While the Australians stole the show on the final day of the Rip Curl GromSearch, it will be Mount Maunganui's Kehu Butler and Raiha Ensor who will represent New Zealand at the International Rip Curl GromSearch final.

In clean but small waves under one metre at Fitzroy Beach, New Plymouth, both Butler and Ensor finished runner-up in their respective Under-17 Divisions.

Kehu Butler and Raiha Ensor after booking their place at the International Rip Curl GromSearch final in Brazil. Photos: Col/Surf2Surf.com

As a result of their performances, the pair will head to Brazil in little over a month to represent New Zealand in the final.

The global event sees Under-17 champions from regions including Australia, USA, Chile, New Zealand, Indonesia, Europe and Brazil face off for the chance to become part of GromSearch history.

The event has grown into one of the biggest in the world, with the first International final held at Bells Beach in 2005, while 2015 marks the 12th year of the Rip Curl GromSearch.

This year's showcase will be held at Maresias Beach, Sao Paulo, Brazil from April 28 – May 3.

Butler was a stand-out performer throughout in New Plymouth, beating Dextar Muskens on two occasions. But he could not match him in the final, finishing with a 13.67 point heat total compared with Muskens' 15.

Butler missed the opportunity to represent New Zealand at the event in 2014 but defeated last year's champion Daniel Farr (Taranaki), who placed third ahead of first-time finalist Harry Macintosh (Auckland), who placed fourth.

Ensor finished runner-up to Australian Paris Whitaker, who defended her title by posting an excellent score early in the final to finish with a 12.1 point heat total.

That forced the Kiwi girls to vie for the minor placings with Ensor coming out 0.20 points ahead of Britt Kindred (Muriwai) in third and Kea Smith (Mount) in fourth.

Mount Maunganui's Kehu Butler in action at the Rip Curl GromSearch.

'I was in second toward the end of the heat,” says Ensor, 'but Britt got a good wave in the last two minutes of the final and I wasn't sure if I held second place until they announced the results at the prize giving.

'This is so cool. To have an opportunity to go over to Brazil and represent New Zealand with Kehu will be amazing. I am going to take my dad with me and I will have more time off school, but I can't wait.”

Whangamata's Dylan Preston was another surfer to defend his title, winning the Under-14 Boys Division.

Preston was the outstanding surfer throughout the event and posted a 13.3 point heat total to defeat Luke Griffin (Mount).

Caleb Cutmore (Hamilton) had to settle for third place ahead of the Mount's William Van Der Beek, who equalled his personal best result by making the final.

After three consecutive final berths and fourth placings, Georgia Wederell (Mount) claimed her maiden victory in the Under-14 Girls Division.

Wederell posted a 10.90 point heat total for the win over Piha's Gabi Paul, Grace Pevats (Whangarei) and the Mount's Toni Power.

In the Under-12 Divisions it was local Oakura surfers Tom Butland and Ariana Shewry who claimed victories.

Both finals were contested down to the final hooter. Butland posted a 12.3 point heat total to beat Jai Oakley (Christchurch), Tom Robinson (Whangarei) and James Ririnui (Mount).

Shewry posted a 10.9 point heat total to beat the Taranaki pair of Ruby Hutchieson and Kahana Ngaia, and the Mount's Maia Ensor.