Vette started the champs with a win in his open men's round of 40 heat. He totalled 8.16 out of a possible 20 for his two best waves to beat Aucklanders Cassidy Mann (6.4) and Jackson Peak (5.6), and Dunedin's Ruben Peyroux.
World Surf League Qualifying Series competitor Elliot Paerata-Reid — an open men's finalist last year — posted the best score of the morning, 12.90, to win his heat.
Jack Luke (Taranaki, 8.77) and Damien Phillips (Dunedin, 7.50) were the other heat winners.
Only one heat of the u18 boys' division was contested, Christchurch's Dara O'Malley taking the win.
The truncated day has forced a backlog of heats to be completed during the week.
When conditions improve, several large days of surfing will be required to complete the event on Saturday.
The final day will be streamed live via the Sky Sport Next YouTube channel.
Day 2 action was scheduled to start at 8am this morning at St Clair Beach.