Surfers participated in a paddleout during the 2026 Grom Series.
Photo: Supplied
Mount Maunganui, New Zealand – Surfers honored the victims of the recent landslide with a moving paddleout on Saturday, coinciding with the opening day of the 2026 Billabong Grom Series. The poignant tribute underscored the tight-knit nature of the surf community and its response to tragedy.
A Community United in Remembrance
The paddleout served as a powerful display of solidarity and respect for those lost in the devastating Mount Maunganui landslide.
- The paddleout was organized by Surfing New Zealand and Bay Boardriders.
- Participants included competitors in the Grom Series and local surfers.
- The event aimed to acknowledge the lives lost and recognize the unusual circumstances in Mount Maunganui.
- The State of Emergency for Tauranga has been extended until Wednesday.
- Fire and Emergency’s Urban Search and Rescue team concluded its work at the site on Saturday.
Organized by Surfing New Zealand and Bay Boardriders, the paddleout took place at Tay Street Beach. Surfing New Zealand chief executive Ben Kennings explained the event was a way to “go out and pay our respects.” He noted the widespread participation, with people traveling from across the country to join in the remembrance and enjoy the competition.
“Whenever we lose someone, the surf community does it,” Kennings said, describing the paddleout as a traditional gesture of mourning. He added that it was a way to acknowledge that things were “not normal” in Mount Maunganui following the landslip.
The Grom Series competition will continue on Sunday, marking the second day of the event. The series will then move to Whangamatā, with the final stop scheduled for Piha in late February.
State of Emergency Continues
The State of Emergency declared for Tauranga in response to the severe weather has been extended until Wednesday. The Tauranga City Council stated its primary focus remains on supporting the recovery efforts and the families of the six individuals who perished in the landslide.
A memorial remains in place along the fenced-off area, but all messages and mementos will be carefully relocated to the He Maimai Aroha Community Care Centre when the cordon is adjusted. Residents and business owners within the cordoned area will require a permit to access the area by vehicle, according to the Tauranga City Council.
Earlier on Saturday, Fire and Emergency stood down its specialist Urban Search and Rescue team at Mount Maunganui, signaling the completion of the intensive search phase.
