The finalists for Surf Life Saving New Zealand's Bay of Plenty and Coromandel Awards of Excellence have been announced.

These awards recognise and celebrate the hard work, skills, and dedication that go into surf lifesaving, education, administration, and lifesaving sport throughout the 2022/23 season.

'Bay of Plenty and Coromandel Surf Lifeguards have been putting in the hard yards this summer, having to cope with a number of weather related events as well as a number of serious incidents across the area,' says SLSNZ Eastern Region Manager Avan Polo.

'These awards are a great opportunity to reflect and give thanks to the many volunteers who have put in hundreds of hours to support our local communities.”

The SLSNZ Bay of Plenty and Coromandel Awards of Excellence will recognise the top Surf Lifeguards and club members from Hot Water Beach Lifeguard Service (LS), Tairua Surf Lifesaving Club (SLSC), Pauanui SLSC, Onemana SLSC, Whangamatā SLSC, Whiritoa LS, Waihi Beach LS, Mt Maunganui LS, Omanu SLSC, Papamoa SLSC, Maketu SLSC, Pukehina Surf Rescue (SR), Whakātane SLSC and Ōpōtiki SLSC.

The awards will be held at the Papamoa SLSC on July 1.

Full List of Finalists:

Eastern Region

Rookie of the Year
Tianna MacDonald – Waihi Beach LS
Liam May – Waihi Beach LS
Bradley Hopping – Maketu SLSC

Bay of Plenty Lifesaving Awards:

Instructor of the Year
• Poppy Crouch – Omanu SLSC
• Steve Law – Omanu SLSC
• Sandra Boubee – Papamoa SLSC
• Matthew Perfect – Whakātane SLSC

Examiner of the Year
• Poppy Crouch – Omanu Beach SLSC
• Sandra Boubee – Papamoa SLSC
• Boyd Harris – Pukehina SR

Beach Education Instructor of the Year
• Roisin Boyle – Omanu Beach SLSC

Paid Lifeguard of the Year
• Liam Shanahan – Mt Maunganui LS
• Katie Holt – Omanu SLSC
• Roisin Boyle – Omanu SLSC
• Mitch Cowdrey – Papamoa SLSC
Patrol Captain of the Year
• Liam Shanahan – Mt Maunganui LS
• Christiaan Richardson – Omanu SLSC
• Dennis Mundy – Omanu SLSC
• Mark O'Leary – Pukehina SR
Patrol Support Person of the Year
• Caroline Bird – Mt Maunganui LS
• Jim Pearson – Papamoa SLSC
• Wade Meads – Maketu SLSC
iLine Construction - Search & Rescue Team Member of the Year
• Jono Svendesen – Mt Maunganui LS
• Haven Bellamy – Omanu SLSC
• Matthew Deveron – Papamoa SLSC

Emerging U19 Volunteer Lifeguard of the Year
• Jamie Cabusao – Omanu SLSC
• Flynn Weatherall – Omanu SLSC
• Nicole Baker – Pukehina SR
Pacific Medicare - Volunteer Lifeguard of the Year
• Jono Svendesen – Mt Maunganui LS
• Mereheni Meades – Maketu SLSC
• Andrew McDowell – Pukehina SR

Coromandel Lifesaving Awards:

Instructor of the Year
• Gabriella Hughes – Tairua SLSC
• George Reid – Pauanui SLSC
• Brianna Norris – Whangamatā SLSC

Examiner of the Year
• Gabriella Hughes – Tairua SLSC
• Spencer Raymond – Pauanui SLSC
• Georgia Eldridge – Waihi Beach LS

Beach Education Instructor of the Year
• Gabriella Hughes – Tairua SLSC

Paid Lifeguard of the Year
• Matthew Reid - Pauanui SLSC
• Jack Sewell – Onemana SLSC
• Maggie Lowe – Whangamatā SLSC
• Ben Goffin – Whangamatā SLSC
Patrol Captain of the Year
• Terri Warner – Tairua SLSC
• Rian Butler – Waihi Beach LS
• Jessica Meade – Waihi Beach LS
Patrol Support Person of the Year
• Fiona Swain – Waihi Beach LS
• Sharlene Manukau – Waihi Beach LS
Search & Rescue Team Member of the Year
• Sean Ridler – Tairua SLSC
• Dave Litton – Waihi Beach LS
• Andrew Cochrane – Waihi Beach LS

Emerging U19 Volunteer Lifeguard of the Year
• Bella Muir – Tairua SLSC
• Maya Cosford – Pauanui SLSC
• Rian Butler – Waihi Beach LS
Pacific Medicare - Volunteer Lifeguard of the Year
• Gabriella Hughes – Tairua SLSC
• Stella Reid – Pauanui SLSC
• Jack Sewell – Onemana SLSC

