Radio broadcaster Jay Reeves, performing commentary for the event as well as competing, won the male championship with a throw of 51m.
Australian Abbey McDonald won the female championships with a throw of 48m, having thrown a competition record of 72m in her heat.
First prize in both categories was a trip to Scotland to represent New Zealand at the World Stone Skimming Championships.
Over 300 competitors and spectators filled the banks of the lake, eager to get a glimpse of the crowning of the first male and female national champions in New Zealand stone skimming history.
While much of the Upper Clutha was shrouded in fog, the championships on Lake Hāwea Station took place against a backdrop of blue skies and warm sunshine, an important reminder of the beneficiary of the event’s fundraising, Melanoma NZ.
The event began with a ceremonial first skim by Melanoma NZ representative and skin cancer survivor Chris Flannery.
Mr Flannery described himself as "nervous" to be throwing the first stone, but delighted with the turnout in support of Melanoma NZ.
"It’s a pretty good because everyone’s touched with it somehow, you know ... family, friends, auntie, uncles, whatever it is, but I’m quite surprised about the crowd size, that’s for sure," Mr Flannery said.
The competition’s founder and spokesman Richie Laming was thrilled to see how the event had come together after months of hard work.
"We’ve shown that not only are we a nation of stone skimmers, but we can turn it into a spectacle as well, and we now have a platform for stone skimming in New Zealand.
"The event has crowned the first ever female and male national champions of stone skimming and we’ve raised over $30,000 for Melanoma New Zealand."
