The finalists for Surf Life Saving New Zealand’s (SLSNZ) Bay of Plenty and Coromandel Awards of Excellence have been
announced.
These awards not only acknowledge the incredible skills, commitment, and effort by surf lifeguards to ensure the safety
of beachgoers, but also those who have educated others, managed administration, and participated in lifesaving sport
throughout the 2023/2024 season.
Avan Polo, SLSNZ Eastern Regional Manager, said, “Well done to all the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel finalists. It was a
busy year with beautiful weather luring thousands of beachgoers to the stunning beaches that make up our region. Mount
Maunganui also played host to three of SLSNZ’s big sporting events! They went off without a hitch and truly displayed
the best of our community.
“During the 2023/2024 season, many clubs also experienced significant development. We witnessed record demand for
regional courses like Wāhine on Water, and we qualified 155 new surf lifeguards, 33 new patrol supporters, and 26 new
Inflatable Rescue Boat drivers. These are fantastic numbers and demonstrate how members are eager to improve and add to
their skills.”
The Bay of Plenty and Coromandel Awards of Excellence will bring together Surf Life Saving clubs including Hot Water
Beach, Tairua, Pauanui, Onemana, Whangamatā, Whiritoa, Waihi Beach, Mount Maunganui, Omanu, Papamoa, Maketu, Pukehina,
Whakatāne, and Ōpōtiki.
Polo said, “This is definitely a highlight on the calendar for many clubs, as it’s not only a night of celebrating but a
great way to catch up and reflect on the season that’s been. We hope everyone raises a glass and has a great night.”
During the 2023/2024 season, Bay of Plenty and Coromandel surf lifeguards spent over 16,000 hours on patrol, rescued
over 70 people, performed over 150 first aids, and carried out over 1,600 preventative actions.
This year’s awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, 20 July 2024 at 5pm at the Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club.Full list of finalists:Bay of Plenty Examiner of the YearBoyd HarrisPukehinaMerehini MeadsMaketuRadleigh CairnsPapamoaCoromandel Examiner of the YearElla ToumadjWhangamatāGabriella HughesTairuaJack SewellOnemanaBay of Plenty Instructor of the YearCaroline TrapskiMaketuDonal BoyleOmanuRyan HohneckPapamoaCoromandel Instructor of the YearCharlotte ToumadjOnemanaGabriella HughesTairuaJessica MeadeWaihi BeachBay of Plenty Junior Surf Contribution of the YearJamie MardonPapamoaKim O'LearyPukehinaMerehini MeadsMaketuCoromandel Junior Surf Contribution of the YearBriarna HiggsTairuaSue GroenewaldWaihi BeachBay of Plenty DHL Patrol Support of the YearBradley HoppingMaketuCorey PullarOmanuStephanie MardonPapamoaCoromandel DHL Patrol Support of the YearPhilip MarksOnemanaNicola Young-HarbourWhangamatāSharlene ManukauWaihi BeachBay of Plenty bp Powercraft Contribution of the YearHaven BellamyOmanuRay StoddartŌpōtikiRyan HohneckPapamoaCoromandel bp Powercraft Contribution of the YearAndrew CochraneWaihi BeachConnor McLeayOnemanaBay of Plenty bp Rescue of the YearMt Maunganui LS - 8th April 2024Mount MaunganuiCoromandel bp Rescue of the Month/YearWhangamatā SLSC - 16th April 2024WhangamatāWhangamatā SLSC - 18th January 2024WhangamatāWhiritoa LS - 3rd June 2023WhiritoaCoromandel bp Search and Rescue Contribution of the