Kite spot on water · New Zealand

Kawhia Harbour

Name: Kawhia Harbour
Address: NZ

Riders have kited it in E.

Show on the map-38.0728, 174.8174

Works in: E
Nearest airport: HLZHamilton International Airport, 51 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

worksno reports

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

From riders

What you need to know

Size of the area: Plenty of riding space, but launching can be tight.

Watch out for

Tight launch area and crowds of spectators from town.community map

Where to launch

Launch right from the town; the launch area can be tight.community map

Conditions

Very steady wind in E winds.community map

In riders' own words

„I was out in an easterly and launched directly from the township. God winds and very stable.“
„Plenty of space to kite although launching can be tight.“
„launched directly from the township. God winds and very stable. Plenty of space to kite although launching can be tight.“

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.

9.6Jan4.9

8.8Feb4.5

8.9Mar4.6

9.0Apr4.6

10.0May5.1

10.7Jun5.5

10.7Jul5.5

10.3Aug5.3

10.9Sep5.6

11.3Oct5.8

10.6Nov5.5

10.3Dec5.3

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

Values by month

January	9.6 knots · 4.9 m/s
February	8.8 knots · 4.5 m/s
March	8.9 knots · 4.6 m/s
April	9.0 knots · 4.6 m/s
May	10.0 knots · 5.1 m/s
June	10.7 knots · 5.5 m/s
July	10.7 knots · 5.5 m/s
August	10.3 knots · 5.3 m/s
September	10.9 knots · 5.6 m/s
October	11.3 knots · 5.8 m/s
November	10.6 knots · 5.5 m/s
December	10.3 knots · 5.3 m/s

Nearby

More spots within 60 km

Kawhia beachWater · 4 km

Been there?

Add what you know

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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.