Big River (Southland)

Big River
Big River in the 1910s
Route of the Big River
Mouth of the Big River Show map of New Zealand Big River (Southland) (South Island) Show map of South Island
Native name	Hakapoua
Location
Country	New Zealand
Physical characteristics
Source	Cameron Mountains
• coordinates	46°00′16″S 166°56′24″E / 46.0045°S 166.9399°E / -46.0045; 166.9399
• elevation	1,304 m (4,278 ft)
Mouth
• location	Foveaux Strait
• coordinates	46°13′00″S 166°55′40″E / 46.21673°S 166.92785°E / -46.21673; 166.92785
• elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	33 km (21 mi)
Basin features
Progression	Big River → Foveaux Strait

The Big River has also been known by several other names, Windsor River^[1] and Māori names Hakapoua,^[2] Okopowa,^[3] Patu-po,^[4] or Patupō,^[5] though that last name, meaning kill by night,^[1] might refer to a place near Long Point and Waitutu.^[6] It is a river of southern Fiordland, New Zealand, and is one of three rivers of that name in the South Island. It is the main source of Lake Hakapoua and a lower stretch is the lake's 2-kilometre (1.2 mi) outflow to the sea. The river rises on the 1,123 m (3,684 ft) high Arnett Peak,^[7] in the Cameron Mountains, runs about 23 km (14 mi) to the lake.^[8] At about the mid point of the river it runs through a narrow gorge.^[9] Elsewhere it is generally very shallow.^[10] The river is in the Fiordland National Park.^[11]

The area was used by Kāti Mamoe and later by Ngāi Tahu.^[1]

In 1903, when the area was first surveyed, whio, swan, kākāpō, weka and kākā were common.^[12] A taihoropī (grebe) has been reported on the lake.^[13] Red deer are common in the area.^[14]