Bay of Plenty Times
  • Bay of Plenty Times home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport

Locations

  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Katikati
  • Tauranga
  • Mount Maunganui
  • Pāpāmoa
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Bay of Plenty Times / Te Puke Times

Surf life saving legend Shaun Smith named life member at national awards

Te Puke Times
14 Oct, 2024 03:00 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Pāpāmoa Surf Life Saving Club’s Shaun Smith (left) and Jo Miller (right( were recognised at the 2024 Surf Life Saving New Zealand National Awards of Excellence, held in Christchurch last month.

Pāpāmoa Surf Life Saving Club’s Shaun Smith (left) and Jo Miller (right( were recognised at the 2024 Surf Life Saving New Zealand National Awards of Excellence, held in Christchurch last month.

Pāpāmoa Surf Life Saving Club’s long-time member, Shaun Smith, has received the highest honour there is in surf lifesaving.

At the recent Surf Life Saving National Awards of Excellence, Shaun was made a life member of Surf Life Saving New Zealand.

Since becoming a surf lifeguard in 1977 with the Ōpōtiki SLSC, Shaun’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable.

From his time patrolling in Australia to his 28 years at Pāpāmoa, Shaun has continually shaped the surf lifesaving community.

He is a Surf Lifeguard Award and IRB instructor and examiner, and he continues to train Pāpāmoa clubbies and examine all candidates in the Bay of Plenty area for their crew and drivers awards throughout each winter season.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

“In 2021, Shaun received a Distinguished Service Award,” says Pāpāmoa Surf Life Saving Club’s chairman, Jim Pearson. “Becoming a life member marks another significant milestone in his journey since starting as a lifeguard. He should be incredibly proud,”

Shaun’s list of contributions includes roles as a board/committee member, club captain, patrol captain and lifeguard committee member.

He has been a passionate competitor for 16 years and a SAR squad member for 16 years. Shaun has also served as a competition official, event water safety/first aider for over 20 years and was the national event water safety manager for three years.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

In 2010 he was named the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board Surf Lifeguard of the Year for his dedication and passion to surf lifesaving during the 2009-2010 season.

“We are deeply grateful for Shaun’s incredible legacy of service, and we thank him for his ongoing dedication and commitment to our club and to surf lifesaving,” says Jim.

At the national excellence awards, Jo Miller was also honoured with the prestigious Surf Official of the Year award and also received a Distinguished Service Award.

Jim commends Jo’s unwavering dedication to the club, particularly in officiating, and the lasting impact she’s made on the surf lifesaving community.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have Jo as a member, and we deeply appreciate her invaluable contributions,” he says. “We’d like to extend a massive congratulations to Jo.”

Jo has been instrumental in officiating numerous surf competitions, mentoring officials, and continuously supporting the club’s operations with a level of dedication that sets her apart.

“Both Shaun and Jo embody the true spirit of surf life saving. We are immensely proud of their outstanding achievements and grateful for all they continue to do for our club and the wider community,” says Jim.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Te Puke Times

Bay of Plenty Times

'Out of this world': Humongous fungus find in BoP

24 Feb 02:00 AM
Te Puke Times

Opinion: Mayor reflects on 2024's milestones and future goals

19 Dec 07:00 PM
Opinion

Opinion: Reflections on a year of building community ties

19 Dec 06:00 PM

Jono and Ben brew up a tea-fuelled adventure in Sri Lanka

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Te Puke Times

'Out of this world': Humongous fungus find in BoP

'Out of this world': Humongous fungus find in BoP

24 Feb 02:00 AM

A BoP woman stumbled upon two giant mushrooms while on her daily walk.

Opinion: Mayor reflects on 2024's milestones and future goals

Opinion: Mayor reflects on 2024's milestones and future goals

19 Dec 07:00 PM
Opinion: Reflections on a year of building community ties

Opinion: Reflections on a year of building community ties

19 Dec 06:00 PM
Opinion: How Te Puke balanced growth, tradition, and community in 2023

Opinion: How Te Puke balanced growth, tradition, and community in 2023

19 Dec 06:00 PM
Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Bay of Plenty Times e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Bay of Plenty Times
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP