Waipori River
Encyclopedia
The Waipori River is located in Otago
in the South Island
of New Zealand
. Rising in the Lammerlaw Range, it flows southeast for 50 kilometres before joining the Taieri River
near Henley
, 30 km southwest of Dunedin
of which it is officially the southernmost border.
The upper reaches of the Waipori flow through rough hill country, much of it covered by the Berwick Forest
. An artificial lake, Lake Mahinerangi
is formed on the river behind a small hydroelectric
station at Waipori Falls, which was built in 1880 to provide power for the city of Dunedin. Much of this area is within the Waipori Falls Scenic Reserve.
The lower reaches of the river pass through an area of wetlands around Lakes Waihola
and Waipori
, both of which drain into the river. This area is a habitat for many species of wading birds. The Sinclair Wetlands
reserve is located in this area.
The name Waipori comes from Maori
words meaning "dark water".
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
in the 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...
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...
. Rising in the Lammerlaw Range, it flows southeast for 50 kilometres before joining the Taieri River
Taieri River
The Taieri River is the fourth-longest river in New Zealand and is located in Otago in the South Island. Rising in the Lammerlaw ranges, it initially flows north, then east around the Rock and Pillar range before turning southeast, reaching the sea 30 km south of Dunedin.The upper reaches meander...
near Henley
Henley, New Zealand
Henley is a township on New Zealand's Taieri Plains, presumably named after the rowing centre Henley-on-Thames in England. It lies close to the confluence of the Taieri and Waipori Rivers at the eastern edge of the plain, at the foot of a low range of coastal hills.Henley is near the south-west...
, 30 km southwest of Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
of which it is officially the southernmost border.
The upper reaches of the Waipori flow through rough hill country, much of it covered by the Berwick Forest
Berwick Forest, New Zealand
Berwick Forest is a large Pinus radiata plantation at Berwick in New Zealand, around 40 km west of Dunedin. The forest lies close to the banks of the Waipori River immediately below and around the western end of Lake Mahinerangi, and consists of three blocks - the main block, Maungatua, and...
. An artificial lake, Lake Mahinerangi
Lake Mahinerangi
Lake Mahinerangi is a small hydroelectric lake formed by a dam on the Waipori River 35 kilometres to the west of Dunedin in New Zealand's South Island....
is formed on the river behind a small 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...
station at Waipori Falls, which was built in 1880 to provide power for the city of Dunedin. Much of this area is within the Waipori Falls Scenic Reserve.
The lower reaches of the river pass through an area of wetlands around Lakes Waihola
Lake Waihola
Lake Waihola is a tidal freshwater lake located 15 km north of Milton in Otago, in New Zealand's South Island. Its area is some 9 square kilometres, with a maximum length of 6 kilometres....
and Waipori
Lake Waipori
Lake Waipori is the smaller and shallower of the pair of lakes located in the wetlands to the south west of Dunedin in New Zealand on the Waipori River. The Waipori River is a major tributary of the Taieri River, and these wetlands form the southern edge of the Taieri Plains.The lake is inhabited...
, both of which drain into the river. This area is a habitat for many species of wading birds. The Sinclair Wetlands
Sinclair Wetlands
The Sinclair Wetlands are an internationally renowned wetlands located to the south west of Dunedin, New Zealand, at the southern edge of the Taieri Plains on the western side of Lake Waipori...
reserve is located in this area.
The name Waipori comes from Maori
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
words meaning "dark water".