The New Zealand Pro will return to the World Surf League Championship Tour in 2027. The confirmation follows the successful debut of the event at Manu Bay, Raglan, earlier this year.
The WSL and the New Zealand Government have extended their partnership to bring the world’s leading surfers back to the famous left-hand point break. The event receives support through the government’s Events Attraction Package.
Though long-regarded as one of the finest waves in the world, Raglan’s Manu Bay had never experienced the highest level of surf competition prior to the inaugural CT event held in May. Providing a lengthy left canvas that offered a solid mix of progressive high-performance surfing and traditional rail work, Manu Bay announced itself as a must-watch venue. From the perfection of reigning World Champion Yago Dora’s (BRA) approach and the forehand style masterclass delivered by Sawyer Lindblad (USA) to the historic wins from World Champions and Olympic Gold Medalists Carissa Moore (HAW) and Italo Ferreira (BRA), Raglan proved that its arrival on the CT is long overdue.
RAGLAN, NEW ZEALAND – MAY 25: Lineup at the Corona Cero New Zealand Pro on May 25, 2026 at Raglan, New Zealand. (Photo by Rambo Estrada/World Surf League)<
“The WSL is so excited to see the CT return to Raglan in 2027,” said WSL APAC President Andrew Stark. “Raglan is a truly special place, with a deep surfing heritage, world-class waves and an incredibly passionate local community, and after an amazing event in 2026, we know the athletes and fans will embrace the opportunity to experience it again.
Raglan Secures Its Place
Manu Bay hosted its first Championship Tour contest in May 2026. The long left-hand walls delivered opportunities for progressive surfing and traditional rail work.
Carissa Moore and Italo Ferreira claimed the victories. Yago Dora and Sawyer Lindblad were also among the surfers who made the most of the Raglan conditions.
WSL APAC President Andrew Stark praised the local surfing heritage, world-class waves and support from the Raglan community. New Zealand Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston also highlighted the event’s tourism and economic value.
The contest will again include two New Zealand wildcard surfers in 2027. They will earn their places through a local trials event.
JBay Remains Outside The Tour
The confirmation is excellent news for New Zealand surfing. However, it appears to close another door for Jeffreys Bay.
Raglan now has government support, a renewed agreement and a confirmed place on the 2027 schedule. Other established venues are also competing for limited positions on the Tour.
Raglan has secured its place on the 2027 Championship Tour. J-Bay remains in limbo, although the reality is even simpler. It’s probably not coming back.
The Eastern Cape has endured enough rain, cold fronts and grey skies. Mozambique offers a warmer alternative, with long beaches, tropical sunshine and the Indian Ocean doing a convincing impression of summer.
It is not exactly just up the road from St Francis Bay. However, it remains one of South Africa’s most accessible tropical escapes. It can also be fairly affordable when compared with Mauritius, Zanzibar or the Seychelles.
A Coastline With Plenty Of Choice
Mozambique stretches far beyond a single resort or beach town. Ponta do Ouro works well for travellers driving across the border, while Tofo offers a laid-back village atmosphere near Inhambane.
Further north, Vilanculos provides access to the Bazaruto Archipelago. Here, clear water, pale beaches and traditional dhow boats create a more remote island experience.
The coastline offers everything from simple self-catering cottages to smart beachfront lodges. Therefore, travellers can shape the trip around their budget instead of committing to an expensive resort package.
Barefoot Days And Fresh Seafood
Mozambique works best when the programme remains loose. Mornings begin slowly, lunch usually involves fresh fish, prawns or peri-peri chicken, and shoes quickly become unnecessary.
Swimming, snorkelling, diving, dhow trips and ocean safaris are readily available. However, sitting beneath a palm tree with nowhere urgent to be remains a perfectly good use of the day.
The dry season generally runs from May to October. This period usually brings clear skies, lower humidity and less rain. It also overlaps with the annual humpback whale migration along the Mozambican coast.
A Little Surfing
Surfers can find waves around Ponta do Ouro, Tofo, Tofinho and several more remote stretches of coastline. Tofo’s main beach can suit less experienced surfers, while Tofinho offers faster and more demanding waves. Conditions vary, so local advice remains valuable.
Warmth Without The Long Haul
Mozambique feels properly tropical without requiring a journey across the world. It offers sunshine, warm water, fresh seafood and barefoot days at prices that can remain manageable.
After another wet Eastern Cape winter, that sounds close enough.
Calibre Security has been awarded a five-year contract to monitor and respond to the St Francis Bay street camera network.
