It seemed only fitting following on from our conversation with Malibu that we sit down with Phil McCabe. At the time of our interview, back in 2016, Phil was leading KASM (Kiwi's Against Seabed Mining) into yet another battle against Trans-Tasman Resources, who were reapplying for a permit to mine the seabed in South Taranaki. Phil's work over the years has inspired us as both surfers and residents of Raglan, living and growing in this place we are so lucky to call home. It's people like Phil who remind us that as surfers, we experience the changes of the ocean first-hand. And if we want to continue experiencing those beautiful lefts in all their glory, we have to stand up and fight for them.
A conversation with Malibu Hamilton about Raglan, surfing, and the activism that was inspired by a passion and will to protect the waves of Aotearoa. Our conversation with him that day steered the column down a new path, where we began to explore some of the local environmental initiatives and seek out those behind them. As we reshare the next few columns, consider this... what do the waves mean to you? How far are you willing to go to protect them?
Mike Court is one of the original trailblazers of surfing in New Zealand. He was the first to start doing ding repairs back in 1962, he introduced the Billabong brand into NZ and he started up The Hamilton Point Boardriders Club with a few of the other Original surfers of Manu Bay. The Boardriders has since been renamed, more aptly, to The Raglan Point Boardriders and continues today. We were lucky enough to catch Courty out in Raglan one day, where he provided endless stories and an incredible photobook of memories.
In 1973 Don Wilson opened the first surf shop in Raglan, called Wilson Surfboards. The evolution of surf in Raglan does not surprise Don. “After Endless Summer, we all knew Raglan was going to be famous.” Raglan is now home to a buzzing community of shapers. A collective, ran out of mini factories, garages and backyards. Independently dependent on one thing, the surf.
Piecing together the puzzle of Raglan’s surf history uncovered names and stories that some thought were all but lost. Each week of searching brought on new names and new adventures, some added to the story, some it a new twist. As the stories unravelled we had to backtrack and give credit where credit was due–this one involves the historic day that Manu Bay, “The Point”, was first surfed.
Butch Walters is the first name engraved on the Men's Junior's Point Board Riders trophy, which he won back in 1964. As of the summer of 2015, he could still be seen in the water at Manu Bay, riding his longboard. When we sat down with him, not only did he share his story and fond memories of surfing in Raglan, he pulled out boxes of slides, old photos of Raglan Town, Ngarunui Beach and of course surfing at Manu Bay.
