Watch for swimmers in holiday season as Paihia is tourist destination. Not a surf beach. Not good to kite after big rain storm, dirty water and lots of logs come down the river.
At high tide rocks and road at river end can be a problem for newbie kiters. Not a lot of beach area to setup at high tide, usual setup on grass by car parks past toilets. Lots of tourist to watch out for during summer months. After entering the water try and keep past the swimming buoys. Good sand, bit shelly after a storm.
N to NNE best for clean winds, E can get disturbed wind gusts from islands. Area has mainly W to SW winds don't get tempted to kite the river, current and oyster shells.