Since its introduction in 2018, the camera system has become an important part of keeping the village safe. It has helped monitor suspicious activity, supported investigations and given security teams valuable information when incidents occur. The next phase will build on that work with improved technology, dedicated monitoring and a stronger response on the ground.
The Calibre Control Room will provide around-the-clock oversight of the camera network. Calibre will also deploy a dedicated response vehicle at night to investigate incidents and conduct additional patrols.
Intersec has been awarded the contract to upgrade and replace the entire camera network.
The upgrade includes 100 additional long-range cameras, offering improved range and image clarity. It also includes six additional automatic number plate recognition cameras, three new pan-tilt-zoom cameras and nine completed camera poles.
The network currently includes 48 standard camera poles and five number plate recognition camera poles. It also has 65 pole-mounted panic buttons with two-way audio and 65 radios.
The panic buttons will be brought online progressively during the eight-week upgrade programme. These will allow members of the public to make direct contact with the Calibre Control Room and conduct a 2-way conversation with an operator when assistance is required.
The network will continue to support investigations into break-ins and other incidents. The new arrangements bring upgraded technology, continuous monitoring and an on-the-ground response together to strengthen security across St Francis Bay.
South Africans are being encouraged to help create cleaner communities during Clean-Up and Recycle SA Week from 14 to 20 September 2026.
The national campaign promotes practical action to reduce litter, improve recycling and protect rivers, beaches and public spaces. It also highlights the role every person can play in keeping the country clean.
This year’s message is simple: “Clean today, greener tomorrow. It starts with me.”
Residents, community groups, schools, businesses and local organisations can all take part. Activities may include collecting litter, separating recyclable materials and cleaning shared community spaces.
Five Important Environmental Dates
Clean-Up and Recycle SA Week includes several national and international environmental awareness days.
National River Clean-Up Day takes place on Wednesday, 16 September. The day focuses attention on rivers and waterways, which often carry litter and plastic waste towards the ocean.
National Recycling Day follows on Friday, 18 September. It encourages households and businesses to separate reusable materials from general waste.
International Coastal Clean-Up Day takes place on Saturday, 19 September. Volunteers across the country will focus on beaches and coastal areas.
The week ends with World Clean-Up Day on Sunday, 20 September. This global campaign brings communities together to remove waste from streets, parks, rivers and natural areas.
Small Actions Make a Difference
Litter affects wildlife, blocks drainage systems and reduces the appeal of public spaces. Plastic waste can also remain in the environment for many years. Therefore, regular clean-up efforts remain important throughout the year.
Residents can support the campaign by joining an organised clean-up or arranging one in their neighbourhood. They can also reduce waste by reusing suitable items and recycling whenever possible.
Participants should wear suitable clothing and gloves while collecting litter. In addition, sharp objects and hazardous materials should be handled carefully and reported when necessary.
Clean-Up and Recycle SA Week provides a clear opportunity to make a visible difference. A cleaner community begins with people taking responsibility for the spaces around them.
Kouga Local Municipality has completed its first comprehensive heritage audit, identifying close to 70 sites across the region.
The week-long project covered all nine towns in the Kouga municipal area. It focused on places linked to the region’s historical, cultural and built heritage.
The municipality’s Economic Development and Tourism Section led the project. University students also supported the municipal team during the fieldwork and helped document the sites.
Creating a Digital Heritage Record
The team developed an online programme to record detailed information about each location. This includes photographs, historical background, contextual information and the exact location of each site.
As a result, Kouga now has a structured digital database of its known heritage resources. The municipality can expand and update this database as it identifies additional sites.
Information gathered during the audit will now form part of a comprehensive heritage document. This resource will assist the municipality and other organisations with future planning, research and preservation work.
Supporting Tourism and Local Development
Kouga Executive Mayor Hattingh Bornman described the audit as an important milestone for the municipality.
“Kouga has a remarkable and diverse heritage, but we cannot protect, promote or develop what we have not properly identified and documented,” he said.
Bornman added that the audit provides the municipality with its first consolidated picture of heritage resources across Kouga.
Furthermore, the project could support tourism and local economic development. Heritage sites may eventually form part of tourism routes, educational programmes and investment initiatives. However, their historical importance will remain central to any future development.
Protecting Kouga’s Stories
The completed document will help identify sites that require further research, protection, restoration or tourism development. It could also become a practical tool for education and heritage management.
Bornman thanked the municipal team and the participating students, including students from Germany, for their contribution.
The audit marks the start of a longer process to record and preserve the places, landmarks and stories that have shaped Kouga’s identity.
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