YearAndrew CochraneWaihi BeachBay of Plenty DHL U19 Surf Lifeguard of the YearKennedy MeadsMaketuLiam ShanahanMount MaunganuiZoe RivePukehinaCoromandel DHL U19 Surf Lifeguard of the YearMolly AbbottTairuaLouis BattenOnemanaDaniel LewisWhangamatāBay of Plenty DHL Surf Lifeguard of the YearAndrew McDowellPukehinaJamie MardonPapamoaLiam ShanahanMount MaunganuiMark O'LearyMaketuCoromandel DHL Surf Lifeguard of the YearGabriella HughesTairuaJulius BellWhangamatāSam CoxPauanuiBay of Plenty Patrol Captain of the YearRyan HohneckPapamoaMike SwanOmanuDuncan BentleyPukehinaCoromandel Patrol Captain of the YearBriarna HiggsTairuaLouis BattenOnemanaMacayla LockPauanuiTop Rookie Award (Harrison Mundy Mem)Clay SimpsonMaketuBenjamin EmenyPapamoaJayden HarrisPukehinaBay of Plenty Paid Lifeguard of the YearMitch CowdreyPapamoaLiam DavorenPapamoaZoe RivePukehinaCoromandel Paid Lifeguard of the YearMacayla LockPauanuiJessica MeadeWaihi BeachNathan WaltersPauanuiBay of Plenty Beach Education Instructor of the YearFlynn WeatherallOmanuAlex ManningWhakatāneNikita BublitzLyall BayCoromandel Beach Education Instructor of the YearConnor McLeayOnemanaGabriella HughesTairuaLily TaylorWhangamatāSports Person of the YearU14 MaleSimiosi TukiaWaihi BeachSam CameronOmanuTy KellyPapamoaU14 FemaleIndia-Rose ScholesMount MaunganuiMaia SymesOmanuGeorgia WalterWaihi BeachU15 MaleOliver PepersPapamoaMax MorleyWaihi BeachLuke GillbanksPapamoaU15 FemaleOlivia VerrytOmanuIndia-Rose ScholesMount MaunganuiTessa ScottWaihi BeachU17 MaleBraith SwanbergOmanuCharlie ShivnanOmanuHenry ScholesMount MaunganuiU17 FemaleAlyssa TapperWhangamatāIndy GibsonPukehinaMonique BartlettMount MaunganuiU19 MaleAzrael CabusaoWhakatāneLogan WestMount MaunganuiHunter RobinsonWhangamatāU19 FemalePippa NicolMount MaunganuiTalitha McEwanMount MaunganuiMilana TapperWhangamatāOpen MaleJayden MurphyMount MaunganuiJack KeepaOmanuJulen MarticorenaMount MaunganuiOpen FemaleMolly ShivnanOmanuMadison KiddWhangamatāNatalie PeatPapamoaMasters MaleIan GloverOmanuRichard WilliamsPapamoaTony JacksonPapamoaMasters FemaleNaomi DavorenPapamoaDeborah ReardonMount MaunganuiMichelle KalmaMount MaunganuiCoach of the YearCory HutchingsOmanuJack BullockPapamoaSimon WillsWhakatāneCoaches Commitment AwardDaniel ShanahanMount MaunganuiGreg SwanbergOmanuDaniel LewisWhangamatāPeter HodgsonWaihi BeachJonn RipoPukehinaTrelise ChotePapamoaEmerging Coach of the YearHarry DufaurWhangamatāGeorge ReidPauanuiKeaton WhiteWaihi BeachEmerging Surf Official of the YearGreg AkroydMount MaunganuiAmanda RichardsonOmanuDavid CoxPapamoaVolunteer Coach of the YearChristine (Chrissie) NairnPukehinaChristian RichardsonOmanuVolunteer Event Safety Contribution of the YearFlynn WeatherallOmanuKent JarmanMount MaunganuiShaun SmithPapamoaSportsperson of the YearJayden MurphyMount MaunganuiMolly ShivnanOmanuMadison KiddWhangamatāSports Team of YearPapamoa U17 Female Ski RelayPapamoaOmanu U17 Male Taplin TeamOmanuWhakatane U19 Female Canoe CrewWhakataneSurf Official of the YearBruce MathesonOmanuCatriona ManningWhakatāneJoanne MillerPapamoaBay of Plenty NZ Lottery Grants Board Volunteer of YearAilsa CowdreyPapamoaAndrew McDowellPukehinaCaroline TrapskiMaketuCoromandel NZ Lottery Grants Board Volunteer of YearBetsie WarnerTairuaDonna PfefferleWaihi BeachKevin ThorburnOnemanaCoromandel Innovation AwardTairua Surf Life Saving ClubTairua