Mokihinui River
Encyclopedia
The Mokihinui River is a river located on the West Coast
of New Zealand
's South Island
, about 40 kilometres north of Westport
.
and its mouth is on the Tasman Sea
. There is little human habitation near the river: the localities of Mokihinui
and Summerlea
are near the river's mouth, Seddonville
is a few kilometres up the river, and just prior to its terminus, State Highway 67
crosses the river outside Mokihinui. In the rugged back country behind Seddonville at the Mokihinui Forks, the river splits into two branches, north and south. The catchment of these two branches is a large inland basin of almost wholly unmodified forest.
.
The river of interest for recreation and commercial whitewater
activities. There is three hours of grade III water downsteam from where the north and south forks meet. A river level of 1-1.5 metres is an optimum flow.
railway roughly followed the Mokihinui River near its mouth. The Branch opened on 23 February 1895 and closed on 3 May 1981. During this period, the New Zealand Railways Department
dumped old steam locomotive
s on the river's banks to protect against erosion. Two of these locomotives, members of the WB class
, were recovered from the Mokihinui River in 1989 by the Baldwin Steam Trust.
is proposing to build a hydroelectric
dam
on the river to produce 310-360 GWh per year. A resource consent
was granted in April 2010. Opposition to the proposal has been expressed by a number of recreational, environmental and fishing organisations.
On 3 November, before the official decision had been released, the Minister of Energy and Resources Gerry Brownlee
reportedly said that the dam will not go ahead.
West Coast, New Zealand
The West Coast is one of the administrative regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island, and is one of the more remote and most sparsely populated areas of the country. It is made up of three districts: Buller, Grey and Westland...
of 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...
, about 40 kilometres north of Westport
Westport, New Zealand
-Economy:Economic activity is based around fishing, coal mining and dairy farming. Historically, gold mining was a major industry, and coal mining was much more extensive than today . However, the region still is home to New Zealand's largest opencast mining operation in Stockton...
.
Geography
The Mokihinui River's headwaters are located in the Glasgow RangeGlasgow Range
The Glasgow Range is a mountain range on the northern West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. It is north of the Papahaua Range and its most significant river is the Mokihinui River.- History of settlement :...
and its mouth is on the Tasman Sea
Tasman Sea
The Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia and New Zealand, approximately across. It extends 2,800 km from north to south. It is a south-western segment of the South Pacific Ocean. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman, the first recorded European...
. There is little human habitation near the river: the localities of Mokihinui
Mokihinui
Mokihinui is a lightly populated locality on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island.Mokihinui is on the Tasman Sea coastline north of Westport and is on the southern side of the Mokihinui River's mouth...
and Summerlea
Summerlea, New Zealand
Summerlea is a lightly populated locality on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island.Summerlea is on the Tasman Sea coastline with the Glasgow Range to the east. To the north of the town is the neighbouring settlement of Mokihinui and the rivermouth of the Mokihinui River. State Highway 67...
are near the river's mouth, Seddonville
Seddonville
Seddonville is a lightly populated locality on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. It is most famous for the historical role it played in New Zealand's coal mining industry.-Geography:...
is a few kilometres up the river, and just prior to its terminus, State Highway 67
New Zealand State Highway network
The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
crosses the river outside Mokihinui. In the rugged back country behind Seddonville at the Mokihinui Forks, the river splits into two branches, north and south. The catchment of these two branches is a large inland basin of almost wholly unmodified forest.
Recreation
A tramping track runs along the south bank of the river giving access to Kahurangi National ParkKahurangi National Park
Kahurangi National Park is a national park in the northwest of the South Island of New Zealand. It was gazetted in 1996 and covers 4,520 km². It is the second largest of New Zealand's fourteen national parks...
.
The river of interest for recreation and commercial whitewater
Whitewater
Whitewater is formed in a rapid, when a river's gradient increases enough to disturb its laminar flow and create turbulence, i.e. form a bubbly, or aerated and unstable current; the frothy water appears white...
activities. There is three hours of grade III water downsteam from where the north and south forks meet. A river level of 1-1.5 metres is an optimum flow.
Railway
The last few kilometres of the former Seddonville BranchSeddonville Branch
The Seddonville Branch, now truncated and operating as the Ngakawau Branch, is a branch line railway in the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island. Construction of the line began in 1874 and it reached its final terminus at the Mokihinui Mine just beyond Seddonville in 1895...
railway roughly followed the Mokihinui River near its mouth. The Branch opened on 23 February 1895 and closed on 3 May 1981. During this period, 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...
dumped old steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s on the river's banks to protect against erosion. Two of these locomotives, members of the WB class
NZR Wb class
The NZR WB class was a class of tank locomotives that operated in New Zealand. Built in 1898 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, the twelve members of the class entered service during the first five months of 1899...
, were recovered from the Mokihinui River in 1989 by the Baldwin Steam Trust.
Hydroelectric dam proposal
Meridian EnergyMeridian Energy
Meridian Energy Limited is a New Zealand state-owned electricity generator and retailer. The company generates the largest proportion of New Zealand's electricity, generating 32 percent of the country's electricity in the year ending 31 December 2009, and is the fourth-equal largest retailer, with...
is proposing to build a hydroelectric
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
on the river to produce 310-360 GWh per year. A resource consent
Resource consent
A resource consent is the authorisation given to certain activities or uses of natural and physical resources required under the New Zealand Resource Management Act . Some activities may either be specifically authorised by the RMA or be permitted activities authorised by rules in plans...
was granted in April 2010. Opposition to the proposal has been expressed by a number of recreational, environmental and fishing organisations.
On 3 November, before the official decision had been released, the Minister of Energy and Resources Gerry Brownlee
Gerry Brownlee
Gerard Anthony "Gerry" Brownlee is a New Zealand politician. He served from 17 November 2003 to 27 November 2006 as deputy-leader of the National Party – during that period the second-largest party in the New Zealand Parliament, and thus forming the core of the Opposition...
reportedly said that the dam will not go ahead.