Kai Iwi is a rural community west of Whanganui in New Zealand's North Island. It lies close to SH 3, approximately halfway between Whanganui and Waitotara. The population centre is at Kai Iwi Beach, also called Mowhanau. The area was settled by Europeans in the 1880s. Other than farming, the community's largest industry is its honey factory, which was founded in 2003.