Waimakariri River

Waimakariri River
View of the Waimakariri River looking towards the Southern Alps
Interactive map of the Waimakariri River
Etymology	From Māori wai (water) and makariri (cold)
Location
Country	New Zealand
Region	Canterbury
Physical characteristics
Source	Southern Alps, near Mount Rolleston
• location	Southern Alps, Canterbury
• coordinates	42°54′13″S 171°29′48″E / 42.90361°S 171.49667°E / -42.90361; 171.49667
• elevation	1,535 m (5,036 ft)
Mouth	Brooklands Lagoon, Pacific Ocean
• location	near Kaiapoi
• coordinates	43°23′26″S 172°42′29″E / 43.39056°S 172.70806°E / -43.39056; 172.70806
• elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	151 km (94 mi)
Discharge
• average	76 m3/s (2,700 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Bealey River, Poulter River, Esk River, Eyre River, Kaiapoi River
• right	White River, Broken River, Kowai River, Styx River

The Waimakariri River is one of the largest rivers in Canterbury, on the eastern coast of New Zealand's South Island. It flows for 151 kilometres (94 mi) in a generally southeastward direction from the Southern Alps across the Canterbury Plains to the Pacific Ocean.

The river rises on the eastern flanks of the Southern Alps, eight kilometres southwest of Arthur's Pass. For much of its upper reaches, the river is braided, with wide shingle beds. As the river approaches the Canterbury Plains, it passes through a belt of mountains, and is forced into a narrow canyon (the Waimakariri Gorge), before reverting to its braided form for its passage across the plains. It enters the Pacific north of Christchurch, near the town of Kaiapoi.

Instead of being unoccupied Crown land as are most New Zealand river beds, the bed of the Waimakariri River is vested in the Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury).^[1]