Top surf lifesaving duo return home for 2025 Aon New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Nationals

Joe Collins and Cory Taylor have a lot in common. They’re both members of New Zealand’s Black Fins surf lifesaving squad, they both grew up in coastal New Zealand, they’re both currently competing in Australia’s competitive professional surf lifesaving circuit and they’re both heading home next week for the 2025 Aon New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Nationals. However, when the starting gun goes, all bets are off.

The pinnacle event of the surf lifesaving sporting season, this year’s Aon New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Nationals will see nearly 1300 athletes across New Zealand battle it out at Midway Beach, Gisborne between 6 and 9 March.

Joe has been part of New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Surf Lifesaving Club since he was a six-year-old Nipper. He was hooked after winning an under 14 event at the Oceans Festival of Junior Lifesaving and hung up his rugby boots in favour of a career as a professional sport surf lifesaver. Having recently won two of the six rounds in the Shaw & Partners Iron Series in Australia, he is returning home with his sights firmly set on winning the surf race – the one individual title he hasn’t collected yet.

Cory, who captained the Black Fins in 2022 and 2024 will be competing at his home beach at this year’s Aon Nationals. Surf lifesaving is in his blood with his father representing New Zealand in surf lifesaving and winning a World Ski Race title in Japan in 1992. Having taken up surf lifesaving as a Nipper because he just loved being at the beach, Cory is keen to take out the Taplin team relay and swim teams events. A men’s Taplin team consists of six competitors - two swimmers, two board paddlers and two ski paddlers and is a prestigious title for most surf lifesaving clubs.

“Taking out the Taplin would be epic on our home beach,” says Cory.

Both athletes are looking forward to reconnecting with family and the surf lifesaving community back in New Zealand after a tough but thrilling Aussie season.

“Coming back to compete on my home beach – where it all started – is pretty special, says Cory.

“Reconnecting with people we’ve met over the years and helping the junior athletes coming through is super motivating,” he says

Both would love to see surf lifesaving continue to gain traction and eventually become a professional sport in New Zealand, as it currently is in Australia, giving surf lifesaving athletes a sustainable path to compete and live in New Zealand.

“This is such an epic sport to be part of. New Zealanders love the ocean, you’re part of a team and it gives young people an opportunity to see and experience different beaches and coasts in New Zealand and eventually all over the world, says Joe.

And how do the two balance fierce competition with friendship?

“I’ll be going toe-to-toe with Cory all day then sitting down with him and his family for dinner,” says Joe.

“The fact that you can do that –have fierce rivalry within a solid community and lifelong friendships – you don’t see that in other sports and that’s what makes surf lifesaving quite special.”