| Maitai River | |
|---|---|
 Water behind the dam on the river | |
| Location | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| State | Nelson |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mouth | |
• location | Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere |
| Length | 11 km (7 mi) |
| Basin size | 9000 Ha |
| Discharge | |
| • minimum | 190L/s |
| • maximum | 400L/s |
The Maitai River (also known as the Mahitahi River)[1] is the largest river in the city of Nelson, in the north of New Zealand's South Island.[2] The river stretches from the Bryant Range, situated to the east (inland) of Nelson, where it flows towards the city, flowing west through the heart of the city and into the Tasman bay at Nelson Haven.[2] The catchment of the river covers some 9000 hectares, and has two branches in the upper catchment, the north meets a dam, where the south travels west into the middle catchment, from where it takes its final journey through the urban area of the city before meeting the ocean.[2]
The Maitai river provides habitats for a plethora of diverse wildlife, at all catchments of the river and its surrounding ecosystems. This sees that many species of bird, fish, mammals and reptiles use the river as both a home and a source of food and drinking water, as well as for extensive amounts of vegetation to grow around the abundant water-source.[2] There has also been discoveries of unique life in the Maitai River as well as surrounding rivers in the Nelson region.[3]
Social and leisure uses for the river range from walking trails to swimming holes, where either the river's water that meets the city is used by the population, or its inhabitants walk upstream towards a less urbanised section of the river.[4] Walking trails cover majority of the entrance of the river to the city, creating a source of exercise for the residents of Nelson and surrounding homes.[4] There are also tourist and leisure spots and activities that use the river.[5]
The river is also utilised by the council and government in more economic and resource management ways, where a dam and reservoir[6] has been placed on the river as well as the water from the river is used to supply the neighbouring city of Nelson with water.[7] The river is also used as a storm-water channel and flood channel for Nelson City.[5]
- ^ "Mahitahi (Maitai River)". Nelson City Council. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Story Map Series". nelsoncity.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
- ^ Ordish, R. G. (March 1976). "Two new genera and species of subterranean water beetle from New Zealand (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 3 (1): 1–10. doi:10.1080/03014223.1976.9517892. ISSN 0301-4223.
- ^ a b "Maitai River Walkway – Nelson City". Nelson Trails. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
- ^ a b Martin, J. (March 2020). "Iconic urban waterway and storm-water channel: Reviving the Maitai Channel". waternz. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
- ^ Marsay, Becky (June 2016). "Influences of changes of Maitai Dam operations on the water quality in the Maitai River and Reservoir" (PDF). nelson.govt. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
- ^ Pickens, G. A. (1989). "The Maitai Water Supply Project". IPENZ Annual Conference 1989, Proceedings of: Engineering Our Natural Resources; Papers Prepared for the Conference, Dunedin, February 13–17; Civil, General and Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical: 163.