A Mount Maunganui surf lifesaving stalwart who helped guide his club through one of its darkest periods has been named Surf Life Saving New Zealand’s Volunteer of the Year.

Brent Warner, chair of the Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service, received the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board Volunteer of the Year award at the 2026 Toyota Financial Services Awards of Excellence, held at Mercury Baypark in Tauranga on Saturday night.

Warner was recognised for his leadership following the devastating flooding and Mauao landslip events, which forced the evacuation of the clubrooms and disrupted operations for months.

Presenting the award, television personality Hilary Barry praised Warner’s extraordinary contribution during a critical time for the club.

“As club chair, star leader, and active lifeguard, he played a pivotal role following the flooding and Mauao landslip events,” Barry said as she read out Warner’s citation.

“After responding to emergency incidents and leading the evacuation of the clubhouse, Brent co-ordinated the relocation of club operations, supported members, and worked closely with Tauranga City Council, Surf Life Saving New Zealand, emergency services, and the wider community to ensure the club could continue to function.”

The recognition comes just weeks after the Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service reopened its club facilities, marking a significant milestone in the club’s recovery.

Warner’s award was one of several honours earned by Bay of Plenty surf lifesavers at the national awards ceremony, which celebrates volunteers, athletes, officials, coaches and club leaders from around New Zealand.

Bruce Matheson from Ōmanu won the International Life Saving Award. Photo / Rosalie Liddle Crawford

Other Bay recipients included Ōmanu Beach’s Bruce Matheson, who received the International Lifesaving Award, and fellow Ōmanu member Cory Hutchings, named Coach of the Year.

Cory Hutchins from Omanu Beach won Coach of the Year. Hilary Barry, on the mic, was MC for the night. Photo / Rosalie Liddle Crawford

Pāpāmoa’s Joanne Miller was recognised as Official of the Year, while Jenna Waite-Leonard received the Junior Surf Contribution of the Year award.

Aon Official of the Year Joanne Miller from Pāpāmoa. Photo / Rosalie Liddle Crawford

Mount Maunganui’s Liam Shanahan was also honoured, taking out the DHL Volunteer Surf Lifeguard of the Year award.

Liam Shanahan from Mount Maunganui won Volunteer Surf Lifeguard of the Year. Photo / Rosalie Liddle Crawford

Whangamatā’s Madison Kidd was named Sportsperson of the Year, while veteran volunteer Kelvyn Eglinton received both a Distinguished Service Award and Life Membership recognition.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand chief executive Steve Fisher said in a statement that the awards highlighted the commitment of the thousands of volunteers who support beach safety and lifesaving operations across the country.

“These awards celebrate some truly exceptional individuals and teams, but they also represent the thousands of members who dedicate their time and expertise to Surf Life Saving every year.

“Whether patrolling our beaches, training the next generation of lifeguards, officiating events, supporting club operations, or striving for excellence in competition, our members make an extraordinary contribution to communities across New Zealand.”

The annual awards recognise achievements across lifesaving operations, patrol excellence, education, sport, innovation and volunteer service, showcasing the breadth of talent within the surf lifesaving movement.

