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PAKU VIEWS ISSUE 3 SPRING/SUMMER 2011-12
Barry MacCulloch was among the frst people
to surf waves at Tairua Beach in 1972. How was
Tairua different then? “It was more challenging
because you had no one to gauge where you
are in the water”, recalls Barry. “Defnitely more
frightening on the big days because if you ever felt
out of your depth–you were on your own. The way
Tairua Beach is, it’s an unforgiving place to surf
and back then we weren’t experienced surfers.”
“When Willy Webster and I got here the only other
local surfer was Peter Homan. Terry and John
Bright would come over for weekend surfng
from Thames (Terry would eventually move here
permanently). Also Ian Pye, whose parents owned
the campground and shop at Hot Water Beach and
later moved here”.
Above: Apart from stints overseas and time out of the water with injuries, there’s
not been many weeks when surf in Tairua goes unridden by Barry. At 56, he’s
still ft and formidable in the water and just three years ago he placed 3rd in the
country for the Over 45 division and 2nd in the Over 50s. Photo Luke Millen
Many people come to Tairua because of the pull of the ocean. Some are
boaties, others simply observe the ocean, and then there are the surfers.
The surfers began arriving about 40 years ago and pretty much had the waves to themselves. A second
generation arrived, and were brought to the sea by their fathers. After enough hours sitting on the beach
watching their dads, these kids soon had surf boards of their own.
Today we are now on to the third generation of surfers. Up to 20 grommets (young surfers), including
plenty of girls, can be seen in the water together on Friday evening after school. Supported by the “oldies”,
these young surfers are learning to master the challenging Tairua waves, and making their mark in the NZ
surfng circle. - Keryn Drummond.
Above: Barry and Ian Pye, back in the day.
Below: Luke Millen and Barry having fun on a small day.
They probably both tried to snake each other, but this
time LM comes out on top claims his prize, a dribbly
one foot straight-hander. Photos Viv Attwell.
A shag checks the surf on an early, picture perfect,
east coast morning. Photo Luke Millen