Six newly minted national champions were confirmed in Stent Road perfection on Thursday January 16 at the 2025 National Surfing Championships, including surfers from Mount Maunganui.

The New Zealand’s top young surfers relished the chance to surf at one of the country’s iconic waves.

Mount Maunganui surfer Tao Mouldey surfed a quality final in the Under 18 Boys Division, taking the lead midway through the final and extending his lead until the final hooter with a 14.80 point heat total.

“This national title means so much, I have had shockers at the nationals the last few years so it is good to break the curse” said Mouldey who was the last to open his account in the final, a strategy that clearly paid off.

“I had seen some good waves earlier and hoped for a quick start but when everyone went for the insiders at the start, I thought I should just wait for the biggest wave of the final and I am pretty lucky it came, the wave was perfect with a perfect Stent Road bowl."

Mouldey overcame a power packed group of surfers in the final with Jacob Haines (Raglan) finishing runner up ahead of the in-form Lewis Murphy (Dunedin) in third and Rico Haybittle (Aus) in fourth, Haybittle going for broke all final but falling at critical times. 

Piha’s Leia Millar had a clutch performance in the Under 18 Girls Division surfing to a 9.43 in the dying second of the final to leap frog finals-leader Maya Mateja (Rag) who only seconds earlier had jumped to the lead with an 8.17 point ride.

“I don’t really think I have done that before” commented Millar of her last second win.  “It’s now etched in my mind as a super special wave, when I got that wave my legs were shaking and I was so nervous but I am happy that it worked out and I am so stoked to win,” said Millar. 

By her own account, Millar had a slow start to the event but peaked at the right time with her clutch performance.

Maya Mateja had to settle for second place in the wave starved final with Poppy Arkle (Piha) finishing in third and Poppy Entwistle (Oakura) finishing in fourth.

Vitor Bauermann from Mount Maunganui took the victory in the highest scoring final of the day where the four boys in the Under 16s Division went head-to-head.

Bauermann and Benji Lowen (Chch) were on their backhand, the two surfers finishing one-two, Bauermann getting the nod, 15.44 vs 15.06 thanks to his highest scoring ride of an 8.07. 

“The final was so good, we had good waves, it was so fun surfing Stent with three other people,” said Bauermann.  

“Stoked to get a title and also qualify for the New Zealand Team, I am looking forward to going to an international event and surfing against all the other countries." 

Despite his high score, Lowen had to settle for second with Indica Corcoran (Raglan) finishing in third and Zen Mouldey (Mnt) finishing in fourth.

Leia Millar competing at the 2025 National Surfing Championships.  Photo/PhotoCPL.

Australian based Brisa Canina (Coolum) took the Under 16 Girls Division win with a 14.60 point heat total. 

“I am super stoked, this wave is so sick.  I would like to thank everyone welcoming me to the event, it is good to be back in New Zealand,” said Canina.  “The girls were all ripping and it was good surfing with them in my heats” added Canina of her first event she has taken part in on this side of the ditch.”

Double finalists Poppy Arkle (Piha) finished the final in second ahead of Lola Groube (Pauanui) in third and Kyra Wallis (Piha) in fourth. 

Jaxon Pardoe (Gis) and Zara Owen (Dun) took wins in the Under 14 Divisions, 12-year-old Owen claiming a perfect 10 point ride for her gutsy performance. 

The sixty second edition of the New Zealand National Surfing Championships attracted a 400 plus field of participants for the mobile event along the Taranaki coastline.  

It is the tenth time the event has been held in Taranaki the most recent being in 2019.

A total of 29 divisions were contested at the event including the premier Open Men and Women which commenced on Thursday.  Additional divisions included age groups from Under 14 boys and girls through to Over 70s for males and females and Longboard, Stand Up Paddleboard, Bodyboard, Kneeboard and adaptive disciplines. 

The 2025 National Surfing Championships was proudly hosted by New Plymouth Surfriders.  The 2025 National Surfing Championships commences both the domestic NZ Surf Series, NZ Grom Series and NZ Longboard Series with events scheduled around the country this summer.