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Awaroa River (Waikato River tributary)

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Coordinates: 37°18′7″S 174°45′30″E / 37.30194°S 174.75833°E / -37.30194; 174.75833
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Awaroa River
Awaroa River (Waikato River tributary) is located in New Zealand
Awaroa River (Waikato River tributary)
Location
CountryNew Zealand
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationnear Karioitahi
 • elevation100 m (330 ft)
Mouth 
 • location
Waikato River
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length12 km (7.5 mi)
Basin size25.06 km2 (9.68 sq mi)

The Awaroa River is a short river in the Waikato District of New Zealand's North Island. It flows east from its source in the dunes near Karioitahi Beach and Lake Puketi, then south from Waiuku joining with the Aka Aka Stream before reaching the Waikato River in its tidal reaches close to Motutieke Island.[1]

Despite being only 12 km (7.5 mi) long, its Māori name to English translates to 'long river'.[2] It is a name used by 33 other locations, including two in Northland (Awaroa River, the same length, and the other, rather longer, flowing into the Wairoa River), 9 of them in Waikato Region (two other Waikato tributaries not far south of this river,[3] which the Regional Council distinguishes from the others with the appendage 'Waiuku',[4] one flowing into Lake Whangape, the other into Lake Waahi, another stream flowing into the Piako River, Awaroa River flowing into Kawhia Harbour,[5] two Awaroa Streams in Coromandel, one flowing into Kennedy Bay,[3] the other a tributary of the Opitonui River)[6] and a river north of Kaiteriteri.[3]

The river is the Waikato's 11th most polluted out of 26.[7]

In the 1850s the Awaroa was an important link in the trade between Waikato and Auckland. It was navigated by waka and produce and/or canoes portaged to Manukau Harbour, along Te Pai o Kaiwaka portage, near Waiuku.[8] A canal or tramway was considered as early as 1850 for bringing coal from Huntly[9] and again in 1855.[10] A 1921 report also considered a canal or railway, but also rejected them as too expensive for the likely traffic.[11]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Awaroa River, Waikato - NZ Topo Map". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  2. ^ "1000 Māori place names - Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori - Māori Language Week NZHistory online". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "New Zealand Gazetteer: Search for Place Names". Land Information New Zealand (LINZ). Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  4. ^ NIWA (June 2015). "Refined classification of land characteristics to assist economic modelling" (PDF). Waikato Regional Council.
  5. ^ "Awaroa River at Hauturu Road Bridge". www.lawa.org.nz. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Minimum Flows for Ecosystem Health in Selected Coromandel Streams" (PDF). Environment Waikato. 2007.
  7. ^ "Awaroa River at Otaua Rd Bridge". www.waikatoregion.govt.nz. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  8. ^ "The Awaroa. (from Our Own Correspondent.)". Daily Southern Cross. 27 March 1863. p. 3. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  9. ^ "The New Zealander". 9 November 1850. p. 2. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Waiuku And Awaroa Canal". Daily Southern Cross. 2 February 1867. p. 6. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  11. ^ "AtoJs Online — Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives — 1921 Session I-II — H-15a AUCKLAND CANALS AND INLAND WATERWAYS COMMISSION. (REPORT OF THE)". atojs.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
[edit]

37°18′7″S 174°45′30″E / 37.30194°S 174.75833°E / -37.30194; 174.75833

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