Ōpārau River

The Ōpārau River is a river of the Waikato Region of New Zealand's North Island in the area occupied by Ngāti Hikairo.[1] It flows southwest from its sources in the Pirongia Forest Park, the highest being The Cone, and flows into the Kawhia Harbour, 5 kilometres (3 mi) east of Kawhia.[2] The river has about 171 km (106 mi) of tributaries.[3]

Ōpārau River
Ōpārau River at Ōpārau and Pirongia in 2019
Location
CountryNew Zealand
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • elevation953 m (3,127 ft)
Mouth 
 • location
Kawhia Harbour
 • elevation
0m
Length24.5 km (15.2 mi)
Basin size120 km2 (46 sq mi)
Junction of Ōkupata Stream and Ōpārau River at Ōpārau
Ōpārau valley and Kawhia Harbour from Hihikiwi summit in 2015

Name

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives translations of "place of many fortified villages" or "place of falsehood" for Ōpārau.[4] The official name was confirmed by Gazette as Ōpārau River on 21 June 2019.[5]

Pollution

The river is naturally turbid and had low to moderate levels of phosphorus and nitrogen,[6] though it is among the poorer rivers for ammoniacal nitrogen, black disc and e coli measurements.[7]

Nature

Tiritiri Matangi peninsula, in the river's estuary,[8] is a protected area of international ecological significance, as it is an important stop for migratory seabirds.[9] Redfin bully and kōaro are common fish in the river.[10] Fragrant fern[11] and Pānakenake grow in the valley.[12]

Walks

Walking tracks around the upper catchment of the river are the Ōpārau Route, Bells Track and Hihikiwi Track (part of Te Araroa long distance trail).[13]

Roads and bridges

In 1885 the road crossing the river was only 6 ft (2 m) wide at Ōpārau.[14] From about 1900 a coach ran for passengers between Kawhia and Te Awamutu,[15] with a launch between Kawhia and Ōpārau.[16] Ōpārau Ferry Bridge opened in 1913.[17] In 1924 a 52 ft (16 m) concrete bridge was built over the Ōpārau to carry what is now SH31.[18] Metalling of the road was completed in 1926.[19]

In 1938 the Hamilton mayor, John Fow, and Chamber of Commerce were reviewing plans for a new link to Kawhia. A route through the valley, via Kaniwhaniwha[20] and Karamu was suggested and, by 1945, there was much backing for a 10 mi (16 km) long road on that route, which would have reduced the distance between Hamilton and Kawhia by about 20 mi (32 km).[21]

Hydroelectric

From 1923 Ōpārau was served by hydroelectric power, generated for the dairy[22] by a 33 hp (25 kW) turbine at Mangapapa Falls,[23] about 2 km (1 mi) upstream from the village.[24] A 1922 Order in Council allowed up to 10 cu ft (283 L) per second of water to be taken.[25] The dairy opened in 1904.[26]

School

Ōpārau village had a school from 1902[27] until it closed in 2006.[28]

See also

References
  1. "Ngāti Hikairo Iwi Management Plan Freshwater" (PDF). August 2005.
  2. "The Cone, Waikato". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  3. "Environmental monitoring data for Oparau River". Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA). Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  4. "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  5. "Ōpārau River". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  6. "Shore Futures" (PDF). Waikato Regional Council. November 2009.
  7. "Oparau River at Langdon Rd (Off Okupata Rd) River Quality". Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA). Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  8. "Tiritirimatangi Peninsula, Waikato". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  9. "West Coast News" (PDF). Waikato Regional Council. December 2016.
  10. "Distribution, abundance and conservation status of native fish in some Waikato streams in the North Island of New Zealand". ResearchGate. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  11. "Fragrant fern". collections.tepapa.govt.nz. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  12. "Pānakenake (Lobelia angulata)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  13. "Pirongia and Raglan tracks" (PDF). Department of Conservation. September 2011.
  14. "TO KAWHIA ON WHEELS. WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 24 February 1885. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  15. "TE AWAMUTU. WAIKATO ARGUS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 7 July 1900. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  16. "KAWHIA. AUCKLAND STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 19 December 1902. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  17. "KAWHIA COUNTY COUNCIL. KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 28 May 1913. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  18. "OTOROHANGA NEWS. WAIPA POST". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 9 October 1924. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  19. "LOCAL AND GENERAL. WAIPA POST". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 27 April 1926. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  20. "PUBLIC OPINION. WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 25 March 1938. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  21. "ROAD TO KAWHIA. WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 8 December 1945. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  22. "HON J. G. COATES' VISIT. WAIPA POST". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 6 December 1923. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  23. "OPARAU DAIRY COMPANY. WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 15 December 1923. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  24. "1:63360 map Sheet: N73 Kawhia". www.mapspast.org.nz. 1953. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  25. "License authorizing the Oparau Co-operative Dairy Company (Limited) to Use Water from the Mangapapa Stream" (PDF). 3 July 1922.
  26. "Local and General. WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 4 June 1904. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  27. "KAWHIA. WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 17 October 1902. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  28. "Waikato classrooms sitting idle". Stuff. 1 March 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2021.

"Place name detail: Oparau River". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 12 July 2009.

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