Tairāwhiti will host some of Asia-Pacific’s top surfers next year, with the inaugural Tairāwhiti Pro bringing a World Surf League Qualifying Series event to the region.
East Coast Surfriders (ECS) will host the week-long surfing festival from 23-29 March 2027, in partnership with the World Surf League (WSL). The programme will include a Qualifying Series 4000 (QS-4000) event and Pro Junior Qualifying Series event, attracting more than 200 professional surfers and thousands of spectators.
Significant funding from Trust Tairāwhiti has helped ECS secure the event, creating an opportunity to showcase Tairāwhiti-Gisborne internationally while generating economic and community benefits locally.
ECS co-chair Amber Dunn says bringing a WSL event to Gisborne has been a major ambition for the club.
“We’ve seen first-hand the energy WSL events create and knew Tairāwhiti had everything needed to host one.
“We have world-class waves within minutes of the city, a strong surfing community and a history of producing outstanding surfers. To now have the Tairāwhiti Pro on the calendar is incredibly exciting.”
The QS-4000 is part of the WSL pathway for surfers seeking to progress towards the sport’s highest level, while the Pro Junior series provides an international competitive pathway for surfers under 20.
ECS co-chair Jay Quinn says the event will create valuable opportunities for emerging local talent.
“Tairāwhiti has a proud surfing history. Local surfers have competed on both the Qualifying Series and Pro Junior circuits, including Maz Quinn and Ricardo Christie, who both progressed through the qualifying pathway to compete at the highest level of the sport.
“One of the most exciting parts of hosting the event here is that local and New Zealand surfers will have opportunities to compete on their home breaks.”
Trust Tairāwhiti Regional Destination Manager Joe Williams said the Trust’s funding support was about more than the competition itself.
“Hundreds of competitors, their support teams and spectators will spend time in our region, supporting local accommodation, hospitality and tourism businesses.
“It will also put Tairāwhiti in front of an international audience through the World Surf League, and, importantly, give our own young surfers the chance to experience an event of this calibre in their own backyard.”
The event will mark the return of a WSL competition to Tairāwhiti for the first time since 2011.
ECS has also secured sponsorship from Forsyth Barr, Barrett Homes, Red Bull, Bronwyn Kay Real Estate, Eastland Port and additional partners to be announced.
ECS will announce further details around the event and community programming in the coming months, including a community information evening for local residents and those interested in getting involved.
📸 Shaun Tunny Wainui Beach Surfer is Maz Quinn