CS2027 dates

Kite spot on water · New Zealand

KAI-IWI BEACH (AT MOWHANAU TOWNSHIP)

Riders have kited it in E, W, WNW.

Show on the map-39.8848, 174.8971
Works in
E, W, WNW
Nearest airport
WAGWanganui Airport, 14 km

Forecast and webcams

Before you go

Forecasts often disagree. When Windguru, ALADIN and Windy agree, it is worth going.

Tips for this spot

  • Offshore wind carries you away from land. Do not ride it without a rescue boat.
  • When a storm is coming, get out of the water and land the kite at once. Gusts before a storm are violent and a kite overhead is the highest point around.
  • New spot: ask locals about shallows, currents and where people launch.

On site

Wind and riding area

NNNENEENEEESESESSESSSWSWWSWWWNWNWNNWNESW

worksno reports

Direction the wind blows from. Based on riders' experience, not a forecast.

From riders

What you need to know

Who it suits
Intermediate

Where to launch

  • Grassy rigging areas sheltered from the windcommunity map

Parking

  • Good parking at the spotcommunity map

Getting there

  • 10-minute drive north of Wanganuicommunity map

Conditions

  • Steep chop good for jumping; W is side-onshore, WNW is onshorecommunity map

Facilities

  • Campsites and facilitiescommunity map
In riders' own words
  • „Wind: W = side onshore. WNW = onshore. E is Ok.“
  • „Suits: Intermediate.....“
  • „grass rigging areas, sheltered.“
  • „Camp grounds, facilities, good parking, grass rigging areas, sheltered.“
  • „Access: 10 minutes drive north of Wanganui.“
  • „Wind: W = side onshore. WNW = onshore. E is Ok. Water: Steep chop good for jumping.“

Photos from the area

Mowhanau Beach TA 2025-05-10
Mowhanau Beach TA 2025-05-10 · 380 m from the spot
Tom Ackroyd, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Kai Iwi Beach TA 2025-05-10 02
Kai Iwi Beach TA 2025-05-10 02 · 387 m from the spot
Tom Ackroyd, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Kai Iwi Beach TA 2025-05-10 01
Kai Iwi Beach TA 2025-05-10 01 · 388 m from the spot
Tom Ackroyd, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Wind by month

When it blows

Average wind speed 10 m above ground from NASA POWER (MERRA-2, 2001–2025). The model works on a grid of roughly 50 km; on hills and by the water the wind is often stronger and gustier.

windiest monthsaverage wind in knots, NASA POWER; below the month in m/s

Values by month
January12.1 knots · 6.2 m/s
February11.1 knots · 5.7 m/s
March10.9 knots · 5.6 m/s
April10.8 knots · 5.6 m/s
May11.9 knots · 6.1 m/s
June12.3 knots · 6.3 m/s
July12.2 knots · 6.3 m/s
August11.7 knots · 6.0 m/s
September13.0 knots · 6.7 m/s
October13.2 knots · 6.8 m/s
November12.8 knots · 6.6 m/s
December11.8 knots · 6.1 m/s

Nearby

More spots within 60 km

Been there?

Add what you know

Parking changed, a new ban, a new obstacle in the water? Tell us, we will check it and update the page.

Sources: Community map “Kitesurfing spots in NZ” (Google My Maps). Wind NASA POWER, airports OurAirports, photos Wikimedia Commons (author and licence with each photo). As of 17 October 2026. These are riders' reports; local rules change, so look around before you ride and follow local signs.

A week on the water

Kite safari in the Red Sea

8 days on a yacht from Hurghada to the islands of the northern Red Sea. Next departure 7-14 November 2026, the 2027 dates are coming soon.

See the safari

The safari is organised by Mohamed of Paradise Kitesurf Red Sea. I've known him for years and we work together.