Rangitaiki River

Rangitaiki River
Rangitaiki River
The Rangitaiki River system
Native nameRangitaiki (Māori)
Location
CountryNew Zealand
RegionBay of Plenty
DistrictTaupo, Whakatāne
TownsMurupara, Edgecumbe
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • coordinates39°0′7″S 176°26′53″E / 39.00194°S 176.44806°E / -39.00194; 176.44806
Mouth 
 • location
Bay of Plenty
 • coordinates
37°54′32″S 176°52′55″E / 37.90889°S 176.88194°E / -37.90889; 176.88194
 • elevation
Sea level
Length155 kilometres (96 mi)
Basin size3,005 square kilometres (1,160 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • average74 m3/s (2,600 cu ft/s)[1]
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • rightOtamatea River, Wheao River, Whirinaki River, Horomanga River
WaterbodiesLake Āniwaniwa, Lake Matahina
WaterfallsĀniwaniwa Falls

The Rangitaiki River is the longest river in the Bay of Plenty region in New Zealand's North Island. It is 155 kilometres (96 mi) long, and rises inland from northern Hawkes Bay to the east of the Kaingaroa Forest. The Rangitaiki catchment covers an area of 3005 km2.[2] It flows in a generally northeastward direction, passing through the town of Murupara and skirting close to the western edge of Te Urewera National Park before turning northwards, flowing past Edgecumbe and into the Bay of Plenty close to Thornton.

There are two man-made lakes on the Rangitaiki formed by hydro-electric dams, Lake Āniwaniwa (formerly Lake Aniwhenua).[3] and Lake Matahina.

  1. ^ "NIWA Water & soil miscellaneous publication no. 48 (1983)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference LAWA1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference DOS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).