Wairoa River (Bay of Plenty)

For other New Zealand rivers called Wairoa, see Wairoa River (disambiguation). For the smaller watercourse on Mōtītī island, Bay of Plenty, see Wairoa Stream (Mōtītī Island).

Wairoa River
Aerial view of the mouth of the Wairoa River entering Tauranga Harbour, 1965
Route of the Wairoa River
Mouth of the Wairoa River Show map of New Zealand Wairoa River (Bay of Plenty) (North Island) Show map of North Island
Location
Country	New Zealand
Physical characteristics
Source	Opuiaki River
• coordinates	37°46′58″S176°03′07″E / 37.78285°S 176.05185°E / -37.78285; 176.05185
Mouth
• location	Tauranga Harbour
• coordinates	37°41′11″S176°05′39″E / 37.68643°S 176.09414°E / -37.68643; 176.09414
• elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	14 km (8.7 mi)
Basin features
Progression	Opuiaki River → Wairoa River → Tauranga Harbour → Bay of Plenty → Pacific Ocean
Tributaries
• left	Ngutukakariki Stream, Mangatarata Stream, Mangarata Stream, Waireia Stream, Raratonga Stream, Ruangārara Stream
• right	Omanawa River
Bridges	Ruahihi Bridge, Wairoa River Bridge

The Wairoa River runs north into Tauranga Harbour at the western end of the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand's North Island.

Hydroelectric power

Main article: Kaimai hydro power scheme

In the mid-1970s, the Tauranga Joint Generation Committee proposed a hydroelectric power scheme for the Opuiaki River and Wairoa River. The newly formed Kaimai Canoe Club (established by Barry Anderson, Bill Ross, Kerry Smith and Peter Entwistle) opposed the scheme at the water rights headings, this was on the grounds that it would destroy fishing, sport and recreation for existing and future generations. A compromise was arrived at by allowing the release of water 26 days a year for whitewater recreation. ^[1] The last dam diverts water around the river bed to the Ruahihi Power Station.

TrustPower is now the manager of the power scheme on the river. ^[2]

See also

• Rivers of New Zealand
• Kaituna River

References

1. Egarr, Graham (1988). Whitewater River Running in New Zealand. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN   0-474-00302-7.
2. TrustPower Archived 2008-10-14 at the Wayback Machine - Kaimai hydro power scheme

External links

• Environment Bay of Plenty - live river flow telemetry data
• Whitewater NZ River Guide - information on the Wairoa River
• Kaimai Canoe Club Archived 2009-01-01 at the Wayback Machine - Local kayak organisation