Wairoa River (Northland)
| Wairoa River | |
|---|---|
 Wairoa and Wairua rivers (blue) and the Kaihū, Manganui and Mangakāhia tributaries | |
.png)  Location of the Wairoa River in New Zealand | |
| Location | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Northland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Near Tangiteroria |
| Mouth | |
• location | Kaipara Harbour |
| Length | 96 km (60 mi) |
The Wairoa River in Northland, New Zealand, runs for 96 kilometres (60 mi)[1] through the central part of the Northland Peninsula into the Kaipara Harbour.[2] It has a catchment of 3,650 square kilometres (1,410 sq mi), the largest in Northland.[3] The name Wairoa is Māori for 'long water' (wai 'water', roa 'long').[4] It is the most common place name in New Zealand,[5] and this river is sometimes called the Northern Wairoa River to distinguish it.[1][2]
The Wairoa River is formed by the confluence of the Mangakāhia River and the Wairua River just north of Tangiteroria.[6] It runs south-west to Dargaville, then south-east for 40 kilometres in a wide navigable estuary that flows into the northern end of the Kaipara Harbour.[2] The river has virtually no gradient and is tidal for most of its length.[1] Tributaries include (from its origin to its mouth) the Waiotama River, Manganui River, Awakino River and Kaihū River.[6]
In the 19th century, the river's swamplands near Dargaville were the most popular location for kauri gum digging.[7]
The water in the river is degraded because of pastoral farming that takes place in much of its catchment.[6]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Egarr, G. D.; Egarr, J. H. (1981). New Zealand Recreational River Survey. Part II Summaries of North Island rivers (PDF). Water & Soil Miscellaneous Publication no. l4. National Water and Soil Conservation Organisation. p. 9. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 Discover New Zealand – A Wises Guide (9th ed.). Wises Publications. 1994. p. 76.
- ↑ "Rivers and streams". Northland Regional Council. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ Reed, A. W. (2016). Māori Place Names: Their Meanings and Origins. Revised by Peter Dowling. (4th ed.). Oratia Media. p. 136. ISBN 978-0-947506-08-7.
- ↑ Reed, A. W. (2002). The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names. Reed. p. 558. ISBN 0-7900-0761-4.
- 1 2 3 "Northern Wairoa River". Land, Air, Water Aotearoa. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ Hayward, Bruce W. (1989). Kauri Gum and the Gumdiggers. The Bush Press. p. 44. ISBN 0-908608-39-X.