Better Decisions lead to safer beaches at the 2026 Aon New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships
From Thursday 5 March to Sunday 8 March, Ōhope Beach delivered an incredible four days of racing across the sand and surf at the 2026 Aon New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships.
Nearly 1,400 athletes, from 46 clubs across Aotearoa, competed in 25 different events, from beach sprints and surf boat races to canoes, relays and iron-person events, and more than 130 national titles were decided.
As the sun set on Sunday afternoon at Ōhope Beach, we couldn’t have been prouder to stand alongside Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) as naming rights partner for the second year running.
Check out the highlights video below by clicking the image.
Key outcomes from the 2026 Championships included:
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Club champion – Omanu Surf Life Saving Club claimed the overall club title.
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Rising stars – Black Fins Pipi Te Pania and Joe Collins delivered standout performances across multiple disciplines, underlining the strength and depth of New Zealand’s highperformance surf lifesaving talent.
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Boat and team racing at its best – Sunset Beach LS took out the open mixed surf boat relay, while Omanu and Piha shared honours in the open men’s and women’s surf boat events. Taplin relays, board rescues and mixed team events showcased the teamwork at the core of lifesaving.
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Host club pride – Whakatane SLSC, the host club, fielded strong senior and masters teams and were rewarded with standout results, particularly in the canoe races, while welcoming athletes and supporters to their home beach.
Bringing the Aon experience to the beach
Across the event, the Aon Hub and our Better Decisions beach pop-up became a popular place to refuel, reset and reconnect for athletes, volunteers and supporters who dropped in for:
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Complimentary breakfasts to start early race days well
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Afternoon ice creams for a well-earned cooldown
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Shade, bean bags and a calm space to recover between events
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Our Better Decisions Beach Hire Station, stocked with umbrellas, sunscreen and everything needed to make safer choices under the Ōhope sun
A partnership built on Better Decisions
Every patrol season, surf lifeguards assess changing conditions and make splitsecond decisions that keep people safe in the surf. That same ability to make better decisions – with clarity and confidence – is at the heart of what Aon does for businesses and communities across Aotearoa.
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Surf lifeguards use their training, teamwork and judgment to respond to risk on the beach.
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Aon helps organisations make confident decisions about insurance, risk and people – so they can protect and grow their businesses.
We believe that when communities are safer and more resilient, businesses and the people they employ can thrive too. That’s why Aon proudly supports Surf Life Saving New Zealand – for safer beaches today, and better decisions for businesses and communities in Aotearoa tomorrow.
From Ōhope to Christchurch and beyond
This year’s Aon New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships showcased the sport of lifesaving in Aotearoa at world class level. From emerging juniors to seasoned masters, the depth of talent and dedication on display at Ōhope was unmistakable.
As attention now turns to the 2027 Championships in Christchurch, Aon is committed to continuing our support for SLSNZ – on the beach, on patrol, and behind the scenes – so that surf lifeguards and their clubs have the backing they need to make better decisions, every day.
Explore more about our national partnerships
If the wrapup video at the top of this page gives a sense of the energy and commitment at Ōhope, it’s only one part of the story. Learn more about our partnership with SLSNZ and our other national sponsorship partners, and how together we’re helping to build safer, more resilient communities across Aotearoa. Explore more here.
Because when people, businesses and communities are better informed and better advised, they can make better decisions.