Opawa River
Encyclopedia
The Opawa River is in the Marlborough region of the South Island
of New Zealand. It begins in the Wairau valley where floodways are joined. It makes its way down the valley and flows through and looping around the eastern suburbs of Blenheim
where it is crossed by the Opawa River Bridge
. It joins the Taylor River in Blenheim (keeping the Opawa name) and flows into Cook Strait
at Cloudy Bay
, just southeast of the mouth of the Wairau River
.
There are two possible sources for the river's name. It might have been named after the chief Pawa or Paoa. Rangitāne
iwi say that the name is a mutilation of Opaoa, which literally means smoky river. With Blenheim built on swampy land, the river was often brown (or 'smoky') as a consequence.
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...
of New Zealand. It begins in the Wairau valley where floodways are joined. It makes its way down the valley and flows through and looping around the eastern suburbs of Blenheim
Blenheim, New Zealand
Blenheim is the most populous town in the region of Marlborough, in the north east of the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the regional council. It has a population of The area which surrounds the town is well known as a centre of New Zealand's wine industry...
where it is crossed by the Opawa River Bridge
Opawa River Bridge
The Opawa River Bridge is a bridge in Blenheim, New Zealand that crosses the Opawa River. The bridge is classified as a "Category I" historic place by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. The bridge was first built in 1869 but collapsed in 1878...
. It joins the Taylor River in Blenheim (keeping the Opawa name) and flows into Cook Strait
Cook Strait
Cook Strait is the strait between the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It connects the Tasman Sea on the west with the South Pacific Ocean on the east....
at Cloudy Bay
Cloudy Bay
Cloudy Bay is located at the northeast of New Zealand's South Island, to the south of the Marlborough Sounds. The area lends its name to one of the best known New World white wines although the grapes used in production of that wine are grown in the Marlborough wine region further inland.The bay...
, just southeast of the mouth of the Wairau River
Wairau River
The Wairau River is one of the longest rivers in New Zealand's South Island. It flows for 170 kilometres from the Spenser Mountains , firstly in a northwards direction and then northeast down a long, straight valley in inland Marlborough.The river's lower reaches are noted for the surrounding...
.
There are two possible sources for the river's name. It might have been named after the chief Pawa or Paoa. Rangitāne
Rangitane
For the famous ship see RMS RangitaneRangitāne is a Māori iwi of New Zealand.-External links:* in Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand...
iwi say that the name is a mutilation of Opaoa, which literally means smoky river. With Blenheim built on swampy land, the river was often brown (or 'smoky') as a consequence.