Surfing Waves

Generally the south island seems to have the best swell... Or in the north then Raglan or Taranaki is best for winter. However, as we're getting closer to summer I heard that Northland can be good.
Maybe I heard wrong?

Since I've seen here it's been nothing but southerly swells. When or will these northerly swells arrive?
Many spots too far to regularly get to without a 4x4 too.

Tropical cyclones only happen about once a year so I guess the reputation can't be coming from that? And I assume the Gisborne area is similar...?

Whats going on?!

I am curious how you figure that out , I think you might be barking up the wrong tree!!!
There is a handy little New Zealand surf guide book out that you could buy. It might help and like everywhere inthe internet world there are surf forecasts.
The South Island west coast is smashed by every thing that gets past the bottom of Australia generated by Antarctica and the roaring 40s with no real access south of Greyhound, it is Fjord land, contend with Ocras and great white sharks.
The east coast south Island is great but the swell making storms are crossing to South America can be brilliant or huge or both or flat and can have epic on shore winds.

North Island west coast gets the same SW swell cleaned up and pointed at all parts of the west coast, Taranaki has its round coast taking swell from everywhere, .
There often more than two cyclones per year between Queensland and Fiji we have booked seven for this year.

NZed is the land to make your own discoveries. so I am not telling over here on my side of the ditch if I told you I would be Pakeha pancake on my next trip over there.

Also much access is through private farm lands so you need to know someone or make a polite request of the farmer. These spots are very protected because careless individual actions have stopped access.

Search and you shall find, the weather if you don't like it, wait a couple of hours

What's your surfing ability and where in NZ are you located / able to surf?

Muriwai / Maori bay is likely going to be ok in a few days. Likely 3-5ft depending on day and tide.

Usually the Auckland west coast turns good around nov-feb with smaller swell and off shore winds.
Auckland east coast usually has a few cyclones around March-June

Yeah I can be anywhere on the north island but it does have to be the north island for work related stuff.

Yep I know Taranaki pretty well, wairarapa and west coast Wellington. I've made discoveries in those places I'm happy with. Maybe I should go back there.

Sounds to me if you're saying muriwai could be good, that these West coast breaks are normally just having more breaks in the wind. Perhaps what I can do is keep out of the way of Auckland surfers, keep somewhere remote and just keep an eye out for a break in the wind.
Watching a break in the wind might work better than trying for North facing spots as the swell isn't wrapping around.
Hopefully those winds will switch soon on the west coast. Yeah, it's changeable for sure

Thanks
Wishing all for a nice Cyclone season next year.