Award recipients

International Lifesaving Award

Bruce Matheson, Ōmanu Beach

Toyota Financial Services Coach of the Year

Cory Hutchings, Ōmanu Beach

Toyota Financial Services Sportsperson of the Year

Madison Kidd, Whangamatā

Aon Official of the Year

Joanne Miller, Pāpāmoa

Aon Sports Team of the Year

Mairangi Bay – Zoe Crawford, Rae Kwan, Fergus Eadie & Harrison Klouwens

Aon Event Safety Contribution of the Year

Thomas Downs, Lyall Bay

bp Search & Rescue Contribution of the Year

Kath Manning, Waipu Cove

bp Powercraft Contribution of the Year

Connor Mitchell, Waikanae

bp Rescue of the Year

Muriwai VLS, PLS & SAR

Fulton Hogan Instructor of the Year

Daniel Harvey, Bethells Beach

Fulton Hogan Examiner of the Year

Sonia Keepa, Wainui

Fulton Hogan Innovation Award

Peter Housiaux QSM, Ōtaki

DHL Patrol Support of the Year

Ben Isles, Sumner

DHL Under 19 Surf Lifeguard of the Year

Olivia Moroney-Pearson, Raglan

DHL Volunteer Surf Lifeguard of the Year

Liam Shanahan, Mount Maunganui

Junior Surf Contribution of the Year

Jenna Waite-Leonard, Pāpāmoa

New Zealand Lottery Grants Board Volunteer of the Year

Brent Warner, Mount Maunganui

The London Trophy

Buller

The Gudsell Trophy

Mairangi Bay

Life Memberships

Paul Carlyon, Ōtaki

David Clarke, Brighton

Jacquelyn Grant, Mairangi Bay

Kelvyn Eglinton, Whangamatā 

Joanne Hobson, Sunset Beach

50 Year Badges

Denis Atkinson, Piha

Stephen Bootten, Piha

John Dent, East End

Greg Hall, Mairangi Bay 

Dave McPhee, Brighton

Jim Warwick, Maranui

Bevan Andrews, St Clair

Andrew Collis, Piha

Jamie Hall, Mairangi Bay

Stuart McLachlan, St Clair

Distinguished Service Awards

Jessica Bennett, Ocean Beach Kiwi

Kelvyn Eglinton, Whangamatā

Nathan Hight, Whangamatā

Greg Rieger, Mount Maunganui

Belinda Slement, Wainui

Emma Sutherland, Pacific

Stefhan Brown, St Kilda

James Kendrick, Bethells Beach

Service Awards

Elizabeth Baty, Palmerston North

David Bentley, East End

Leah Blincoe, Mairangi Bay

James Burton, Kariaotahi

Julie Burton, Kariaotahi

Dennis Butler, Waihī Beach

Kelvyn Eglinton, Whangamatā

Jack Gavin, Midway

Kyran Gillespie, Baylys Beach

Taryn Gillespie, Baylys Beach

Fiona Gower, Sunset Beach

Taimania Hinds, Hot Water Beach

Carter Hodge, Hot Water Beach

Sean Hovell, Wainui

Gabriella Hughes, Tairua

Michael King, Wainui

Selina Larson, Nelson

James Lea, Bethells Beach

Nicky Lloyd, Piha

Chris Malone, Raglan

Aron May, Waihī Beach

Carl Morgan, Sunset Beach

Sharon Mullin, Lyall Bay

Eleanor Mulrennan, United North Piha

Paul Newnham, Piha

Dawn Newson-Adams, Kariaotahi

Jacqui Peck, Piha

Tim Petro, Midway

Judd Redmond, Sunset Beach

Fergus Rieger, Mount Maunganui

Rama Robertson, Midway & Wainui

David Rose, Riversdale

Anna Schubert, Piha

Liam Shanahan, Mount Maunganui

Dominic Sutton, Whangamatā

Jessica Wanden-Hannay, Piha

Kevin Weatherley, Wainui

Rachael Williams, Wainui

Phoebe Aburn, St Clair

Jane Alloway, Nelson

Karyn Becconsall-Ryan, Warrington

Danny Blair, St Clair

Sarnia Brewer, Westshore

Mark Chaafe, Karekare

Jacob Crawley, Ocean Beach Kiwi

Jaine Curran, Waipu Cove

Zeke de Gouw, Spencer Park

Nicole Fearon, Mairangi Bay

Tim Harris, Spencer Park

James Imrie, Paekākāriki

Andrew Jensen, New Brighton

Matthew Kemp, Midway

Ken Laurie, Waimārama

Harry Machiela, Pacific

Abe MacCormick, St Kilda

Ken McHoull, Warrington

Natasha McLean, Waimārama

Benjamin Morgan, Waimārama

James Mulcahy, Lyall Bay

Danyon Noakes, St Kilda

Fenella Sands, Mairangi Bay

Simone Spencer, Mairangi Bay

Mary Thomas, United North Piha

Greg Wilson, Piha