Elite rescue craft and the athletes who master them will converge on Gisborne's Waikanae Beach in late March, when the 2026 bp New Zealand IRB Championships bring together the country's finest surf lifesaving clubs alongside a contingent from across the Tasman. Racing runs across three days, from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 March.
The scale of the event reflects the discipline's growing profile. A total of 342 competitors will take to the water, spread across 118 crews representing 30 surf lifesaving clubs. The field is split between 49 female and 69 male crews, and notable growth in the under-23 divisions points to a strong pipeline of emerging talent coming through the ranks.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand General Manager Sport Zac Franich says the appeal of IRB racing lies in how directly it connects competitive sport to real-world lifesaving.
"IRB racing is unique because it closely mirrors real rescue situations. Drivers and crew need to read the surf, make quick decisions and work together seamlessly to execute a rescue. It is physically demanding, but these skills are exactly what lifeguards rely on when responding to emergencies on our beaches."
Waikanae Beach is a venue well matched to that philosophy. The surf there is known for producing fast, technical and unpredictable conditions, the sort of environment that rewards genuine ability and punishes lapses in judgement.
Five disciplines sit at the heart of the competition, each built around a real-world rescue scenario: Single Rescue, Mass Rescue, Assembly Rescue, Tube Rescue, and Teams Rescue. Together they demand surf-reading ability, precise boat handling, and seamless coordination between driver and crew, with no single event testing quite the same combination of attributes.
Defending champions Sunset Beach Surf Life Saving Club arrive in Gisborne carrying back-to-back national titles, won in 2024 and 2025, along with a broader record of multiple championship victories in recent seasons. The competitive picture heading into this year's event is less settled than it might appear. New crew combinations have emerged at a number of leading clubs, and regional results suggest the title race will be genuinely open.
Recent South Island Championship performances drew considerable attention, with Sumner, St Kilda and North Beach all producing impressive showings. North Island competition had its own talking points, with Sunset Beach, Waimarama and Opunake at the top of the standings and building rivalries set to carry directly into Gisborne. Host club Waikanae Surf Life Saving Club should not be overlooked, having claimed multiple gold medals in the open men's division at the North Island Championships and arriving with the advantage of knowing their home break better than anyone.
Fitzroy is another club drawing attention, having grown from a single crew entry in 2024 to eight crews this year. That expansion has been driven in part by the return of experienced athletes and coaches, including SLSNZ Hall of Fame members Jaron Mumby and Chris Scott, whose involvement adds considerable depth to what is already a competitive field.
Australian clubs Kirra and Kurrawa are both sending crews to Gisborne, giving the championships a trans-Tasman flavour and lifting the overall standard of racing across the board.
The event's naming rights partner, bp, has backed Surf Life Saving New Zealand for 58 years, a tenure that ranks among the longest-running corporate partnerships in the country. bp New Zealand Head of Country Haley Mahoney was clear about what the boats at the centre of this competition represent in practice.
"These boats are one of the most important pieces of equipment surf lifeguards use. They allow crews to reach people quickly in difficult surf conditions and in areas that can be hard to access from the shore. At bp we are proud to support Surf Life Saving New Zealand and the crews who train hard to operate these boats safely and effectively. The IRB Championships are a great way to recognise the skill and commitment behind that work."
bp will be present at the event hub across all three days, engaging with competitors, volunteers and spectators while marking six decades of partnership with the surf lifesaving movement.
The competition itself rests on the work of a large network of volunteer officials, safety personnel and organisers who ensure every heat is run safely and to a professional standard. Franich is direct about the debt owed to that network.
"These championships would not happen without the dedication of volunteers and officials who support the sport. Their work ensures competitors can perform at their best in a safe and well-run environment."
Fast Facts: 2026 bp New Zealand IRB Championships
Location: Waikanae Beach, Gisborne Dates: Friday 27 to Sunday 29 March
IRB racing simulates real rescue scenarios and helps surf lifeguards develop teamwork, surf awareness and technical boat handling skills used in frontline rescues.
Competitors:
118 crews 49 female crews / 69 male crews 30 surf lifesaving clubs (28 New Zealand and 2 Australian) 342 competitors
Race disciplines:
Single Rescue Mass Rescue Assembly Rescue Tube Rescue Teams Rescue (relay)
Defending champions: Sunset Beach Surf Life Saving Club.
