The surfing action took place at Rocky Lefts which was more protected from the strong south west winds than most other surf breaks in the region.  By the finals time the wind had swung more offshore and the 1.0m – 1.5m waves offered up excellent scoring potential for everyone still competing in the event.

Lellman, a late entry into the event, dominated the final from his first wave when he scored 8.25 out of a possible 10 points to put pressure on his fellow three finalists.  Witnesses described the surfing in the final as some of the best they had seen this year and by no means did Lellman have a one way ticket to victory. 

The youngest of the finalists, 16-year-old Buck Woods (Gis), chimed in to the challenge with his own version of new school backhand surfing with an excellent 9.0 point ride to take the lead from Lellman at the mid way stage.  However, soon after, Lellman surfed to another 8.75 point ride to jump back into the lead. 

Late in the final Morehu Roberts (Gis) came back strong scoring the event’s only perfect ten point ride but was unable to find a good second wave and had to settle for second place ahead of Woods in third and Mahia’s Danny Carse in fourth.   

“It’s been 15 years since I won this comp, I can’t believe it” commented Lellman almost in disbelief.  “And to top it off I got the double whammy with the 35’s”.  When asked about how the event unfolded Lellman said it was just one of those weekends where things came together for him “I got into a rhythm with the ocean from day one, everything seemed to work out for me and I was a wave magnet” added Lellman referring to his ability to ride the best waves throughout the event. 

The win was witnessed by Lellman’s family and friends as well as many other surfers he had not caught up with for a while which.  “I love the event, it has a laid back atmosphere, it is whanau orientated.  It’s just so good to catch up with heaps of Maori surfers from around New Zealand.

Young 13-year-old Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis) won the Roxy Women’s Division to secure her best ever result.  Martin-Fitzharris recently won a national age group event but to step up into the open women’s division of this event which she was contesting for her first time shows the massive advancement in her surfing over the past 12 months.

“I got a good wave at the start of the final and then didn’t get my second scoring ride until the final minute of the final” commented Martin-Fitzharris on the way the final panned out.  “It was first time at the ‘Maori Nats’, it had a real good vibe and everyone was really supportive and friendly, I love coming to Taranaki” she added.

Martin-Fitzharris overcame local surfer Jessica Terrill in the final with Thandi Durham (Tara) in third and Lana Yearbury in fourth.

Raglan surfer Haami Martin will no longer travel with the underdog tag after winning the talent laden Rip Curl Under 18 Boys Division.  Martin who represented New Zealand at the Oceania Cup in Tahiti in July is another surfer who continues to impress.  In the final he was up against the likes of Gisborne’s Buck Woods, Johnny Hicks and Reno Marriot who finished in that order and were potentially favoured to take the title over Martin.  Martin posted an 8.0 and then a 7.5 to dominate his opponents with big turns and floaters over the shallow Rocky Left rocks.

Martin could not repeat the feats of Lellman as a double division winner after being pipped in the last minute of the Rapu Under 16 Boys Division by Johnny Hicks.  After trailing the final throughout, Hicks swooped into a last minute wave to take the lead, relegating Martin to runner up ahead of Reno Marriott in third and James Tume (Wellington) in fourth.  After his giant killing performances at the event, Martin was awarded the rising star award.

Waitara surfer Jason Matthews won the Hyundai Longboard Division in a close battle with fellow local surfer Jamie Andrews.  Daniel Proctor (Gis) placed third ahead of Wellington’s Kirk Beyer in fourth.

Matthews also won the Rapu Mana Award for his unfaltering effort toward the Auahi Kore Maori Titles both from the administrative and competitive sides.  Matthews has been instrumental in getting the famous Waitara Bar Boardriders club back up and running in the past 12 months.  As part of the push Matthews secured the hosting rights to the Auahi Kore Maori Titles on a three year term.

“It is humbling to be given this award” commented Matthews.  “Mana is a big word, it means a lot of things.  This award is not me alone, I am just the glue that sticks everything together, I help facilitate the process.  It is the people around you that are the Mana, the people you go to such as Te Kauhoe and Whare Wano.  If they are getting behind you, nodding their heads, you know you are getting things right” added Matthews.

