After a pioneering year surfing in Australia, Mount Maunganui's Kehu Butler (Ngai Te Rangi) will return to New Zealand competition for the first time this year as he looks to defend his title at the 2017 Aotearoa Maori Titles in Taranaki.
The event takes place today and Sunday with the primary location being Waitara.
The Maori Titles bring together surfers from around the country for a weekend filled with culture, fun and of course a surfing competition. Manuhiri nationwide will look to topple the strong host iwi of Te Atiawa who claimed the 'Iwi of Origin' in 2016.
For Australia-based Butler, 17, the Titles represent a brief stint in New Zealand where he can travel with his family and take in a local event.
Butler returned to New Zealand earlier this month after placing 11th at the 2017 Vissla ISA World Junior Championship in Japan. Next week he flies out to Australia for another international event as the World Qualifying Series nears the year end.