Taranaki's Finest Celebrating the 2026 Region Awards of Excellence

The 2026 Taranaki Region Awards of Excellence recognise the contribution of our amazing members, from the grass-roots of Surf Life Saving during the 2025/2026 season.

Nominations are judged against the criteria outlined for each award by a local Honours and Awards Committee.

The winners of some categories of the local Awards of Excellence will automatically become finalists for the prestigious SLSNZ National Awards of Excellence to be held later in 2026.

Congratulations to all of our nominees. We are incredibly proud and grateful for all that you do and achieve. Here's the full wrap-up of winners from our Awards Night at The Devon Hotel, New Plymouth, on 6 June.

Want the full stories behind these wins?

Read the profiles in our 2026 Awards of Excellence Winners Booklet

Club of the Year

Fitzroy

Honours Awards

Regional Service Award

David Bentley - East End

Sport Awards

Toyota Financial Services Coach of the Year (Peter Steffenson Trophy)

Zac Reid - Fitzroy

Toyota Financial Services Sportsperson of the Year

Claudia Kelly - East End

Aon Official of the Year

Melanie Visser - East End

Aon Sports Team of the Year

Samuel Drought & Caleb Lawn - Ōpunakē

Aon Event Safety Contribution of the Year

Joe Edwards - Ōpunakē

Junior Surf Contribution of the Year

Daniel Comp - Whanganui

U19 Junior Sportswoman

Charlize Duncan - Fitzroy

U19 Junior Sportsman

Max Cave - East End

Senior Sportsman

Joe Collins - Fitzroy

U19 Junior Sports Team

East End 

Freya Stolte

Mia Padrutt

Alexis Elemam

Michael Taylor Award

Jaron Mumby & Chris Scott - Fitzroy

Lifesaving Awards

DHL Surf Lifeguard of the Year (Wendy Snowden Memorial Trophy)

Mahlee Campbell - Ōpunakē

DHL U19 Surf Lifeguard of the Year

Lucy Reid - Whanganui

DHL Patrol Support of the Year

Karyn Reid - Whanganui

bp Search and Rescue Contribution of the Year

James Newell - Whanganui

bp Powercraft Contribution of the Year

Fitzroy

Chris Scott 

Jaron Mumby 

bp Rescue of the Year (Beryl Glentworth Trophy)

Whanganui

James McGregor

Lucy Reid

Daniel Comp

Ethan Bryers

Ethan Bishop

Sophie Smith

James Newell

Instructor of the Year

Angela Veric - NPOB

Examiner of the Year

James Newell - Whanganui

Beach Education Instructor Award

Poppy Barnes - Fitzroy

Paid Guard of the Year

Joe Edwards - Ōpunakē

Supreme Awards

NZ Lottery Grants Board Volunteer of the Year (James Hunt Memorial)

Jared Coster - New Plymouth Old Boys

Innovation Award

Jaron Mumby | Fitzroy (Ready2Race Programme)

On the Sand: 2025/2026 Season Champions

Alongside the Awards of Excellence, we also crowned our season's top surf sport performers, from our youngest Under 10s right through to our Masters. Huge congratulations to every athlete who made the podium this year.

Under 10 Male

1st William Bridgeman

2nd Zyon Bradley Rivero

3rd Brodie Jone 

Under 10 Female

1st Miller Ormond 

2nd Peyton Crosswell 

3rd Sophie Becroft 

Under 11 Male

1st Mac Hammond 

2nd Finn Milestone-Webb

3rd Louis Johnston

Under 11 Female

1st Edison Coster

2nd Lexi Stoutenburg

3rd Isla Brown 

Under 12 Male

1st Jack Goldfinch

2nd Oliver Gillum

3rd Max Veric

Under 12 Female

1st Dylan Munyard

2nd Livia Becroft

3rd Ella Ander

Under 13 Male (John Dent Trophy)

1st Luke Mottern

2nd Jack Glennie

 3rd Sam Smiley

Under 13 Female (Jim Morwood Trophy)

1st Gabriella Grendon

2nd Elsie Stone

3rd Ella Waterman

Under 14 Male (McLean Cup)

1st Lincoln Beamsley

2nd Johnny Elsmore

3rd Mason Coster

Under 14 Female (Dunlop Barrett Cup)

1st Amelia Ander

2nd Macey Riddell

3rd Amelia Carlyon

Under 15 Male 1st Jackson Rowlands

2nd Connor Sleep

3rd Charlie Cave

Under 15 Female

1st Lilah Eagar

2nd= Jade Smiley & Lani Johnstone

3rd Amber Corkin

Under 17 Male

1st Nico Jordan

2nd Leo Padrutt

3rd Mitchell Betteridge

Under 17 Female

1st Meila Gwiazdzinski

2nd Claudia Brock

3rd Vivienne Hale

Under 19 Male

1st Bailey Baker

2nd Nathan Whitehead

3rd Harry Scott 

Under 19 Female

1st Freya Stolte

2nd Talen Ryley Hickford

3rd Alexis Elemam

Open Male

1st Hayden Corkin

2nd John Alexander Quilter

3rd= Anthony Ander & Zac Reid

Open Female

1st Freya Stolte

2nd Meila Gwiazdzinski

3rd Talen Ryley Hickford

Masters Male

1st Clinton Carré

2nd Anthony Ander

3rd Chris Whitehead

Masters Female

1st Hannah Glennie

2nd Nikki Wheatley

3rd Ashley Otene

Cadet Cup (points from selected events at local carnivals) East End

Dewar Whiskey Cup - Season Interclub Aggregate East End

IRB Racing Top Crews

Presented by Chris Scott

Under 19 Male

1st Callum Scott & Izak Cleaver - Fitzroy

2nd Ollie Wheatley & Jackson Read - Fitzroy

3rd Campbell Donavan & Eli Graham-Tariau - Fitzroy

Under 19 Female

1st Molly MacLachlan & Ella Beck - Fitzroy

2nd Melah Sinclair & Georgie Olliver - Ōpunakē

Under 23 Male

1st Caleb Lawn & Samuel Drought - Ōpunakē

2nd Liam Drought & Jethro Campbell - Ōpunakē

3rd Max Toa & Rhys Donavan - Fitzroy

Under 23 Female

1st Macy Sinclair & Hilary Vanner - Ōpunakē

2nd Caro Olliver & Macy Carylon - Fitzroy

3rd Bella Pivac & Ella Griggs - Ōpunakē

Open Male

1st Jaron Mumby & Max Toa - Fitzroy

2nd Sam Heath & Samuel Tippett - East End

3rd Daniel Comp, Jack Reid & Tobias McClintock-Trass - Whanganui

Open Female

1st Macy Sinclair & Hilary Vanner - Ōpunakē

2nd Grace Amy Clough & Caro Olliver - Fitzroy

IRB Series Overall Club (points from all three rounds)

Fitzroy

A huge thank you

To every nominee, every placegetter, every winner, and every member who patrolled, coached, officiated, trained, rescued and showed up this season, thank you. 

Several of the category winners will now go forward as finalists for the SLSNZ National Awards of Excellence later in 2026. We'll be cheering loudly.

Ngā mihi nui,
Surf Life Saving Taranaki