Leader River
Encyclopedia
The Leader River is a river in the Hurunui District
of the Canterbury
region in New Zealand
's South Island
. It is a tributary of the Waiau River
, which it meets near Parnassus
. Numerous smaller watercourses join the Leader River, including the Hookhamsnyvy Creek
.
In the 1910s, the New Zealand Railways Department
intended to build a railway up the Leader River's valley as part of the Main North Line linking Christchurch
with the Marlborough
region. Between 1912 and 1914, roughly 3 km of track was laid northwards from Parnassus up the Leader River's valley, a few more kilometres of formation
was made, and work began on a bridge over the Leader River. However, the outbreak of World War I
brought a halt to construction, and when work resumed on building the railway, a more easterly route out of Parnassus was chosen. Nonetheless, a pier from the never-completed Leader River bridge continues to stand in the river.
Hurunui District
The Hurunui District is a political district on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island, north of Christchurch, New Zealand. It forms part of the Canterbury region and stretches from the east coast to the main divide. Its land area is ....
of the Canterbury
Canterbury, New Zealand
The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. Its main city, Christchurch, hosts the main office of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Regional Council - called Environment Canterbury - and the University of Canterbury.-...
region in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
. It is a tributary of the Waiau River
Waiau River, Canterbury
Waiau River is a river in north Canterbury on the South Island of New Zealand. The Waiau River rises in the Spenser Mountains and flows eastward to the Pacific Ocean. The Waiau River has the second largest catchment of North Canterbury's rivers....
, which it meets near Parnassus
Parnassus, New Zealand
Parnassus is a town located in the Canterbury region's Hurunui District on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island. It is located on the north bank of the Waiau River and the 2001 New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings gave its usually resident population as 900, a decline of 6.8% or...
. Numerous smaller watercourses join the Leader River, including the Hookhamsnyvy Creek
Hookhamsnyvy Creek
The Hookhamsnyvy Creek is a natural watercourse in the northern Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island.The Hookhamsnyvy Creek is north of Parnassus and rises in the Hundalee Hills...
.
In the 1910s, the New Zealand Railways Department
New Zealand Railways Department
The New Zealand Railways Department, NZR or NZGR and often known as the "Railways", was a government department charged with owning and maintaining New Zealand's railway infrastructure and operating the railway system. The Department was created in 1880 and was reformed in 1981 into the New...
intended to build a railway up the Leader River's valley as part of the Main North Line linking Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
with the Marlborough
Marlborough, New Zealand
Marlborough is one of the regions of New Zealand, located in the northeast of the South Island. Marlborough is a unitary authority, both a region and a district, and its council is located at Blenheim. Marlborough is known for its dry climate, the picturesque Marlborough Sounds, and sauvignon blanc...
region. Between 1912 and 1914, roughly 3 km of track was laid northwards from Parnassus up the Leader River's valley, a few more kilometres of formation
Track bed
A track bed or trackbed is the term used to describe the groundwork onto which a railway track is laid. Trackbeds of disused railways are sometimes used for recreational paths or new light rail links....
was made, and work began on a bridge over the Leader River. However, the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
brought a halt to construction, and when work resumed on building the railway, a more easterly route out of Parnassus was chosen. Nonetheless, a pier from the never-completed Leader River bridge continues to stand in the river.