Club Awards Night, Celebrating the 2024 – 2025 Season

Matariki Weekend provided the perfect backdrop to celebrate the end of a successful surf lifesaving season at Waihī Beach. Our annual Awards of Excellence evening brought together lifeguards, coaches, officials, volunteers, and supporters to acknowledge the dedication and achievements that have defined our season, both on and off the beach.

From patrols and powercraft to training, governance, and event support, our club is built on the commitment of an extraordinary group of people. The evening was a fitting tribute; we extend special thanks to our Lifesaving Committee events team and all those who brought the night to life with incredible planning, food, lighting, and atmosphere.

Many of our club award recipients were also nominated for the 2025 Surf Life Saving New Zealand Eastern Region Awards. The calibre of nominations across the region is consistently high, so we’re proud to announce that six of our members have been named as finalists – a remarkable reflection of their leadership, service, and impact:

Zac Armstrong ~ Rookie Lifeguard of the Year
Chiara Woodford ~ Instructor of the Year
Andrew Cochrane ~ Powercraft Contribution of the Year
Luc Rochat ~ Paid Lifeguard of the Year
Nick Wagstaff ~ DHL Lifeguard of the Year and Patrol Captain of the Year
Fiona Swain ~ NZ Lottery Grants Board Volunteer of the Year

These finalists represent the heart of our club and the spirit of surf lifesaving – skilled, selfless, and always ready to serve their community. We look forward to celebrating the regional winners on 26 July at Papamoa Surf Club.

To view a full showcase of our club award recipients, click here. And don’t miss the photo album below for a glimpse of the celebrations – it was definitely a special night to remember.