Wainui among best surf beach finalists

VOTE FOR WAINUI: Wainui Beach is one of the 10 finalists in The New Zealand Herald's annual Best Surf Beach competition. Gizzy people have the chance to vote for it, along with surf enthusiasts from across the country. Picture by Ben Cowper

The New Zealand Herald's Best Surf Beach competition is “up and riding” and Wainui Beach has been declared by readers as one of the Top 10 to vote for.

In introducing the competition, NZ Herald reporter Ewan McDonald said: “Baby boomers might say Kiwi surfing rode a wave of popularity out of California, Dick Dale and the Beach Boys records, Elvis movies in the late 50s and early 60s . . . Um, no.

“When Europeans hit these shores in the 19th century, they saw Māori surfing — whakahekeheke — on boards (kopapa) and anything else that floated until Christian missionaries insisted on modest dress and behaviour.

“According to Surfing NZ, one in 27 Kiwis surf.”

Among the 10 reader-nominated surf beaches, ranging from Raglan in the Waikato to St Clair in Dunedin, is Wainui.

“Gizzy” is described in the article as “surfing heaven”, with Wainui “the most popular spot because it provides good, consistent waves year-round.

“It has several peaks — Whales (north end), Pines (surf club), Schools (school) and, probably the best, Stock Route (south end) for right and left-hand tube rides.

The rest of the top 10 are Raglan, Mount Maunganui's Main Beach, Muriwai (Auckland), Ōhōpe, Piha, Sandy Bay (Tutukākā), St Clair, Waihi and Whangamata.

Votes for the best beach can be cast online at nzherald.co.nz/bestbeach

Voting closes this Sunday and the winner will be announced on Sunday, January 29.

Profiles on each of the finalist beaches are featuring in the NZ Herald each day.