Esk River (Hawke's Bay)

The Esk River of Hawke's Bay, in the eastern North Island of New Zealand, one of two rivers of that name in the country, is one of Hawke's Bay's major rivers. It flows south from the slopes of Taraponui in the Maungaharuru Range before turning east to reach Hawke Bay 10 kilometres (6 mi) north of Napier. State Highway 5 follows the lower course of the river for several kilometres close to the settlement of Eskdale.[1] The river is probably named after the Esk River in southern Scotland and north-west England.[2]

Esk River
Esk River (Hawke's Bay) is located in New Zealand
Esk River (Hawke's Bay)
Location of the mouth within New Zealand
Location
CountryNew Zealand
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationMaungaharuru Range
Mouth 
 • location
Hawke Bay
Length43 km (27 mi)

Where the river reaches the sea, it ponds behind a shingle bank. At times the sea drives up shingle that blocks the outlet until the ponding water breaks through. The outlet occasionally needs to be opened artificially to prevent flooding. Prior to the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake, the pond also flowed into the Petane Stream and south through Bay View into the northern end of Ahuriri Lagoon when the beach outlet was blocked. The earthquake raised the area, preventing the ponded water from flowing through Bay View any longer.[3]

The southern stretch of the river forms the northern boundary for urban development in Napier.[4] Hukarere Girls' College is near the river,[5] as well as the Pan Pac Forest Products mill. A 4 MW hydroelectric power scheme is situated in the higher reaches of the river.[6] Chardonnay and red wine grapes are grown in the Esk River valley.[7]

The lower 19 kilometres (12 mi) of the Esk can be suitable for whitewater canoeing when the flow is above normal.[8] There are brown and rainbow trout in the river, but fishing is restricted.[9]

Flooding

The river has a history of flooding.[10] Flash flooding inundated the settlement in March 2018,[11] leaving most of the local holiday park underwater.[12] Large parts of the valley were inundated during Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023. The floods caused significant damage in the settlement, destroying houses and sections of State Highway 5 and the Palmerston North–Gisborne Railway Line.[13]

See also

References
  1. Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 40. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
  2. Discover New Zealand:A Wises Guide (9th ed.). 1994. p. 163.
  3. "Napier Landscape Study. Draft for Consultation" (PDF). Napier City Council. 13 February 2020. p. 72. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  4. "Esk River" (PDF). Hawke's Bay Regional Council. February 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  5. "Hukarere Girls School". Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  6. "Esk Power Scheme". Trustpower. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  7. "Media Kit 2009" (PDF). Hawke's Bay Winegrowers. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  8. Egarr, Graham (1989). New Zealand's North Island Rivers: A guide for Canoeists and Rafters. pp. 159–160. ISBN 1-86953-014-4.
  9. "Hawke's Bay - Fishing Regulations". Fish and Game New Zealand. Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  10. "Eskdale". nzhistory.govt.nz. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  11. O'Sullivan, Patrick (8 March 2018). "Local Focus: Flash Flood shocks Eskdale residents". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Hawke's Bay Today.
  12. Appleby, Luke (8 March 2018). "Breathtaking drone footage shows Napier holiday park's 'muddy mess' after flooded river rose by 7m in one-in-50-year event". Television New Zealand. 1 News.
  13. "Cyclone Gabrielle: Eskdale residents send desperate plea to emergency officials". Newshub.

39°23′52″S 176°53′07″E


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