Ruatoria is a town in the Waiapu Valley of the Gisborne Region in the northeastern corner of New Zealand's North Island. The town was originally known as Cross Roads, and was named Ruatorea in 1913, from the Māori Rua-a-Tōrea. In 1925 the name was changed to "Ruatoria", although some texts retain the original spelling.
The Waiapu River is a river in the Gisborne District of the North Island of New Zealand, with a total length of approximately 130 kilometres (81 mi). Found in the north-east of the Waiapu Valley, it flows north-east from the joining of the Mata River and the Tapuaeroa River, then passes by Ruatoria before reaching the Pacific Ocean at Rangitukia. Other tributaries of the Waiapu River include the Mangaoporo, Poroporo, Wairoa, Maraehara rivers, and the Paoaruku stream. It is the most well known river in the region, and lies within the rohe (territory) of Ngāti Porou, the largest iwi on the East Coast, and second largest in New Zealand. The area was the site of hostilities during the New Zealand Wars from June to October in 1865, both between Pākehā and Māori, and between factions of Ngāti Porou.
The Raukumara Range lies north of Gisborne, near East Cape in New Zealand's North Island. It forms part of the North Island's main mountain chain, which runs north-northeast from Wellington to East Cape, and is composed primarily of Cretaceous greywacke, argillites, siltstones and sandstones. An epoch of the New Zealand geologic time scale lasting from 95.2 to 86.5 Mya is named the Raukumara Epoch after the range.
Hicks Bay is a bay and coastal area in the Gisborne District of the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated 150 km east of Opotiki and 186 km north of Gisborne city, along State Highway 35 between Potaka and Te Araroa. The area is named after Zachary Hickes, second-in-command of James Cook's Endeavour, which sailed along the East Cape on 31 October 1769.
The Mata River is a river of the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It flows northeast from the slopes of Mount Arowhana in the Raukumara Range to join with the Tapuaeroa River close to the settlement of Ruatoria, in doing so forming the Waiapu River, which reaches the Pacific Ocean near Rangitukia, 10 kilometres (6 mi) south of East Cape.
Rangitukia is a small settlement 10 kilometres south of East Cape in the northeast of New Zealand's North Island. It is located close to the mouth of the Waiapu River.
Mount Raukumara is the northernmost major peak in the Raukumara Range in the northeast of New Zealand's North Island. Part of the backbone of the range, which forms part of a line of mountains extending across much of the North Island, 1343 metre (4404 ft) Raukumara is the third-highest peak in the range. It is clearly visible from a great distance at sea, being located only 25 kilometres from both Cape Runaway and East Cape.
Waiau River is a river in the Gisborne Region of New Zealand. It has its headwaters in the same area of hill country to the east of the Raukumara Range as the Mata River, flowing firstly north, then east to become a tributary of the Hikuwai River.
The Ihungia River is a river of the northeastern North Island of New Zealand. It flows north from its source inland from Te Puia Springs, joining with the Mata River 15 kilometres (9 mi) southwest of Ruatoria.
The Karakatuwhero River is a river of New Zealand. It is located in the Gisborne Region in the northeast the North Island. The river flowseast then northeast, reaching the Pacific coast 3 kilometres (2 mi) northwest of the town of Te Araroa.
The Kopuapounamu River is a river of the northeast of New Zealand's North Island. It flows east from the eastern end of the Raukumara Range, reaching the Awatere River 6 kilometres (4 mi) south of Te Araroa.
The Mangaoparo River is a river of the Gisborne Region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located close to the island's northeasternmost point, flowing southeast from the slopes of Mount Raukumara in the Raukumara Range to reach the Waiapu River 5 kilometres (3 mi) northeast of Ruatoria.
The Maraehara River is a river of the Gisborne Region in New Zealand. Rising on the eastern slopes of Mount Whakatiki in the Ruatoria Forest, the river flows eastwards. It flows into the Pacific Ocean, sharing a coastal lagoon with the larger Waiapu River.
The Poroporo River is a river of the Gisborne Region of New Zealand's North Island. It flows east from its sources in the eastern foothills of the Raukumara Range, reaching the Waiapu River close to its mouth, having shared the Waiapu's bed since the town of Tikitiki.
The Tapuaeroa River is a river of the Gisborne Region of New Zealand's North Island. It flows southeast from its sources in the Raukumara Range, joining its waters with those of the Mata River close to the town of Ruatoria, the resulting flow becoming the Waiapu River.
The Taurangakautuku River is a river of the Gisborne Region of New Zealand's North Island. It flows northeast from the northern foothills of the Raukumara Range to reach the Awatere River eight kilometres southwest of Te Araroa.
The Tohoratea River is a short river of the Gisborne Region of New Zealand's North Island. It flows southeast from its origins south of Ruatoria to reach the Pacific Ocean to the north of Waipiro Bay.
The Wharekahika River is a river of the Gisborne Region of New Zealand's North Island. It flows east, its course paralleling the north coast of the Gisborne Region, and reaches the sea at Hicks Bay.
The Awatere River is a river in the Gisborne region of the North island of New Zealand. The Awatere is formed by the confluence of the Kopuapounamu River and the Taurangakautuku River and enters the Pacific Ocean just east of Te Araroa.
