Community, youth & whanau
Group & youth surf programs
Not a school? Same standard. Youth trusts, holiday programmes, churches, iwi and whanau groups get the identical documented safety system, qualified instructors and all-gear-provided format, shaped around your group.
Who books this
Built for the people who look after young people
- Youth trusts and social services: confidence-building days with a wellbeing focus, clear per-student pricing and structured sessions.
- Holiday programmes: a ready-made highlight day, fully supervised in the water so your ratios stay comfortable on the beach.
- Churches and community groups: camps and beach days for all ages, shaped around what your group wants from the day.
- Iwi and community groups: your group, your day; we bring the gear, instructors and water safety.
- Sports clubs: cross-training and team-culture days that flatten hierarchies fast.
- All ages welcome
- Small crews to full cohorts
- From $22 per person
Same safety spine
The school-grade safety system, for every group
Every group program runs under the same documented, WorkSafe-compliant safety system as our school work: qualified and vetted instructors, stated in-water ratios, documented RAMS available for your funder or committee, and a written weather policy. If your organisation reports to a board or funder, our paperwork makes that easy. Details on the safety page.
Group questions
What group leaders ask
Do you work with youth groups that are not schools?
Yes. Youth trusts, holiday programmes, church and community groups, iwi and whanau groups all book the same programs with the same documented safety system. We adapt the paperwork to your organisation's requirements.
Can you cater for mixed ages in one group?
Yes. We split mixed groups into ability-and-age bands with the right ratio for each, so eight-year-olds and eighteen-year-olds both get a session pitched to them.
Is funding support available for community groups?
Intermittent subsidies can be applied by us on full-day programs and our Overnight Camps in Mangawhai. Many of our community groups fund days through local grants and trusts, which has no bearing on our subsidies. We provide the proposals, safety documentation and outcome statements funders ask for, usually same day.
Can the adults get in the water too?
Absolutely, and we encourage it. Leaders and parents joining the session set the tone for nervous kids, and nothing builds group trust like everyone wiping out together. Tell us your adult numbers and we'll include them in the plan.
Do you run sessions during the school holidays?
Yes. Holiday programmes are a big part of what we do, from one-off highlight days to a session every week of the holidays. Whilst we primarily run our groups during school term days, weekends and holidays are also available pending bookings.
Can we turn a group day into an overnight?
Easily. Groups of 6 to 40 can add a night or more at the Te Arai Eco Pods or the Mangawhai Surf Lodge through our small group surf camps: accommodation and activities from $139 per person per night.
What groups say
Reviews from groups and youth organisations
The instructors were amazing, professional and energetic. They managed to get some of our reluctant students to get into the water and try it out... good value for money and would highly recommend to other groups.Matt Down, Deputy Principal Glen Massey School
Aotearoa Surf has a special way of relating to children of a range of abilities and backgrounds. Students who were apprehensive or nervous to attend this day ended up having a great time.Natalie Epsom, Intermediate Team Leader Mangawhai Beach School
They consistently demonstrate a high level of professionalism and customer safety.Mike Fergusen Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguard Service
Bring your crew to the beach
Tell us who is coming and what you want the day to do for them. We will shape the rest.