The Black Fins were narrowly beaten by the Aussies in the third test of the 2015 International Surf Rescue Challenge in Queensland over the weekend.

The Kiwis raced hard on Saturday to take out the second test, but the wounded Australians came back fighting to win the final test on Sunday by two points and claim the overall event honours.

Omanu's Max Beattie won gold in the board race event at the 2015 International Surf Rescue Challenge in Queensland. Photo: Jamie Troughton/DScribe Media.

It came down to the last six races to determine the winner, as Australia and New Zealand sat on even points.

The final score for test three saw Australia finish on 77 points, with New Zealand on 75 followed by the USA on 40 and Japan with 37.

NZ team coach Jason Pocock says they were disappointed to lose, but he is incredibly proud of the team's effort.

'The character of the team and the way they kept pushing, even when things were going against them, was amazing to see,” says Jason.

'I'm looking forward to the team's continued growth in the lead-up to the next world champs.”

The final day of competition saw the Black Fins walk away with 11 golds between them.

Mount Maunganui's Olivia Eaton took two individual titles in the beach sprints and beach flags, plus gold in the beach relay with teammates Teneale Hatton (Piha) and Mairangi Bay's Chanel Hickman and Danielle McKenzie.

Omanu's Max Beattie won gold in the board race, before following it up with another in the beach relay with Midway's Chris Dawson and Cory Taylor, and Fitzroy's Paul Cracroft-Wilson.

Dawson and Taylor, together with Mount Maunganui's Adam Simpson and Titahi Bay's Marty McDowell, also added another gold to the tally in the tube rescue.

Also competing were the New Zealand Youth team, who proved themselves against tough international competition across three days of racing.

Some of the highlights from the final test include Mount Maunganui's Hamish Miller and Dylan Williams teaming up with Mairangi Bay's Jake Hurley to win the U-19 tube rescue.

While Papamoa's Maia Bryant was a member of the winning team in the U-19 surf race, along with Midway's Olivia Corrin, Piha's Hannah Williams and Fitzroy's Zoe Hobbs.

New Zealand team manager Mark Weatherall says he is proud of both the Black Fins and the NZ Youth team, who put in great performances over the three tests.

'Both teams showed amazing heart,” says Mark. 'I'm very proud of the management teams and all those who supported us. It's been a big boost for the high performance programme.”

For a full breakdown of results from test three, click here.