Surfing: New Zealand surfer, Pāpāmoa's Levi Stewart second in Aotearoa Maori Titles, Taranaki

Pāpāmoa's Levi Stewart finished second at the Maori surfing nationals in Taranaki. Photo / Dominika Zielinska

When you've done all you can in a closely-fought final there is no reason to mad at yourself.

That's how Pāpāmoa-based Ngati Awa surfer Levi Stewart feels after the weekend's Bayleys Real Estate Aotearoa Maori Titles in Taranaki, where there was plenty of action, pumping surf and light sea breezes.

Stewart, who was eyeing the Open Men's title at the nationals previously held by Fellow local surfer Kehu Butler, was second in the Open Men's division - but he had no qualms about his performance.

That title was instead taken out by Oakura's Bachelor Tipene who, along with Waitara's Zhana Hutchieson claiming her third straight title in the Open Women's Division, helped Te Atiawa claim the Iwi of Origin award.

Stewart says the final was tight and he had no problems coming second to his "good mate".

Tipene posted a 15.70 point heat total in the final after a near perfect 8.93 point ride on his first wave that pushed him out into the lead and eventually the win.

Stewart, who was the No 1 seed and New Zealand representative, finished second in the final to Tipene, finishing with a 14.5 point heat total. Chris Malone (Raglan) was third ion a 14.2 point heat total.

Stewart said waves were good over the weekend and he had done everything he could in the competition so he couldn't "be mad" at himself.

"We had a really close final ... I don't mind losing like that," Stewart says.

Stewart says he loved the weekend, being able to catch up with everyone and take in the cultural aspect of the competition, which he believes adds a bit more meaning to this contest over others.

"It was awesome, I had a really good weekend, the waves were good all weekend and a good mate won it.

"The highlight is catching up with everyone and the cultural side of it all."

Next up for the New Zealand representative is a national competition in the Hawke's Bay, which he hopes to take out in a bid to finish first in the New Zealand rankings.

This will be his last competition of the year before he hits the international circuits from January.

Meanwhile, Stewart wasn't the only Western Bay surfer who claimed a prize with Mount Maunganui's Darren Kiwi winning the talent-laden Over 45 Men's Division that included Maioha Kelly (Raglan), Jason Matthews (Taranaki) and Pipi Ngaia (Taranaki).

Kiwi looked extremely sharp in the finals surfing with exceptional speed and flare to finish with a 15.1 point heat total.

For a third straight year, the prestigious Aotearoa Maori Titles was staged along the striking Taranaki coastline crowning 11 champions.

Local results at Aotearoa Maori Titles:
First place Over 45 Men's Division: Mount Maunganui's Darren Kiwi, 15.1
Second place Open Men's Final: Papamoa's Levi Stewart