauanui SLSC 

Luc Rochat, Waihī Beach LS 

Examiner of the Year 

Gabriella Hughes, Tairua SLSC 

Macayla Lock, Pauanui SLSC 

Tayla Clark, Onemana SLSC 

Ella Toumadj, Whangamatā SLSC 

Patrol Captain of the Year 

Bella Muir, Tairua SLSC 

Macayla Lock, Pauanui SLSC 

Nicholas Wagstaff, Waihī Beach LS 

NZ Lottery Grants Board Volunteer of the Year  

Andrew Gibson, Pauanui SLSC 

Kevin Thorburn, Onemana SLSC 

Fiona Swain, Waihī Beach LS 

 

Full list of Bay of Plenty Lifesaving finalists: 

 

DHL Surf Lifeguard of the Year  

Donal Boyle, Omanu Beach SLSC 

Ryan Hohneck, Pāpāmoa SLSC 

Mark O'Leary, Pukehina SR 

DHL U19 Surf Lifeguard of the Year  

Freddie Mitchell, Mount Maunganui LS 

Flynn Weatherall, Omanu Beach SLSC 

Mason Bollee, Pāpāmoa SLSC 

DHL Patrol Support of the Year  

Blair Jackson, Pāpāmoa SLSC 

Jeanette MacDiarmid, Maketū SLSC 

bp Search and Rescue Contribution of the Year  

John Svendsen, Mount Maunganui LS 

Dennis Mundy, Omanu Beach SLSC 

bp Powercraft Contribution of the Year  

Quentin Cribb, Mount Maunganui LS 

Haven Bellamy, Omanu Beach SLSC 

Ryan Hohneck, Pāpāmoa SLSC 

bp Rescue of the Year 

Omanu Beach SLSC – December Rescue 

Oceans Event Lifeguards – February Rescue 

Maketū SLSC – January Rescue 

Junior Surf Contribution of the Year  

Andrew Friedlieb, Omanu Beach SLSC 

Danielle Petricevich, Pāpāmoa SLSC 

Kim O'Leary, Pukehina SR 

Instructor of the Year 

Liam Shanahan, Mount Maunganui LS 

Donal Boyle, Omanu Beach SLSC 

Jamie Mardon, Pāpāmoa SLSC 

Beach Education Instructor of the Year  

Olive Pearce, Mt Maunganui LS  

Flynn Weatherall, Omanu Beach SLSC 

Rebecca Cowley, Omanu Beach SLSC 

Marama Mateparae, Pāpāmoa SLSC  

Paid Lifeguard of the Year 

Angus Porter, Pāpāmoa SLSC 

Ross Cowdrey, Pāpāmoa SLSC  

Keeley McChesney, Whakatanē SLSC 

Examiner of the Year 

Fergus Reiger, Mount Maunganui LS 

Nikyla Halls, Omanu Beach SLSC  

Marama Mateparae, Pāpāmoa SLSC  

Mereheni Meads, Maketū SLSC 

Patrol Captain of the Year 

Donal Boyle, Omanu Beach SLSC 

Jamie Mardon, Pāpāmoa SLSC 

Duncan Bentley, Pukehina SR 

NZ Lottery Grants Board Volunteer of the Year  

Steve Bird, Mount Maunganui LS 

Caroline Trapski, Maketū SLSC 

Mel Dwane, Pukehina SR 

Full list of Coromandel & Bay of Plenty Lifesaving Sport finalists: 

 

Volunteer Coach of the Year 

Damian Munro, Mount Maunganui LS 

Jono York, Omanu Beach SLSC  

Matthew Strange, Pāpāmoa SLSC 

Christine Nairn, Pukehina SR 

Emerging Coach of the Year 

Rosie Falcous, Whangamatā SLSC 

Daniel Shanahan, Mount Maunganui LS 

Danielle Richards, Omanu Beach SLSC 

Zane Jensen, Pukehina SR 

Toyota Financial Services Coach of the Year 

Matthew Waide, Mount Maunganui LS 

Cory Hutchings, Omanu Beach SLSC  

Jake Cowdrey, Pāpāmoa SLSC  

Simon Wills, Whakatāne SLSC  

Toyota Financial Services Surf Sportsperson of the Year  

Madison Kidd, Whangamatā SLSC 

Pippa Nicol, Mount Maunganui LS  

Pipi Te Pania, Omanu Beach SLSC  

Emerging Surf Sports Official of the Year 

Jackie Webb, Mount Maunganui LS 

Dean Jury, Omanu Beach SLSC 

Stephanie Mardon, Pāpāmoa SLSC 

Aon Surf Sports Official of the Year  

Greg Rieger, Mount Maunganui LS  

Joanne Miller, Pāpāmoa SLSC  

Michelle Cossey, Whakatāne SLSC  

Aon Surf Sports Team of the Year  

Open Female Taplin Team - Kiana O'Fee, Pippa Nicol & Olive Pearce, Mount Maunganui LS 

U17 Male Board Rescue - Oli Hansen & Charlie Shivnan, Omanu Beach SLSC 

U17 Male Line Throw - Lockie Cairns & Oliver Pepers, Pāpāmoa SLSC 

Aon Event Safety Contribution of the Year  

Liam Shanahan, Mount Maunganui LS 

Flynn Weatherall, Omanu Beach SLSC 

Jamie Parker, Pāpāmoa SLSC 

Coaches Commitment Award 

Holly Warden, Whangamatā SLSC 

Steve Bird, Mount Maunganui LS 

Travis Carnegie, Omanu Beach SLSC 

Oliver Pepers, Pāpāmoa SLSC 

Athlete of the Year 

Alyssa Tapper, Whangamatā SLSC 

Braith Swanberg, Omanu Beach SLSC 

Danielle Richards, Omanu Beach SLSC 

Gus Shivnan, Omanu Beach SLSC 

India-Rose Scholes, Mount Maunganui LS 

Naomi Davoren, Pāpāmoa SLSC 

Oli Hansen, Omanu Beach SLSC 

Owen Miller, Pāpāmoa SLSC 

Pipi Te Pania, Omanu Beach SLSC 

Quinn Murdoch, Omanu Beach SLSC 

Simiosi Tukia, Waihī Beach LS 

Tristan Lim-Yock, Pāpāmoa SLSC