Pāpāmoa longboarding festival: Surfing NZ event, dates and safety tips

Longboard surfers are gathering to compete at Pāpāmoa Beach this weekend.

The most talented longboarders surfers in the country will come together at Pāpāmoa Beach this weekend.

The 2026 New Zealand Festival of Longboarding doubles as a selection event for the Kiwi team heading to the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Longboard Championship, to be held in El Salvador in Brazil from April 18 to 24.

The two-day Pāpāmoa event, which was new to the Bay of Plenty region last year, is part of the wider New Zealand Longboard Series and caters for Under-18s, Seniors, Open Men and Open Women.

Surfing New Zealand chief executive Ben Kennings said it’s a fun weekend on the surfing calendar.

“It’s great to bring people of all ages and abilities together to celebrate our love of longboarding.

“Pāpāmoa Beach is a beautiful spot, and for many people this will be the ideal way to spend their Waitangi Weekend.”

Kennings said Aotearoa has more than 300,000 recreational surfers.

Events like the Festival of Longboarding played an important role in connecting the community and introducing people to the sport, he said.

Kennings encouraged Kiwis to give the sport a go, but said they needed to make sure they surfed at their skill level.

Mount Maunganui's Jaxon Willows.

“Surfing is awesome, but we need to acknowledge our sport does have its dangers.

“It’s about knowing how to minimise the risks, and that comes with experience.”

In 2025, ACC accepted almost 6000 surfing-related injury claims, which came at a cost of over $15 million to help people recover.

Last year, the compensation scheme accepted 810 surfing-related injury claims in the Bay of Plenty, which cost $2.4m to help people recover.

ACC injury prevention leader James Whitaker, also a passionate surfer, said this weekend was a good mix of a bit of fun and serious competition.

“We all love longboarding, and it’s a great opportunity to connect with the surfing community.”

Whitaker said anyone who enters the surf needs to respect the ocean.

“The ocean is beautiful and provides a lot of joy – but it’s also bigger and more powerful than any of us and needs to be respected.

“I’ve surfed around Aotearoa for over 30 years, and I’m still humbled by some of the situations I find myself in.”

Whitaker said the best way to stay safe in the surf was to take a moment before getting stuck in.

“Monitor the conditions and the risks before you get out there, and then take the safest options. If you’re in doubt, finding something else to do might be the best option.”

Tips for staying safe in the waves:

· Check it before you charge it – take it easy on your first rides until you’ve worked out how shallow it is and identified any other hazards (crowd, close-out sections, etc)

· Surf in conditions that match your ability – if in doubt, don’t go out

· Give others plenty of room – if they’re up and riding, leave them to it

· Always wear a leg rope

· Stay with your board – it’s an awesome flotation device

· Cover your head when you fall off – it happens to everyone, regardless of ability, so it pays to do what you can to prevent head knocks, cuts and concussion.

The 2026 New Zealand Festival of Longboarding:

· Where: Pāpāmoa Domain, Tauranga

· When: February 7 -8

· Who: Longboarding Open Men, Open Women, Seniors, U18, Old Mal

· Supported by Mount Longboards and Mojo Handshapes

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