Wangapeka River

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Wangapeka River
Wangapeka River, Kahurangi, New Zealand 05.jpg
Wangapeka River
Route of the Wangapeka River
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Disc Plain red.svg
Mouth of the Wangapeka River
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Disc Plain red.svg
Wangapeka River (South Island)
Location
CountryNew Zealand
Physical characteristics
SourceWangapeka Saddle (north branch)
  coordinates 41°25′25″S172°25′17″E / 41.4235°S 172.4215°E / -41.4235; 172.4215
2nd sourceMarino Mountains (south branch)
  coordinates 41°33′05″S172°27′56″E / 41.5514°S 172.4655°E / -41.5514; 172.4655
Mouth  
  location
Motueka River
  coordinates
41°19′43″S172°47′12″E / 41.32872°S 172.78665°E / -41.32872; 172.78665
Length37 km (23 mi)
Basin features
ProgressionWangapeka RiverMotueka RiverTasman BayTasman Sea
Tributaries 
  leftStone Creek (north branch), Luna Stream (north branch), Boyd Stream (south branch), Robson Stream (south branch), Kiwi Stream, Patriarch Stream, Gibbs Creek, Chummie Creek, Chandler Creek, Prospect Creek, Coal Creek, McRae Creek
  rightLoaf Creek (south branch), Wright Creek, Rolling River, Prices Creek, Dart River, Bushend Creek, Sherry River, Caves Creek, Blue Rock Creek

The Wangapeka River is a river of the Tasman Region of New Zealand's South Island. It rises in two branches, the North Branch and the South Branch, in the Matiri Range within Kahurangi National Park, meeting some 25 kilometres southeast of Karamea. It flows generally northeast to reach the Motueka River 30 kilometres south of Motueka.

The Wangapeka valley was the site of a major goldfield during the late 1860s, and is mentioned in some versions of the New Zealand folk song "Bright Fine Gold". [1]

See also

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References

"Place name detail: Wangapeka River". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board . Retrieved 12 July 2009.

  1. "Bright Fine Gold - Origins of its lyrics". Folksong.org.nz. Retrieved 11 May 2011.