Goldpine
Surfing for Farmers: Waves of Change
What began as a simple idea — bringing a bit of ocean therapy to New Zealand’s farmers — has created a wave of change. Inspired by the documentary Resurface, which showed how surfing helped U.S. soldiers cope with PTSD, Gisborne farmer Stephen Thomson saw an opportunity to help fellow farmers in a similar way.
What he couldn’t have predicted was just how much the Surfing for Farmers initiative would take off - expanding from a single beach to 25 locations nationwide, farmers all over Aotearoa now have the chance to get off their farms, clear their minds, and find some relaxation through surfing. Stephen had humble expectations when he started Surfing for Farmers eight years ago. “I thought it might last one or two summers, but over the years it’s grown, not only in the number of locations, but in the number of attendees at each location. It’s got much bigger than I thought,” he said. For one night each week from November to March, farmers get to trade the paddock for the beach and enjoy a laidback surf lesson and surf session, followed by a yarn and a barbecue. It provides the perfect break between hard work on the farm without adding another cost or commitment to an already busy schedule.
Providing farmers with a sense of community and outlets for stress relief, especially in a job as demanding as farming, is incredibly important, Stephen said. “Everybody’s job is tough, no matter what they do in life. But farmers live and breathe farming, 24/7. There aren’t many jobs where you literally don’t leave your office at the end of the day. You generally live amongst it and struggle to switch it off,” he said. “Surfing for Farmers is about creating an opportunity where they can leave the farm and have a bit of time for themselves.”
The feedback on Surfing for Farmers has been overwhelmingly positive, Stephen explained, with attendees expressing how much better they feel after being out in the water compared to constantly looking at and thinking about their farms. The team often ask farmers how they feel going into the water, and then how they feel coming out, and the results are always good.
Even small improvements in mood and outlook can make a big difference. “We like to ask people, ‘how are you feeling out of ten?’ as they go in, then ask them again as they come out, and they’re pretty much always feeling better. It’s all about moving the needle,” Stephen said.
Rather than targeting only those farmers dealing with major depression or mental health issues, the program is designed to benefit everyone by simply making them feel happier.
“It’s about taking any farmer and just making sure they go home a bit happier than when they arrived. Generally, that’s the case, week in, week out. They don’t openly tell us too much but the farmers go home with a massive smile on their faces and that is all the feedback we need.”
While some of the most memorable moments for Stephen have come from watching the program grow, he says one memory he thinks about often was when he saw, first-hand, how Surfing for Farmers helped in a tough time. In the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023, but before the beaches were closed, they were able to run a Surfing for Farmers event in Tolaga Bay. This event saw local farmers come together in the wake of the devastating storm and find a way to de-stress together. “Our coordinator in Tolaga Bay, Henry Hindmarsh – who was kayaking over the top of his fences as his farm was that flooded – managed to get the word out, even though we didn’t have any operating phones, and he just said ‘stuff it, we’re going surfing’,” Stephen said.
“They actually ran a Surfing for Farmers two days after. Cyclone Gabrielle. The fact that they realised they could go surfing to chill out, when they couldn’t do anything because their farms were so flooded, and they took what we’d been trying to teach them and did it – to me that’s ultimate.”
Surfing for Farmers has grown through word-of-mouth and sponsorships, with some trustees having jumped on board because they understood first-hand the therapeutic benefits of the ocean and wanted to share the opportunity with their farming communities. The board has grown from three to seven members, Stephen said. “We advertised nationally and got about 30 applicants. I’m pretty stoked we’ve grown our board, it shows that people want to help us out. They think our brand is awesome, and they want to be involved. So that was cool.”
While Surfing for Farmers has no official partnerships, several sponsors have also joined up to ride the wave. These include Bayleys Real Estate, Beef and Lamb NZ, Jarden Wealth, Ballance Agri-Nutrients, Rabobank and Fonterra, alongside hundreds of local legend sponsors. “Not only do they give financially, but they also create awareness of what we’re up to, encourage their clients, and help in the regions. It’s a collaboration.” The sponsorships are vital for the long-term sustainability of Surfing for Farmers. Stephen noted that the program currently spends all of its sponsorship funds each season, so maintaining and growing financial support is key to making sure Surfing for Farmers continues for many more summers to come.
Looking ahead, Stephen says the primary goal is to ensure the program remains sustainable and continues to evolve in a way that keeps farmers excited and engaged. This could involve introducing new activities and events, like national competitions or regional exchanges, to change things up and avoid getting stuck doing the same thing. However, the team has to be careful not to overextend or burn out the volunteers who make it all possible.
“It’s about keeping it fun, keeping it fresh, keeping people coming back, and using surfing as the driver. We could do national competitions, or maybe mix it up and have people from the Taranaki come to Gisborne, look around a few farms while they’re here, then we go for a surf and have a little comp. It’s just at the end of the day, we’re all volunteers, and we want to make sure we don’t burn our volunteers out,” Stephen said.
The Surfing for Farmers initiative has become a true success story. What started as a simple concept turned into a meaningful, community-based experience for hundreds of farmers across New Zealand. Continued growth at Surfing for Farmers will be the key to seeing many more farmers reap the rewards of a roll in the waves.
