Waikari River (Hawke's Bay)

The Waikari River is a river in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand's North Island. It flows generally east from its source at the northern end of the Maungaharuru Range passing the settlement of Putorino to reach Hawke Bay 25 kilometres southwest of Wairoa.[1] The name Waikari comes from the Māori words wai meaning "water" and kari meaning "dig".[2]

For the tributary of the Hurunui, see Waikari River (Canterbury).
Not to be confused with Waikare River.

Waikari River
Waikari River near Putorino
Waikari River (Hawke's Bay) is located in New Zealand
Waikari River (Hawke's Bay)
EtymologyMāori meaning "dig for water"
Native nameWaikari (Māori)
Location
CountryNew Zealand
RegionHawkes Bay
SettlementsPutorino
Physical characteristics
SourceMaungaharuru Range
 • coordinates39°5′50″S 176°48′21″E
 • elevation780 metres (2,560 ft)
MouthHawke Bay
 • coordinates
39°10′8″S 177°5′23″E
 • elevation
0 metres (0 ft)
Length49 km (30 mi)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • rightMatahorua Stream
WaterfallsShine Falls

History

In the 1931 earthquake a tsunami hit the river mouth, leaving fish up to 15 metres above the high tide level.[3]

Sinuous lower reaches of the Waikari River at centre, viewed from space

Flooding of the river on 14 February 2023 during Cyclone Gabrielle destroyed the State Highway 2 bridge over the river at Putorino[4] and facilities at a Department of Conservation campsite beside the river about 200 metres from the river mouth. A huge amount of logs and forest debris swept down by the cyclone still covered the river mouth and adjacent coastline in October 2023.[5]

See also

References
  1. "Place name detail: Waikari River". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
  2. "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 25 March 2021.
  3. "Tsunami – Hawke's Bay Emergency Management Group". www.hbemergency.govt.nz. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  4. Moore, Heath (15 February 2023). "Cyclone Gabrielle: Frightening moment bridge bends, breaks away from road in seconds". Hawke's Bay Today. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  5. Sharpe, Marty (2 October 2023). "Isolated and once pristine Hawke's Bay beach now a mass of logs as far as eye can see". Stuff. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  • New Zealand 1:50000 Topographic Map Series sheet BH39 – Putorino


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