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 the 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 25 July 2026. 

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

Hunter Jones, Papamoa SLSC

Olivia Halls, Omanu SLSC

Ashton Rutland, Pukehina SR

Full list of Coromandel Lifesaving finalists:

DHL Surf Lifeguard of the Year

Ryan Lock, Pauanui SLSC

Bella Muir, Tairua SLSC

Danielle Travers, Whangamatā SLSC

DHL U19 Surf Lifeguard of the Year

Archer Easton, Tairua SLSC

Casey McAnulty, Pauanui SLSC

Luke Butler, Waihi Beach LS

DHL Patrol Support of the Year

Philip Marks, Onemana SLSC

Sharlene Manukau, Waihi Beach LS

bp Powercraft Contribution of the Year

Archer Easton, Tairua SLSC

Mathieu Reid, Pauanui SLSC

Nicholas Wagstaff, Waihi Beach LS

Junior Surf Contribution of the Year

Briarna Higgs, Tairua SLSC

Geoff Beggs, Pauanui SLSC

Instructor of the Year

Briarna Higgs, Tairua SLSC

Mathieu Reid, Pauanui SLSC

Charlotte Toumadj, Onemana SLSC

Examiner of the Year

Mathieu Reid, Pauanui SLSC

Briarna Higgs, Tairua SLSC

Maddie Scown, Waihi Beach LS

Patrol Captain of the Year

Bella Muir, Tairua SLSC

Emily Carter, Pauanui SLSC

Tai Rimmer, Whangamata SLSC

NZ Lottery Grants Board Volunteer of the Year

Charlotte Toumadj, Onemana

Mathieu Reid, Pauanui

Andrew Cochrane, Waihi Beach

Full list of Bay of Plenty Lifesaving finalists:

DHL Surf Lifeguard of the Year

Flynn Weatherall, Omanu

Liam Shanahan, Mount Maunganui

Mark O'Leary, Pukehina

DHL U19 Surf Lifeguard of the Year

Jayden Harris, Pukehina

Maddie Tod, Omanu

Tama Hawkins, Mount Maunganui

DHL Patrol Support of the Year

Corey Pullar, Omanu

Hamish Nathan, Mount Maunganui

Jeanette MacDiarmid, Maketu

Kate Magill, Papamoa

bp Search and Rescue Contribution of the Year

Matt Davoren, Papamoa

Olivia Kayes, Omanu

bp Powercraft Contribution of the Year

Haven Bellamy, Omanu

Quentin Cribb, Mount Maunganui

Ryan Hohneck, Papamoa

Junior Surf Contribution of the Year

Jono York, Omanu

Jenna Waite-Leonard, Papamoa

Instructor of the Year

Jamie Cabusao – Mt. Maunganui LS

Jamie Mardon – Pāpāmoa SLSC

Examiner of the Year

Karyn Leach, Papamoa

Liam Shanahan, Mount Maunganui

Nikyla Halls, Omanu

Patrol Captain of the Year

Dallas Numa, Mount Maunganui

Mason Bollee, Papamoa

Nicola Mansel, Opotiki

NZ Lottery Grants Board Volunteer of the Year

Brent Warner, Mount Maunganui

Radleigh Cairns, Papamoa

Mel Dwane, Pukehina

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

Volunteer Coach of the Year

Matthew Strange, Papamoa

Daniel Shanahan, Mount Maunganui

Ronald Dobbs, Omanu

Emerging Coach of the Year

Louis Vuleta, Omanu

Oliver Puddick, Mount Maunganui

Max Morley, Waihi Beach

Toyota Financial Services Coach of the Year

Cory Hutchings, Omanu

Jake Cowdrey, Papamoa

Matthew Waide, Mount Maunganui

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

Clare Pearson, Papamoa

Dean Jury, Omanu

Aon Surf Sports Official of the Year

Joanne Miller, Papamoa

Karen Bark, Mount Maunganui

Fiona Swain, Waihi Beach

Aon Surf Sports Team of the Year 

Mixed Double Ski, Mount Maunganui

Open Mens Surf Boat, Omanu

U19 Female Surf Team, Papamoa

Aon Event Safety Contribution of the Year

Liam Shanahan, Mount Maunganui LS

Donal Boyle, Omanu Beach SLSC

Nikita Bublitz, Pāpāmoa SLSC

Coaches Commitment Award

Ella-Rose Luke, Whangamata

Connor Miller, Waihi Beach

Alan Craig, Pukehina

Georgia Davoren, Papamoa

Ryan Scholes, Mount Maunganui

Sam Cameron, Omanu

Under 14 Female         

Amelia McEwan - Mount Maunganui

Caitlyn Strange - Papamoa

U14 Male          

Max Page - Waihi

Steven Thompson - Mount Maunganui

U15 Female        

Emily O'Driscoll - Omanu

Georgia Duske - Omanu

U15 Male          

Sam Shivnan - Omanu

Harrison Ellis - Omanu

Harper Thompson - Whakatane

U17 Female        

India-Rose Scholes - Mount Maunganui

Olivia Verryt - Omanu

Harlow Horn - Omanu

U17 Male          

Finn Fremantle - Whangamata

Will Robinson - Whangamata

Oliver Pepers - Papamoa

Luke Gillbanks - Papamoa

U19 Female        

Izzy Milne - Whangamata

Pipi Te Pania - Omanu

Isobella Davoren - Papamoa

Trelise Chote - Papamoa

U19 Male          

Alec Stewartt - Omanu

Braith Swanberg - Omanu

Charlie Shivnan - Omanu

Open Female       

Madison Kidd - Whangamata

Pippa Nicol - Mount Maunganui

Pipi Te Pania - Omanu

Molly Shivnan - Omanu

Open Male         

Jayden Murphy - Mount Maunganui

Gus Shivnan - Omanu

Loius Veleta - Omanu

Oska Smith - Omanu

Masters Female          

Deborah Reardon - Mount Maunganui

Sandra Boubee - Omanu

Naomi Davoren - Papamoa

Catriona Manning - Whakatane

Master Male       

Christiaan Maarhuis - Waihi

Owen Miller - Papamoa

Richard Williams - Papamoa

Barry Cutfield - Whakatane