2012 is set to be another stellar year for Surfing Taranaki, one of New Zealand's most active and successful surfing organisations. For the past two years they have hosted the only ASP World Tour event in this part of the world, the Women´s Dream Tour featuring local legend Paige Hareb and this year they not only plan to repeat this enormous feat, but also build upon the surf festival to make it more inclusive by adding new events and competitions for kids, men and masters as well and re-naming it the TSB Bank New Zealand Surf Festival.

Beginning Easter weekend 2012 and running through the first week of the school holidays (April 6th to 15th), this New Plymouth based festival will also feature a beach carnival, live music, films and entertainment throughout.

As a prelude to these April events, Surfing Taranaki today confirmed that they are also now ready to run New Zealand's only Big Wave Invitational surfing competition. Such spectacles take place in many locations around the world, one of the most famous and long standing being Hawaii's annual Eddie Aikau Memorial Competition. "Although by no means are we attempting to emulate Waimea Bay´s Eddie Aikau Memorial competition, we have taken some inspiration from this event and hope to create our own little bit of magic right here in Taranaki for New Zealander's to take part in and enjoy¨says Craig Williamson, Executive Officer of Surfing Taranaki.

"Our Big Wave Invitational is part of the new-look NZ Surf Festival, but because it requires very specific climatic conditions and therefore a very long waiting period, it will take place either before or after the festival itself. That said, we are hoping it will act as a precursor to the main events and will give everyone something to get excited about right away" adds Mike Hareb, the organisation's President.

This stand alone competition will be held at a surfbreak named Bog Works, 300m off the coast near the centre of New Plymouth CBD at some stage within a 24 week waiting period window beginning February 7th 2012, when conditions are such that there is at least a 4 metre swell with an off-shore wind. All big wave surfers in New Zealand are encouraged to register their interest in competing ASAP, 24 of whom will be selected to battle the elements and secure their share of a $5000 prize purse.

2010 New Zealand senior champion and Taranaki local Jarred Hancox, one of the favourites to win this inaugural Big Wave event is feeling confident about his chances of cashing in should the right conditions occur for it to take place, ¨I think my chances will be high if I am in tune with my equipment and the ocean on the day, as I've done a lot of time out at Bog Works. My experience in big waves includes 3 trips to the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii during their winter where I have surfed Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach many times (which is like Bogworks on steroids), and I've also been out Pipeline when its maxing out on the 3rd reef, and some other big waves spots also over there.

Every NZ winter I go to Indonesia, and surf 10-15ft G-Land and 10ft+ Scar Reef, these are some of the heaviest waves in Indo.¨

Go to www.nzsurffestival.com or www.surfingtaranaki.org for more information.