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Mahia Spit surf break

Mahia Spit surfForecast / Gisborne and Mahia / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 pm Monday 20 Apr 2026 NZST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Mahia Spit surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Mahia Spit sea temperature is
16.9° C
(Which is slightly cooler than normal)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Mahia Spit this week:

The surf forecast for Mahia Spit over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Apr 21) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 8s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Mahia Spit in the next 16 days are 1.9m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Apr 24) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 5.0m 11s period and expected on Wednesday (Apr 22) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Tue 21st Apr)3.5ft (1.1m) 8s
Best Surf12AM (Fri 24th Apr)6ft (1.9m) 9s
Most Powerful12AM (Fri 24th Apr)6ft (1.9m) 9s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Mahia Spit over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 37mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Mon afternoon, gales from the SSW by Tue night).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Mon
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
3
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.1
ENE
1.1
ENE
0.9
ENE
0.9
ENE
1
E
0.9
E
0.9
E
0.8
E
1
E
0.7
E
1.9
SE
1.6
SE
0.1
NE
0.1
SE
0.2
E
0.2
E
0.1
E
0.2
E
0.2
E
0.3
NE
0.6
S
Period(s) (?)98811111111108109988889910616
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)18015387191244191188130144102586363235526750
Wind
(km/h)
10
NNE
5
W
25
W
30
W
25
WSW
65
SSW
50
S
40
S
25
S
25
SSW
15
SSW
10
WSW
10
SSW
5
WSW
5
N
20
NE
15
NNW
5
W
10
ESE
10
WSW
5
NW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
oncross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
offcross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
offoffcross-
off
cross-
off
glasscross-
on
oncross-
on
cross-
off
cross-
on
cross-
off
cross
High Tide
/ height (m)
8:16PM
1.68
8:40AM
1.60
9:10PM
1.69
9:35AM
1.58
10:05PM
1.68
10:31AM
1.55
11:01PM
1.64
11:28AM
1.50
11:58PM
1.59
12:27PM
1.45
12:56AM
1.54
1:27PM
1.41
1:54AM
1.49
Low Tide
/ height (m)
2:36AM
0.03
2:56PM
-0.01
3:31AM
0.03
3:51PM
0.01
4:27AM
0.05
4:46PM
0.05
5:24AM
0.08
5:42PM
0.09
6:21AM
0.12
6:39PM
0.14
7:18AM
0.15
7:37PM
0.19
8:15AM
0.18
Mon
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Sunrise--6:41--6:41--6:43--6:43--6:45--6:46--6:47
Sunset5:32--5:31--5:30--5:29--5:28--5:25--5:24--
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
clear
rain showers
heavy rain
light rain
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
Rain (mm)
-71-81542-------------
Temp. °C181714151512131414141413131313151515151515
Feels °C (?)17159912-124781012111110101214131414
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Quick surf report for Mahia Spit:

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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Mahia Spit surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


Information about the Mahia Spit Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Mahia Spit provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Mahia Spit can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Mahia Spit surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Mahia Spit) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Mahia Spit may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Mahia Spit is 48 km (30 miles) from the city of Gisborne. If you plan a holiday in Gisborne and Mahia, look for hotels and other accommodation in Gisborne. Gisborne has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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