The rivers of New Zealand are used for a variety of purposes and face a number of environmental issues. In the North Island's hill country the rivers are deep, fast flowing and most are unnavigable. Many of the rivers in the South Island are braided rivers. The navigable rivers were used for mass transport in the early history of New Zealand.
The longest river in New Zealand is the Waikato River with a length of 425 kilometres (264 miles). The largest river by rate of flow is the Clutha River / Mata-Au with a mean discharge of 613 cubic metres per second (21,600 cu ft/s).[1] The shortest river is claimed to be the Tūranganui River in Gisborne at 1,200 metres (3,900 feet) long.[2]
Tūranganui river sign
Some of the rivers, especially those with wide flood plains and stop banks, have long road bridges spanning them. The Rakaia River is crossed by Rakaia Bridge, the longest bridge in New Zealand at 1,757 m (5,764 ft). The third longest bridge is the Whirokino Trestle Bridge on State Highway 1 crossing the Manawatū River.[3]
Over 180,000 km (110,000 mi) of rivers have been mapped in New Zealand.[4]
Usesedit
Māori waka
Before colonisation, Māori frequently used the navigable rivers (waterways) for transportation. Waka (canoes) made of hollowed-out logs were the main mode of navigating rivers.[5] During the early European settler years, coastal shipping was one of the main methods of transportation.[6] There are 1,609 km (1,000 mi) of navigable inland waterways; however these are no longer significant transport routes.[citation needed]
Rivers are used for commercial tourism and recreation activities such as rafting, canoeing, kayaking and jet-boating. Bungy jumping, pioneered as a commercial venture by a New Zealand innovator, is often done above some of the more scenic rivers.
Over half of the electricity generated in New Zealand is hydroelectric power.[7] Hydroelectric power stations have been constructed on many rivers, some of which dam the river completely while others channel a portion of the water through the power station. Some of the large hydroelectric power schemes in both North Island and South Island use a system of canals to move water between catchments in order to maximise electricity generation.
River conservation is threatened by pollution inflows from point and non-point sources. In the past rivers had been used for pollution discharges from factories and municipal sewerage plants. With increasing environmental awareness and the passing of the Resource Management Act 1991, these sources of pollution are now less problematic. Water abstraction, especially for irrigation, is now a major threat to the character of rivers. An upsurge in conversion of land to dairy farming is stretching water resources. Also, since dairy farming is becoming more intensified in New Zealand and requires large amounts of water, the problem is therefore being exacerbated.
There is a high level of pollution in lowland rivers and streams that flow through urban or pastoral farming areas.[8]
A report[9] from the Ministry of Economic Development identified a large number of rivers as being suitable for hydroelectric power production. This report alarmed the Green Party and a number of environmental organisations due to the fear of an increasing loss of scenic rivers and rivers that have a high degree of natural character.
^Kelly, Geoff (June 2011). "History and potential of renewable energy development in New Zealand". Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 15 (5): 2501–2509. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2011.01.021.
^Scott T. Larned; Mike R. Scarsbrook; Ton H. Snelder; Ned J. Norton; Barry J. F. Biggs (2004). "Water quality in low-elevation streams and rivers of New Zealand: Recent state and trends in contrasting land‐cover classes". New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research. 38. The Royal Society of New Zealand: 347–366. doi:10.1080/00288330.2004.9517243.
^East Harbour Management Services (January 2004). "Identification of Potential Hydroelectric Resources". Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Government of New Zealand. Retrieved 21 March 2009.
Further readingedit
Knight, Catherine (2016). New Zealand's Rivers: An Environmental History. Christchurch: Canterbury University Press. ISBN978-1-927145-76-0.
Egarr, Graham; Jan Egarr; John Mackay. 64 New Zealand rivers: a scenic evaluation. Auckland: New Zealand Canoeing Association.
Collier, K.J.; Clapcott, J.E.; Young, R.G. (August 2009). Influence of Human Pressures on Large River Structure and Function(PDF). CBER Contract Report 95. Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rivers of New Zealand.