Sport Awards:

Coaches Commitment Award
• Damian Munro – Mt Maunganui LS
• Isobella Davoren – Papamoa SLSC

Emerging Coach of the Year
• Hunter Robinson – Whangamatā SLSC
• Scott Cliff – Omanu SLSC
• Alex Thompson – Papamoa SLSC
Volunteer Coach of the Year
• Matthew Waide – Mt Maunganui LS
• Scott Bartlett – Omanu SLSC
Coach of the Year
• John Bryant – Mt Maunganui LS
• Jake Cowdrey – Papamoa SLSC
• Jack Bullock – Papamoa SLSC
Emerging Surf Official of the Year
• Karen Bark – Mt Maunganui LS
• Flynn Weatherall – Omanu SLSC
• Kathryn Stewart – Papamoa SLSC
Surf Official of the Year
• Greg Rieger – Mt Maunganui LS
• Bruce Matheson – Omanu SLSC
• Joanne Miller – Papamoa SLSC
Sports Team of the Year
• Whangamatā SLSC Surf Boat Crew - Sergio Schuler, Zane Sweetman, Josh Nicholas, Taine Wilson, and Steve Pipe (Sweep)
• Mt Maunganui LS U19 Female Board Relay Team - Lucy Bartlett, Pippa Nicol, Kiana O'Fee.
• Omanu SLSC Open Female Board Relay Team – Molly Shivnan, Ruby McSweeney, Maddison Greetham

International Individual Sports Performance of the Year
• Madison Kidd – Whangamatā SLSC
• Jayden Murphy - Mt Maunganui
• Gus Shivnan - Omanu SLSC
International Team Sports Performance of the Year
• Mt Maunganui LS U17 Female Board Rescue Team – Olivia Marshall, Talitha McEwan

U14 Female Sports Person of the Year
• Eden Wood – Whangamatā SLSC
• Tessa Scott – Waihi Beach LS
• Lola Lowry – Mt Maunganui LS

U14 Male Sports Person of the Year
• Finn Freemantle – Whangamatā SLSC
• Thijs Clements – Mt Maunganui LS
• Luke Gillbanks – Papamoa SLSC

U15 Female Sports Person of the Year
• Olivia Middleweek – Mt Maunganui LS
• Amelie Pearson – Papamoa SLSC

U15 Male Sports Person of the Year
• Oscar Kidd – Whangamatā SLSC
• Edward Webb – Mt Maunganui LS
• Charlie Shivnan – Omanu SLSC
U17 Female Sports Person of the Year
• Alyssa Tapper – Whangamatā SLSC
• Meg Harray – Waihi Beach LS
• Talitha McEwan – Mt Maunganui LS
U17 Male Sports Person of the Year
• Logan West – Mt Maunganui LS
• Braith Swanberg – Omanu SLSC
• Zachary Cairns – Papamoa SLSC
U19 Female Sports Person of the Year
• Pippa Nicol – Mt Maunganui LS
• Alex Thompson – Papamoa SLSC

U19 Male Sports Person of the Year
• Jayden Murphy – Mt Maunganui LS
• Gus Shivnan – Omanu Beach SLSC
Open Female Sports Person of the Year
• Olive Pearce – Mt Maunganui LS
• Natalie Peat – Papamoa SLSC
• Molly Shivnan – Omanu SLSC

Open Male Sports Person of the Year
• Hamish Miller – Mt Maunganui LS

Masters Female Sports Person of the Year
• Deborah Reardon – Mt Maunganui LS
• Naomi Davoren – Papamoa SLSC

Masters Male Sports Person of the Year
• Christiaan Maarhuis – Waihi Beach LS
• Damian Munro – Mt Maunganui LS
• Richard Williams – Papamoa SLSC

Supreme Awards:

Sustainable Action of the Year
• Pukehina SR

Bay of Plenty Volunteer of the Year
• Jono Svendsen – Mt Maunganui LS
• Radleigh Cairns – Papamoa SLSC
• Caroline Trapski – Maketu SLSC

Coromandel Volunteer of the Year

• Greg Bowen – Tairua SLSC
• Nick McLeay – Onemana SLSC
• Felix Matheson – Whiritoa SLSC
• Natalie Lloyd – Waihi Beach LS
• Christiaan Maarhuis – Waihi Beach LS

Event Details:

Date: Saturday 1 July 2023
Venue: Papamoa Surf Lifesaving Club
Time: 5pm doors open, 6pm presentation begins
Format: Presentation of Lifesaving, Sports & Supreme Awards
Price: $75 GST incl per person.
Dress: Semi-Formal
Tickets: Tickets are available via Google form until Tuesday June 27 2023.