Waikanae River
Encyclopedia
Kapiti Coast
The Kapiti Coast is the name of the section of the coast of the south-western North Island of New Zealand that is north of Wellington and opposite Kapiti Island. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Wellington Regional Council...
in the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
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...
.
The river drains the western flanks of the Tararua Range
Tararua Range
The Tararua Range is one of several mountain ranges in the North Island of New Zealand which form a ridge running parallel with the east coast of the island between East Cape and Wellington....
s around Reikorangi
Reikorangi
Reikorangi is a locality on the Kapiti Coast in New Zealand's North Island. It is inland, behind Waikanae in the Akatarawa Valley of the Tararua Ranges. The Ngatiawa River and Reikorangi Stream both meet the Waikanae River in Reikorangi....
and the Akatarawa Valley
Akatarawa Valley
The Akatarawa Valley is a valley in the Tararua Range of New Zealand's North Island. It provides a link from the upper reaches of the Hutt Valley to Waikanae on the Kapiti Coast through rugged hill country. The valley is lowly populated and contains the localities of Reikorangi and Cloustonville...
, then passes to the south of the town of Waikanae
Waikanae
Waikanae is a small town on New Zealand's Kapiti Coast. The name is a Māori word meaning "The waters of the yellow eyed mullet". Another settlement called Waikanae Beach exists near Gisborne on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand....
before entering 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...
at Waikanae Beach. Tributaries include the Maungakotukutuku Stream
Maungakotukutuku Stream
The Maungakotukutuku Stream is a stream on the Kapiti Coast of New Zealand's North Island. Its headwaters are in the Maungakotukutuku area and it is a tributary of the Waikanae River. Consideration has been given to damming the stream in order to increase the Kapiti Coast's water...
, Ngatiawa River
Ngatiawa River
The Ngatiawa River is a river on the Kapiti Coast of New Zealand's North Island that is a major tributary of the Waikanae River. Its headwaters are in the Tararua Range and it flows north and northwest through the Akatarawa Valley to Reikorangi, where it meets the Waikanae River....
, and Reikorangi Stream
Reikorangi Stream
The Reikorangi Stream is a stream on the Kapiti Coast of New Zealand's North Island. It is one of the Waikanae River's major tributaries. Its headwaters are in the Tararua Ranges near Maungakotukutuku, and it flows north to Reikorangi in the Akatarawa Valley, where it meets the Waikanae River....
. The estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
of the river is a significant reserve providing shelter and habitat for local and migratory seabirds.
Water up to a maximum amount is taken out of the river as water supply for Waikanae
Waikanae
Waikanae is a small town on New Zealand's Kapiti Coast. The name is a Māori word meaning "The waters of the yellow eyed mullet". Another settlement called Waikanae Beach exists near Gisborne on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand....
and Paraparaumu
Paraparaumu
Paraparaumu is a town in the south-western North Island of New Zealand. It lies in the Kapiti Coast, 50 kilometres north of the nation's capital city, Wellington....
. This sometimes leads to water restrictions if the river runs low, however in January 2005 the river burst its banks after heavy rain.
External links
- Photo of the Waikanae River from the Cyclopaedia of New Zealand c1897
- Photo of the Waikanae rail and road bridges and express train on bridge c1939
- Photo of the Waikanae rail and road bridges and express train leaving bridge c1938
- South bank of Waikanae River with strata identified