National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research – National Centre for Water Resources
Wild Rivers – a campaign to protect rivers
Whitewater NZ (formerly New Zealand Recreational Canoeing Association)
Ministry for the Environment – water information page
League table of the suitability of New Zealand rivers for contact recreation from NIWA
April 11, 2024
rivers, zealand, rivers, zealand, used, variety, purposes, face, number, environmental, issues, north, island, hill, country, rivers, deep, fast, flowing, most, unnavigable, many, rivers, south, island, braided, rivers, navigable, rivers, were, used, mass, tra. The rivers of New Zealand are used for a variety of purposes and face a number of environmental issues In the North Island s hill country the rivers are deep fast flowing and most are unnavigable Many of the rivers in the South Island are braided rivers The navigable rivers were used for mass transport in the early history of New Zealand Harper River Craigieburn Forest Park Contents 1 Statistics 2 Uses 3 Conservation and pollution 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksStatistics editSee also List of rivers of New Zealand and List of rivers of New Zealand by length The longest river in New Zealand is the Waikato River with a length of 425 kilometres 264 miles The largest river by rate of flow is the Clutha River Mata Au with a mean discharge of 613 cubic metres per second 21 600 cu ft s 1 The shortest river is claimed to be the Turanganui River in Gisborne at 1 200 metres 3 900 feet long 2 nbsp Turanganui river signSome of the rivers especially those with wide flood plains and stop banks have long road bridges spanning them The Rakaia River is crossed by Rakaia Bridge the longest bridge in New Zealand at 1 757 m 5 764 ft The third longest bridge is the Whirokino Trestle Bridge on State Highway 1 crossing the Manawatu River 3 Over 180 000 km 110 000 mi of rivers have been mapped in New Zealand 4 Uses edit nbsp Maori wakaBefore colonisation Maori frequently used the navigable rivers waterways for transportation Waka canoes made of hollowed out logs were the main mode of navigating rivers 5 During the early European settler years coastal shipping was one of the main methods of transportation 6 There are 1 609 km 1 000 mi of navigable inland waterways however these are no longer significant transport routes citation needed Rivers are used for commercial tourism and recreation activities such as rafting canoeing kayaking and jet boating Bungy jumping pioneered as a commercial venture by a New Zealand innovator is often done above some of the more scenic rivers Over half of the electricity generated in New Zealand is hydroelectric power 7 Hydroelectric power stations have been constructed on many rivers some of which dam the river completely while others channel a portion of the water through the power station Some of the large hydroelectric power schemes in both North Island and South Island use a system of canals to move water between catchments in order to maximise electricity generation See also Hydroelectric power in New ZealandConservation and pollution editSee also Conservation in New Zealand and Water pollution in New Zealand River conservation is threatened by pollution inflows from point and non point sources In the past rivers had been used for pollution discharges from factories and municipal sewerage plants With increasing environmental awareness and the passing of the Resource Management Act 1991 these sources of pollution are now less problematic Water abstraction especially for irrigation is now a major threat to the character of rivers An upsurge in conversion of land to dairy farming is stretching water resources Also since dairy farming is becoming more intensified in New Zealand and requires large amounts of water the problem is therefore being exacerbated Acid mine drainage AMD from the Stockton coal mine has altered the ecology of the Mangatini Stream on the West Coast The Stockton mine is also leaching AMD into the Waimangaroa River and the proposed Cypress Mine will increase this amount There is a high level of pollution in lowland rivers and streams that flow through urban or pastoral farming areas 8 A report 9 from the Ministry of Economic Development identified a large number of rivers as being suitable for hydroelectric power production This report alarmed the Green Party and a number of environmental organisations due to the fear of an increasing loss of scenic rivers and rivers that have a high degree of natural character See also editWater in New Zealand Environment of New Zealand Water conservation orders in New Zealand Lakes of New Zealand Bridges in New Zealand New Zealand Hydrological SocietyReferences edit Murray D L 1975 Regional hydrology of the Clutha River Journal of Hydrology N Z 14 2 85 98 Gisborne Region Environmental Reporting Land Air Water Aotearoa LAWA Retrieved 24 May 2022 FAQs Transit New Zealand Archived from the original on 19 June 2008 Young David 1 March 2009 Rivers How New Zealand rivers are formed Te Ara The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu Taonga ISBN 978 0 478 18451 8 Retrieved 7 August 2010 Young David 24 September 2007 Rivers Maori and rivers Te Ara The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Retrieved 27 March 2022 New Zealand s Burning Overview of coastal shipping 1885 Arnold Rollo Victoria Press Victoria University of Wellington 1994 Kelly Geoff June 2011 History and potential of renewable energy development in New Zealand Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 15 5 2501 2509 doi 10 1016 j rser 2011 01 021 Scott T Larned Mike R Scarsbrook Ton H Snelder Ned J Norton Barry J F Biggs 2004 Water quality in low elevation streams and rivers of New Zealand Recent state and trends in contrasting land cover classes New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 38 The Royal Society of New Zealand 347 366 doi 10 1080 00288330 2004 9517243 East Harbour Management Services January 2004 Identification of Potential Hydroelectric Resources Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment Government of New Zealand Retrieved 21 March 2009 Further reading editKnight Catherine 2016 New Zealand s Rivers An Environmental History Christchurch Canterbury University Press ISBN 978 1 927145 76 0 Mosley M Paul ed 1992 Waters of New Zealand Wellington New Zealand Hydrological Society ISBN 0 473 01667 2 Egarr Graham Jan Egarr John Mackay 64 New Zealand rivers a scenic evaluation Auckland New Zealand Canoeing Association Collier K J Clapcott J E Young R G August 2009 Influence of Human Pressures on Large River Structure and Function PDF CBER Contract Report 95 Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rivers of New Zealand National Institute of Water amp Atmospheric Research National Centre for Water Resources Wild Rivers a campaign to protect rivers Whitewater NZ formerly New Zealand Recreational Canoeing Association Ministry for the Environment water information page League table of the suitability of New Zealand rivers for contact recreation from NIWA Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rivers of New Zealand amp oldid 1137307974, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
