The Connection Between Māori Culture and Surfing in New Zealand

New Zealand’s coastline stretches for more than 15,000 kilometres, curving around the North and South Islands with bays, reefs, and beaches that invite people into the surf. For many, surfing here is about freedom, challenge, and the joy of being near the sea. But for Māori, the relationship with the ocean runs far deeper.

Long before modern surfboards reached Aotearoa, Māori were already practising forms of wave riding. The sea wasn’t just a playground; it was an ancestor, a food source, and a teacher. Today, surfing has become both a national pastime and a cultural reconnection, linking Māori heritage with modern coastal life.

Early Māori Surf Riding Traditions

Whakahekeheke - Riding the Waves Before Surfboards

Centuries before Europeans arrived, Māori communities living near the coast spent much of their lives in and around the water. Surfing, known as whakahekeheke, was one of their summer pastimes. People would ride the waves back to shore using whatever materials were available:

• Kōpapa – short wooden boards carved from native timbers

• Pōhā – inflated kelp bags that worked like buoyant surf mats

• Waka iti – small canoes used for both transport and wave riding

These boards could range from simple planks to longer logs several feet long, depending on what was available and who was using them. Children, adults, and sometimes even chiefs took part in the fun, turning the beach into a social gathering place.

While Māori surfing may not have been as formalised as in Hawai‘i or Tahiti, it was still an important cultural activity. It required knowledge of local tides and weather, and an awareness of how to move with the rhythm of the sea, skills that also supported fishing and navigation.

The Sea as a Living Ancestor

For Māori, the ocean (Tangaroa) is a living being, a source of life, and a reminder of ancestral origins. Entering the water was a spiritual act. Before paddling out, Māori would often perform karakia (prayers or chants) to ask for protection and guidance.

The presence of kaitiaki, or guardians, was also acknowledged. These could take the form of dolphins, stingrays, or orcas, spiritual beings that watched over people in the water. Through these beliefs, surfing wasn’t just recreation; it was a way to maintain harmony with the sea and the wider natural world.

The Impact of Colonisation and Missionary Influence

When European explorers and settlers reached New Zealand in the late 18th century, Māori ways of life began to change. Early contact brought trade and technology, but colonisation also disrupted traditional customs.

Missionaries who arrived in the 19th century viewed many Māori activities through a religious lens. Surfing, often done for enjoyment and with minimal clothing, was seen as inappropriate. Their influence, combined with the pressure of colonial government policies, led to a decline in traditional practices such as whakahekeheke.

As Māori communities lost land and were drawn into the colonial economy, time for cultural pastimes decreased. By the late 1800s, traditional Māori surfing had almost disappeared, remembered mostly through stories passed down in coastal iwi.

The Revival of Surfing in New Zealand

Duke Kahanamoku’s Visit

Modern surfing made its way back to New Zealand in 1915 when Hawaiian surfer Duke Kahanamoku visited Wellington. His public demonstrations of surf riding on a wooden board captured the imagination of locals and reintroduced the concept of wave riding to the country.

For Māori, Duke’s visit held a deeper significance. It was a reminder that surfing was not a foreign idea; it was part of a wider Polynesian heritage shared across the Pacific, from Hawai‘i to Tahiti to Aotearoa.

Surfing Takes Root

By the 1950s and 60s, surfing had spread rapidly across the country. New Zealand’s varied geography, with warm beaches on the North Island, rugged swells on the South Island, and reliable breaks along both the east and west coasts, creates ideal conditions for surfers.

Māori youth embraced the sport, finding in it both excitement and familiarity. Riding the waves again felt like reclaiming a piece of cultural identity that had been sidelined for generations.

The East Coast: A Cultural and Surfing Heartland

Stretching from Gisborne to Hawke’s Bay, the East Coast is known for its consistent surf and strong Māori presence. Many coastal tribes here maintain deep spiritual and practical connections with the sea.

Surfing on the East Coast is often accompanied by cultural customs:

• Karakia before entering the water for safety and respect

• Acknowledgement of Tangaroa and the kaitiaki who guard the waves

• Community gatherings that blend surfing with food, music, and storytelling

Local surf schools and clubs have become central to this coastal lifestyle. They teach not just technique but also cultural respect, the idea that surfing is part of a larger relationship between people and the ocean.

Competitions and Māori Representation

Several events celebrate Māori surfers and their heritage. The Auahi Kore Māori Titles bring together surfers from across the motu, focusing on skill, camaraderie, and cultural pride. Meanwhile, the Aotearoa Māori Surfing Team competes internationally, representing both sport and identity.

