Taramakau River

Taramakau River
View westwards from near Jacksons
Map
Route of the Taramakau River
Taramakau River is located in New Zealand
Taramakau River
Mouth of the Taramakau River
Taramakau River is located in South Island
Taramakau River
Taramakau River (South Island)
EtymologyFrom Kāi Tahu Māori: tere – to flow, and makau – curve or bend
Native nameTeremakau (Māori)
Location
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWest Coast Region
DistrictWestland District
Physical characteristics
SourceHarper Pass
 • locationSouthern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana
 • coordinates42°44′07″S 171°52′56″E / 42.735303°S 171.882091°E / -42.735303; 171.882091
 • elevation1,220 m (4,000 ft)
MouthKumara Junction
 • location
Tasman Sea
 • coordinates
42°33′56″S 171°07′30″E / 42.565614°S 171.125064°E / -42.565614; 171.125064
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length75 kilometres (47 mi)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftOtehake River, Ōtira River, Taipo River, Big Wainihinihi River
 • rightMichael Creek, Taverners Creek, Rubieslaw Creek, Greenstone River / Hokonui

The Taramakau River is a river of the West Coast Region of the South Island of New Zealand.[1] It rises in the Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana near Harper Pass, 80 kilometres (50 mi) due east of Hokitika, and runs westward for 75 kilometres (47 mi) into the Tasman Sea 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of Greymouth.[1][2]

The Taramakau River forms the administrative boundary between the Westland District to the south and the Grey District to the north.[3][4]

Several small rivers are tributaries of the Taramakau. The largest of upper tributaries are the Otehake River and the Ōtira River. The valley of the Ōtira forms the western approach to Arthur's Pass.[5] The Taipo River is a major tributary joining the Taramakau from the south, downstream of Inchbonnie.[6]

  1. ^ a b Sheridan, Mattilda (2014). The effects of an Alpine Fault earthquake on the Taramakau River, South Island New Zealand (MSc). University of Canterbury. doi:10.26021/8885. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Taramakau hunting". www.doc.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  3. ^ "About Westland District – Land". Westland District Council. Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  4. ^ "About the Grey District – Grey District Council". Grey District Council. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Taramakau River". nzfishing.com. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  6. ^ Haast, Julius von (1879). "Geology of the Provinces of Canterbury and Westland, New Zealand : a report comprising the results of official explorations – The Taramakau". New Zealand Electronic Text Collection. Retrieved 16 July 2022 – via Victoria University of Wellington.