IRB New Zealand Surf Rescue Championships 2026 Dates!

The bp IRB New Zealand Surf Rescue Championships is being held at Waikanae Beach, Gisborne from March 27-29, 2026.

This championships has a proud history of being one filled with hard, fast, and action-packed racing. The largest Inflatable Rescue Boat racing competition on the Surf Life Saving calendar, crews from throughout the country will line up to showcase their surf skills, fitness and experience amongst their peers. ❤💛

As of mid‑2025, the bp New Zealand Surf Rescue (IRB) Championships for 2026 have been tentatively scheduled by Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ). The confirmed date is:

27–29 March 2026, at Waikanae, Gisborne for the bp NZ IRB Championships surf.co.nz+14Ōrewa Surf Life Saving Club+14Scoop+14.

In addition, the Eastern Region IRB Championships are set to be held on 22 November 2026 at Papamoa, while other regional IRB events—including Northern and Central—still have their dates to be confirmed Ōrewa Surf Life Saving Club+1surflifesaving.org.nz+1.

🏁 What to Expect at the bp NZ IRB Championships (March 2026)

This is the national IRB racing championships, featuring events like:
- Single-person rescue, Tube Rescue, Mass Rescue, Assembly Rescue Wikipedia+5Scoop+5sunlive.co.nz+5.
The mass participation level is typically very high. In 2025, 123 crews and 370 athletes competed, including international clubs like Kirra from Australia surflifesaving.org.nz+13sunlive.co.nz+13Scoop+13.
The defending champions, Sunset Beach SLSC, have dominated in recent years, winning national titles in succession through 2023–2025, backed by strong open female crews such as Taylor Edwards and Hayley Rewi surflifesaving.org.nz.

📅 Calendar Summary

Event	Dates	Location
bp NZ IRB National Championships	27–29 March 2026	Waikanae, Gisborne
Eastern Region IRB Championships	22 November 2026	Papamoa
Other Regional IRB Championships	TBC (2026)	Various — TBC

ℹ️ Additional Notes

The bp NZ IRB Championships sit within New Zealand’s National Surf Life Saving Championship framework, marking the highlight of the IRB season Ōrewa Surf Life Saving ClubŌrewa Surf Life Saving Club+1surfingnz.co.nz+1Scoop+3surflifesaving.org.nz+3Ōrewa Surf Life Saving Club+3Wikipedia+7surflifesaving.org.nz+7Scoop+7.
The Lifesaving World Championships (which include national-team IRB events) will take place in Agadir, Morocco in September 2026, as organized by the International Life Saving Federation ilsf.org.

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If you’re looking for entry requirements, training programmes, or club registration details, feel free to ask—happy to help you get ready for the 2026 season!