Surfing New Zealand held the annual surf instructors conference at Mount Maunganui last week.  The conference provides the opportunity for over thirty surf schools to come together and discuss the fast growing industry.  Surfing New Zealand Development Manager Lee Ryan facilitated the conference with input from several speakers throughout the day.

Although there was a low turn out of schools on the day, information and topics for discussion submitted prior to the meeting provided good discussion points and outcomes from the conference were very productive including:

- All new surf schools requiring at least one ISA Level Two Instructor from 2012

- New SUP Instructor accreditation procedures and subsequent courses (dates to be announced in January)

- Information from Rick Banks (Work and Income) for government assistance packages for Mount Maunganui Surf Schools after the Rena oil spill

- Updates from Greg Meikle (Maritime BOP) on the stricken Rena cargo ship