Gisborne’s James Fowell won the Motzstar Over 30 Men’s Division.  Always hotly contested with some of the best surfers in the country, this year did not disappoint and Fowell battled it out with Motu Mataa (Tara) for the title.  The two surfers finished ahead of Wayne Cooper (Rag) in third and Jamie Andrews (Tara) in fourth.

Lellman’s win in the Aotearoa Born and Breed Over 35’s came at the expense of Phil Willoughby (Rag) in second, Shaun Coffey (Auck) in third and Stacey Lamb (Tara) in fourth.

Waihi Beach surfer Doug Te Ranga won a fiercely contested Seed Over 40’s division when he won out over big name locals Pipi Ngaia in second, Peter Schafer in third and Jason Matthews in fourth.

The Quiksilver under 12 Boys division was introduced to the event for the first time in 2008 with the youngest of the contestants taking to the water in perfect conditions at Waitara Beach. Elliot Paerata-Reid was the eventual winner with Mahorahora Mcleod (Waitara) in second, Te Rapai Barbarich-Love (Waitara) in third and Indika Ratima (Rag) in fourth.

Please see below for final results of the 2008 Auahi Kore Aotearoa Maori Titles.

Billabong Open Men’s
Jason Lellman (Tara), 1, Morehu Roberts (Gis), 2, Buck Woods (Gis), 3, Danny Carse (Mahia), 4

Rip Curl Under 18 Men’s
Haami Martin (Rag), 1, Buck Woods (Gis), 2, Johnny Hicks (Gis), 3, Reno Marriott (Gis), 4

Rapu Under 16 Men’s
Johnny Hicks (Gis), 1, Haami Martin (Rag), 2, Reno Marriott (Gis), 3, James Tumes (Wgtn), 4

Quiksilver Under 12 Men’s
Elliot Paerata-Reid (Piha), 1, Mahorahora Mcleod (Waitara), 2, Te Rapai Barbarich-Love (Waitara), 3, Indika Ratima (Rag) in fourth.

Roxy Open Women’s
Jayda Martin-Fitzharrs (Gis), 1, Jessica Terrill (Tara), 2, Thandi Durham (Tara), 3, Lana Yearbury, 4, Renee Lee (Whangarei),5.

Hyundai Longboard
Jason Matthews (Tara), 1, Jamie Andrews (Tara), 2, Daniel Proctor (Gis), 3, Kirk Beyer (Wgtn), 4

Motzstar Over 30 Men’s
James Fowell (Gis), 1, Motu Mataa (Tara), 2, Wayne Cooper (Rag), Jamie Andrews (Tara).

Aotearoa Born and Breed Over 35 Men’s
Jason Lellman (Tara), 1, Phil Willoughby (Rag), 2, Shaun Coffey (Auck), 3, Stacey Lamb (Tara), 4

Seed Over 40 Men’s
Doug Te Ranga (Waihi Beach), 1, Pipi Ngaia (Tara), 2, Peter Schafer (Tara), 3, Jason Matthews (Tara)

Rapu Mana Award

Jason Matthews (Tara)

Motzstar Rising Junior star Award

Haami Martin (Rag)

Many thanks to Waitara Bar Boardriders Club for hosting another succesful Maori titles, and Owae Marae for the Beautiful Kai and warm Hospitality.
Kia ora !!

Generous support from the following companies has made this event possible - Auahi Kore the principle supporter of Maori Surfing as well Hyundai the associate sponsor for the event.  Division sponsorship has been provided by Rapu, Roxy, Quiksilver, Billabong, Rip Curl, Motzstar, Seed, Aotearoa Born and Bred and surfers Skin.

For further information on the 2008 Auahi Kore Aotearoa Maori Titles held in association with Hyundai please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Chris Malone on 021 984 937 or email chrismalone@surfingnz.co.nz . Alternatively contact Surfing New Zealand Maori Coordinator Steve Ria on 021 2278731 or email steve.ria@surfingnz.co.nz.  Surfing New Zealand are proudly partnered by

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