New Zealand Archives - New Zealand Surf Journal

The 10 Best Surfers In New Zealand In 2023

Derek MorrisonDec 30, 2022December 30, 20220

New Zealand Surf Journal asks the New Zealand surfing industry to rank our 10 best surfers. The concept is simple: include not just the best competitors, but also our very best free surfers and underground chargers. This is who they came up with as we head into 2023. THE CRITERIA...

40 Frames: Westport Nats Finals Day

Derek MorrisonJan 16, 2022December 5, 20220

Finals day moves to Nine Mile Beach as the swell that has given so much all week abates and a building north swell fills in at the 2022 New Zealand Surfing National Championships held at Westport. Finals day never disappoints on these big occasions with Daniel Farr and Billy Stairmand...

40 Frames: Westport Nats Day 3

Derek MorrisonJan 13, 2022December 5, 20220

Westport delivers yet another day of sunshine and waves in the 2-3 foot range for Day 3 of the 2022 New Zealand Surfing Championships. With temperatures soaring and favourable wave conditions most of the day the event extended into the early evening to get through the required heats. Standouts include...

40 Frames: 2022 Westport Nats Day 1

Derek MorrisonJan 11, 2022December 5, 20220

Sunshine and a pumping swell greet competitors at the opening day of the 2022 New Zealand Surfing Nationals held at Westport, Buller. Day one sets up an exciting set of scenarios for the nationals with Paige Hareb and Ava Henderson destined to square off in a field full of potential...

Paige Hareb, Saffi Vette Chasing Olympic Qualification In El Salvador

Derek MorrisonMay 26, 2021July 25, 20240

Traveling while the world is flaring with Covid 19 is never an easy decision to make, but if Olympic qualification is top of your goals, then you have very little choice. New Zealand Surf Journal catches up with Paige Hareb and Saffi Vette as they begin their journey at the...

Sharks: Extinction Seems Imminent

Derek MorrisonMar 10, 20210

Despite an increase in shark sightings and one fatality this summer in New Zealand, the future of our shark populations has long had marine scientists concerned. Now, the results of a new Nature study show just how grim things really are. Marine biologist Melissa Cristina Márquez, also known as the...

Artist Insight: Spanish Visual Storyteller Sara Guix And Her Love For New Zealand

Derek MorrisonJan 12, 2021July 25, 20240

New Zealand has a special magic that is sometimes hard to see from within. For Spanish-born visual storyteller Sara Guix that elixir drives her creativity and has captured her heart. Since 2015 Sara has been based in Raglan and spent her time wandering New Zealand’s coastline, in search of waves,...

Greetings From Kehu Butler

Derek MorrisonNov 4, 2020December 12, 20220

Filmmaker Billy Lee-Pope and Kehu Butler join forces to bring this epic introduction into the life of one of New Zealand’s greatest surfers, Kehu Butler. Greetings from Te Kehukehu Mokoia Ngawhika Patara Butler, or Kehu Butler, follows the 20-year-old Māori surfer and offers a glimpse into his life. You get...

The Great NZ Surf Journal Board Giveaway: How It Works

Derek MorrisonOct 15, 2020January 13, 20231

As part of our commitment to New Zealand surfboard shapers we’re collaborating with a bunch to bring you the chance to win one of their latest board designs. Here’s how it works … and how you can win yourself one. Step 1: We ask a local New Zealand shaper to...

The Edge: Chasing Energy With Doug Young

Derek MorrisonOct 5, 20200

Doug Young, Dan Smith and Dave Lyons target an unruly wave on the edge of a reef during the last storm of the season. The ingredients were this: two 180-degree south swells, both 4m at 14 seconds, a west southwest wind that may drop to 20 knots, if we’re lucky,...