These platforms have helped younger Māori surfers see themselves reflected in the national surf scene, turning surfing into both a water sport and a form of cultural expression.

Surfing Beyond the East Coast

North Island Highlights

On the west coast of the North Island, surf towns like Raglan are known worldwide for long, peeling left-handers and strong surf culture. Māori surfers are an active part of this community, linking modern surf life with ancestral values.

Further north, areas like Northland offer warmer waters and quieter beaches, ideal for teaching children and beginners. These places keep alive the community spirit that once defined traditional surf riding gatherings.

South Island Perspectives

The South Island brings a different mood, colder water, dramatic landscapes, and a sense of isolation that appeals to many surfers. Spots near Kaikōura or Dunedin have dedicated Māori surf communities, proving that cultural connection to the ocean thrives even in the southern latitudes.

Each coast north, south, east, or west adds a new layer to how Māori interact with surfing today. The relationship between culture and sea remains constant, no matter the setting.

Māori Values in Modern Surfing

Kaitiakitanga and Environmental Awareness

The Māori principle of kaitiakitanga, guardianship of the environment, is central to how many Māori approach surfing. It means caring for the beach, respecting marine life, and leaving the ocean as it was found.

Modern Māori surf organisations and schools integrate these teachings into their lessons. Surfers learn about:

• Reducing pollution and plastic waste

• Respecting rahui (temporary closures) that protect resources

• Understanding seasonal changes and local ecosystems

Water Safety and Education

Groups such as Aotearoa Surf and Aotearoa Water Patrol have also woven cultural perspectives into their programmes. They deliver water safety training designed for Māori communities, blending practical surf skills with respect for traditional knowledge.

By teaching both skill and cultural context, these programmes help young Māori feel confident in the water while staying connected to their heritage.

Surfing as Cultural Identity

Surfing today has become a medium for Māori expression. Many surfers bring their culture into the water through actions, design, and community involvement.

• Surfboard design: Some boards feature carvings or motifs inspired by traditional art.

• Competitions: Māori surf events often begin with karakia and include kai (shared food) as part of the celebration.

• Community outreach: Surf lessons and cultural workshops encourage youth to see surfing as a link to identity, not just sport.

This blending of tradition and lifestyle gives Māori surfers a unique role in New Zealand’s wider surf culture. They embody both heritage and modernity, showing that surfing can be a cultural bridge as much as a physical challenge.

Mental and Physical Benefits

For many Māori surfers, time in the sea isn’t just recreation, it’s reflection. The rhythm of the waves provides space to reconnect with ancestors and restore balance.

There’s also a growing recognition of surfing’s benefits for mental health. Programmes across Aotearoa now use surf therapy to build confidence and wellbeing, particularly for young Māori. The act of catching waves, breathing in the salt air, and respecting the ocean’s power aligns naturally with Māori concepts of healing through connection to nature.

Surfing, Tourism, and Cultural Exchange

Surfing plays a major role in New Zealand’s tourism industry. International visitors are drawn to the same beaches Māori have lived beside for centuries. Increasingly, surf schools and tourism operators incorporate Māori culture into their experiences through local storytelling, the use of te reo Māori, and environmental education.

This approach enriches both visitors and hosts. Tourists gain a deeper appreciation of Aotearoa’s heritage, while Māori communities can share their stories in meaningful ways that support local economies and preserve cultural values.

Preserving Surfing Heritage

Efforts to maintain traditional knowledge are ongoing. Communities and researchers are documenting practices such as:

• Wave riding with pōhā or waka iti.

• Oral histories and stories associated with particular beaches.

• Cultural ceremonies and seasonal rituals related to the sea.

Recreating traditional boards, teaching younger generations, and encouraging participation in coastal activities ensure that surfing continues as a living tradition rather than a historical memory.

Surfing and Māori Culture Today

Surfing in New Zealand is inseparable from Māori culture. From early whakahekeheke to modern wave riding, the practice has always been more than a sport. It is a way to connect with the sea, ancestors, and community.

Across the North and South Islands, Māori surfers embody respect, environmental stewardship, and cultural pride every time they enter the water. Surfing is both a continuation of tradition and a modern expression of identity.

By maintaining cultural practices and sharing knowledge with younger generations, Māori communities ensure that surfing remains a meaningful and educational activity for the future.