Turakina River

The Turakina River is a river of the southwestern North Island of New Zealand. It flows generally southwestward from its source south of Waiouru,^[1] roughly paralleling the larger Whangaehu River, and reaches the Tasman Sea 20 kilometres (12 mi) southeast of Whanganui.^[2]

Turakina River
Turakina River. looking south west from SH3 bridge, after 13 Dec 2021 flood
Etymology	Māori meaning "tree felled across a river for a bridge"
Native name	Turakina (Māori)
Location
Country	New Zealand
Region	Manawatū-Whanganui
Settlements	Papanui Junction, Turakina, Koitiata
Physical characteristics
Source	5 km (3.1 mi) south west of Waiouru
• coordinates	39°31′0″S 175°37′57″E / 39.51667°S 175.63250°E / -39.51667; 175.63250
• elevation	900 metres (3,000 ft)
Mouth	Tasman Sea
• location	Koitiata
• coordinates	40°03′58″S 175°07′35″E / 40.06611°S 175.12639°E / -40.06611; 175.12639Coordinates: 40°03′58″S 175°07′35″E / 40.06611°S 175.12639°E / -40.06611; 175.12639
• elevation	Sea level
Length	137 kilometres (85 mi)
Basin size	962 square kilometres (371 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	12,528 cubic metres (442,400 cu ft)/day
Basin features
River system	Turakina River
Tributaries
• left	Mangapapa River

The river flows near Papanui Junction and Turakina. Pā sites existed at Te Maire, Pukemata, Toakaituna, and Maipaua.^[3] Donald McLean arranged signing of the Rangitīkei–Turakina deed with some of the owners on 15 May 1849,^[4] when The Crown claimed the Rangitīkei Block.^[5] Scottish settlers arrived from the late 1860s.^[6]

Floods on the Turakina are frequent, including 1897,^[7] 1920,^[8] 1939,^[9] 1940,^[10] 2013,^[11] 2015,^[12] 2017^[13] and 2021.^[14]

Te Araroa long-distance walkway crosses the river at the beach at Koitiata at low tide.^[15] The outlet of the river changes frequently, moving up to 4.5 km (3 mi) along the lagoon, which is formed by a sand bar.^[16][17][2] In 1997 an outlet was dug to reduce flooding.^[18][19]

12% of samples taken at the lagoon in 5 years to 2022 found E. coli levels too high for swimming.^[20] 81.1% of land in the catchment is used for animal grazing. Native bush covers only 8.5%.^[1]

Redfin bully live in the river.^[1]

Turakina Valley Road closely follows the river for 104 km (65 mi) between Tangiwai and Turakina.^[21] Much of it is a gravel road.^[22]

The river is crossed by SH3 and by the Marton–New Plymouth railway.^[2]

References

1. "Environmental monitoring data for Turakina". Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA). Retrieved 2 January 2022.
2. "Turakina River, Manawatu-Wanganui". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
3. "Schedule to the deed of settlement of the Historical Claims of Ngati Apa" (PDF). 8 October 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
4. "Report on aspects of the Wai 655 claim" (PDF). Waitangi Tribunal. 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
5. "Turakina | NZHistory, New Zealand history online". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
6. "Forging a region, 1870s–1920s". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
7. "The Whole of the Turakina Valley Inundated. WANGANUI HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 17 April 1897. Retrieved 2 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
8. "RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL. TAIHAPE DAILY TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 5 October 1920. Retrieved 2 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
9. "August 1939 Manawatu-Wanganui Flooding". hwe.niwa.co.nz. Retrieved 2 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
10. "February 1940 North Island and West Coast Flooding". hwe.niwa.co.nz. Retrieved 2 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
11. "Turakina farmland remains under water". Stuff. 17 October 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
12. "June 2015" (PDF).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
13. "Significant flood levels for Whanganui, Whangaehu and Turakina Rivers". 4 April 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
14. "'Tourists' made heavy rain and flooding seem worse, say residents". Stuff. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
15. "Manawatū-Whanganui trail notes". www.teararoa.org.nz. Retrieved 2 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
16. "Koitiata". Retrieved 2 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
17. "1:63360 map Sheet: N143 Marton". www.mapspast.org.nz. 1975. Retrieved 2 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
18. "Trench cut to release Turakina floodwater. Wanganui Chronicle" (PDF). 14 January 1997.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
19. "1997: Second attempt to drain the water" (PDF).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
20. "Turakina River". Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA). Retrieved 2 January 2022.
21. "Tangiwai to 3 Turakina Valley Road". Google maps. Retrieved 2 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
22. "Mangara Stream, Manawatu-Wanganui". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 2 January 2022.