A large contingent of Bay of Plenty Surf Life Saving members are up for national awards in the upcoming 2016 Surf Life Saving New Zealand Awards of Excellence.
Every year, national and local awards are given to Surf Life Saving members to officially recognise them for their hard work and dedication to saving lives and preventing drowning on New Zealand's beaches.
Local finalists include Christiaan Maahuis of Waihi Beach and Shaun Smith of Papamoa who are up for the NZ Lottery Grants Board Lifeguard of the Year award, Donal Boyle of Omanu and Susan Stewart of Waihi Beach who are DHL Volunteer of the Year finalists, Waihi Beach who are up for the Wood Group Training First Aid Award, DHL Instructor of the Year finalists Lucy Scown of Waihi Beach and Garry King of Mount Maunganui, Ross Merrett of Papamoa for Surf Official of the Year, and Matt Cairns of Papamoa for Coach of the Year.
Most awards are nominated locally with winners from their regional Awards of Excellence ceremonies then becoming finalists for the national Awards of Excellence.
The 2016 national awards will be held at the Heritage Hotel in Auckland on Saturday.