Surfing is more than just a sport; it connects us to each other, the moana and the taiao. A lack of equipment for communities along the East Coast made it difficult to get out on the water.
In 2022, Trust Tairāwhiti granted $120k to the Gisborne Boardriders Club (GBC) to launch the Surf for Life East Coast project, bringing surf containers to Tokomaru Bay, Waipiro Bay and Wharekāhika. These hubs provide free access to surfboards, wetsuits and community-led surfing opportunities.
The project was included in the Tairāwhiti Sports Facilities Business Case early win projects after Trust staff identified it as a way to address inequities in services and facilities along the coast.
Shaped by community aspirations
GBC worked closely with local communities through wānanga and noho marae to understand their vision for surfing. The kaupapa was clear: coast whānau identified mentorship, skill development and better access to gear as priorities to make surfing part of everyday life.
A gateway to the waves
To bring this vision to life, GBC installed three surf containers, each stocked with around 20 surfboards and 60 wetsuits, ensuring everyone from rangatahi to pakeke can enjoy the waves. The club also runs surf lessons, building skills and confidence and empowering communities to lead their own sessions.
“We are incredibly proud to see our vision come to life; tamariki and whānau connecting with the moana and each other and sharing the stoke."
— Gisborne Boardriders Club surfing development manager Flo Bub
Growing surf culture on the Coast
The initiative has already made waves, sparking local events and competitions. Throughout the warmer months, communities host their own weekly sessions, welcoming surfers of all ages and abilities to participate. In 2023, Wharekāhika Beach hosted the first Ngāti Porou Primary School Surfing competition, bringing together 90 tamariki from Uawa to Maraenui. With secondary school competitions now in the mix, surfing is becoming an even bigger part of life on the Coast – creating more opportunities for whānau to connect, compete and grow in the moana.
Our people
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Audine Grace-Kutia
General Manager Communities
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Aana Donnelly
Community Development Advisor
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Sarah Homer
Commercial Manager
