I had a brilliant sail at Orewa last Saturday. It was great at about 2-3pm with everyone racing around the shallows at low tide. Everyone was very well behaved.

I was hugely disappointed with some kiters the previous Sunday though. I wasn't sailing, but watching my kids take part in the Sunday morning surf club activities. I was also noticing how the life guards had an absolute struggle keeping kiters out of the swimming area. I watched as some kiters came screaming through the shallows barely missing the kids. One wog with a black kite with a few bright blue streaks (not a slingshot) went into the swimming area in the shallows. He turned around when the life guards chased him, but within minutes he did the same thing again! These are the guys who are going to get us banned from Orewa.

I was talking to the chief life guard, who told me they would make a good effort to get kitesurfing completely banned from Orewa if it carries on like that.

Come on guys! Stay away from the swimmers and stay out of the demarkated swimmers area, even if there are no swimmers. For those who couldn't figure it out, that is the area between the buoys in front of the life guards building.

My friend just joined Orewa lifeguards, they are really pissed with riders going between flags and I am not surprised. Its such a complete joke cos we have the whole corner and out to sea and they even put loads of effort into getting swimmers out of the area we kite in!!

maybe euros that have never seen swimming flags before? Everyone put the effort in to explain to anyone seen going there

I saw that same guy kite straight through the swimming zone last Sunday too. I caught up with him shortly after and told him that a lot of effort has gone into giving us a decent zone and the lifeguards have even put special signs on the beach telling kiters to keep out of the flagged zone. The guy didn't speak very good English, but got the message. I don't think he did it intentionally - just stooopid!! There's been quite a few learners flying close to the swimming buoys too - I think kiters who have been around a while need to 'politely' tell them to go down the other end, it's too easy to get dragged into the swimmers area if you don't know what you're doing.

i agree, if u c somone behaving bad tellem, and if push comes to shove lets bac eachother up, im not talkin beatings but who knows.

Why don't we have on this bloody Orewa spot, a map with the authorized kite zone and the non authorized kite zone, simple like that?

It is much more easy to understand (for the tourists) than a kiwi kitesurfer sometimes lol

My 2 cents.

It is simply
"don't ride between the red and yellow flags when they are out" because it is a safe zone for mostly young swimmers

it is such a small area - but a few still ride through it! and it is only around in summer at weekends/school holidays..

you are also not allowed to surf in it, windsurf in it, sail in it, take a boat in it..