End of an era as Oceans 18 taken away from Mount Maunganui

Competitors in the U14 Men's board relay final get set to go at Oceans 17. PHOTO/ ANDREW WARNER

As the sun set on another national under-14 surf lifesaving carnival at Mount Main Beach on Sunday, it was not just the end of Oceans 17 but the end of an era.

After 17 years the second largest surf carnival in New Zealand will no longer be held here.

In a major blow to the local economy, with nearly 1000 people involved in the four-day event, Surf Lifesaving NZ has allocated Oceans 18 to Orewa on the Hibiscus Coast, north of Auckland.

The decision to move the hugely popular event that was started by local Mount Maunganui surf club enthusiasts is a negative outcome for all surf clubs in the eastern region, which runs from Coromandel to Gisborne.

Mount Maunganui head coach John ''Spindles'' Bryant oversaw his young athletes win another title on their home beach on Sunday, with Omanu second and Waihi Beach third.

Bryant says Mount Maunganui has so much going for it.

"You have got camping ground accommodation, then you've got up to five-star [hotels], the airport is five minutes away and you have four different venues to use. You have main beach, Shark Alley, Banks Ave and Pilot Bay," he said.

"So with this venue it didn't matter what happened with the weather conditions we were always going to be able to run it, bar a tsunami, of course. That was the reason behind it being held here.

"Orewa hasn't got that. They have got a beach that they can only run water events from mid-tide up to high tide and back out, otherwise it just becomes a big, long running race.

"Accommodation is another issue. Teams can't get in Orewa, so will be struck miles away and strike Thursday and Friday traffic to get out to Orewa. Where they can roll out of bed here and be on the beach in 10 minutes, for an 8am start some of those kids will have to be out of bed at 5.30 in the morning.

"Plus the financial cost for many clubs will hurt. Talks I had with the coaches from the Gisborne clubs is they are going to struggle. They don't have a lot of money there and it is a long way. They will get a few but it won't be big numbers like they usually bring here."

Surf Lifesaving New Zealand sports manager Mike Lord says the local council's input was a major factor in Orewa's successful bid.

"A couple of years ago we did a blue sky review of our events and our membership wanted to see an open bidding process for our major national events including Oceans," Lord said.

"We had quite a few bids through and Orewa seemed like a really good choice and option to take the event to. It will be a good test.

"For 17 years Mount Maunganui has been a fantastic venue for that event. There is no doubt about that.

"We followed a process the membership wanted and we are willing to trial the venue. It may not stay at that venue and it may shift around where we can host it, I guess.

"Mount Maunganui is definitely a venue that will host it moving forward as well."

■Oceans 17 results: www.surflifesaving.org.nz/sport