Mōkau River

The Mōkau River is located in the North Island of New Zealand.

Mōkau River
The Mōkau river near the mouth
Native nameMōkau (Māori)
Location
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWaikato
DistrictWaitomo
Physical characteristics
SourcePureora Forest
MouthNorth Taranaki Bight
Length158 kilometres (98 mi)

The river rises as a spring in the Pureora Forest, south of Te Kuiti, on the slopes of the Rangitoto Range. After briefly following a north-westward course, it turns south-westwards and flows for 158 kilometres (98 mi) through the Waitomo District of the King Country. It enters the North Taranaki Bight at its mouth at the town of Mōkau.

Although the rivermouth is enclosed by a large sandbar, with a high tide, larger vessels can pass safely and enter the river, which is navigable for 37 kilometres (23 mi) upstream. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, the banks of the river were host to a thriving industry of logging and coal-mining. However, the risks and costs of transporting goods down the Mōkau eventually ended such enterprise.

Today the river is a popular whitebaiting and kayaking location.

See also

Wairere Power Station

References

    Further reading
    • Mokau River resource inventory, New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Dept. of Lands and Survey, 1986
    • Gray, Brian E. (2007), The vital link : crossing the Mokau, Urenui, [N.Z.]: Pilot Gardens
    • Hanchet, Stuart M.; Hayes, John W. (1989), Fish and fisheries values of the Mokau River and tributaries draining the Mokau coalfield, Rotorua, [N.Z.]: Freshwater Fisheries Centre, MAFFish
    • Needham, Brad (2004), The variation in river mouth dynamics, spit and shoreline morphology at Mokau (M.Sc., University of Waikato)
    • Smith, Brian J. (2007), Adult aquatic insect fauna of the Mokau River, Hamilton East, [N.Z.]: Environment Waikato Regional Council

    38.699942°S 174.622961°E / -38.699942; 174.622961


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