Tauranga Kayaker Tim Taylor is today paddling down Stewart Island's east coast after crossing Foveaux Strait on Saturday.

He spent Waitangi Day ashore at Waituna Bay.

Tim Taylor.

Kayaking around Stewart Island is expected to take about four days, from where he will head for Fiordland.

He told the Southland Times at Bluff that he's now about a month behind schedule on his mission to be the first person to kayak round New Zealand in a single voyage.

He's had to wait ashore several times while bad weather passed.

Tim left Tauranga on November 27.