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Story: Lifesaving and surfing

Surfing contest, 1989

Image
Group of men holding surfboards on beach

Surfing is a serious competitive sport for some, such as these over-45s with their long boards. At the far right of the line-up is John McDermot, New Zealand’s first surfing champion.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PA-Group-00685)

Reference: EP-NZ-Recreation-Surfing-01

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Nancy Swarbrick, Lifesaving and surfing – The surfing way of life, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/2277/surfing-contest-1989 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 15 January 2010.