Waimakariri River

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Waimakariri River

The Waimakariri with Christchurch in the background

Origin

Southern Alps

Mouth

Pacific Ocean

Basin countries

New Zealand

Mouth elevation

0 metres

The Waimakariri River has its source in theSouthern Alps and flows across the Canterbury Plains of the South Island ofNew Zealand

The Waimakariri River, formerly briefly known as the Courtenay River, is one of the largest of
the North Canterbury rivers, in the South Island ofNew Zealand. It flows for 151 kilometres in a
generally southeastward direction from the Southern Alps across the Canterbury Plains to
thePacific Ocean. In Mori, Waimakariri has several meanings, one of which is "river of cold
rushing water". The river is known colloquially in Canterbury as "The Waimak".
[1]

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 isbraided, 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 finally enters the Pacific north ofChristchurch, near the town of Kaiapoi.
In 1849, the chief surveyor of the Canterbury Association, Joseph Thomas, gave the river the
name Courtenay River after Lord Courtenay, but it lapsed into disuse.
[2][3]

Geological evidence indicates that the river mouth has been very mobile, at times flowing through
the current location of Christchurch and even flowing into Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihorasouth
of Banks Peninsula for a time.
[4]

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).
[5]

Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) were introduced from California in the 1900s and
persist today.
[6]

Contents
[hide]

1 Development
2 Pollution
3 References
4 External links

Development[edit]
In 1923 the river was mainly investigated for a hydroelectric dam to supply electricity to
Christchurch. It received support from the community but the dam was never built since the
Government offered inexpensive electricity from the Lake Coleridgescheme.
[7]

The Central Plains Water Trust is proposing to take 40 cubic metres per second of water from two
points on the Waimakariri River as part of the Central Plains Water enhancement scheme.
[8]

A water pollution sign on the lower reaches of the river.

Pollution[edit]
See also: Water pollution in the Canterbury Region
In 2007 the Waimakariri was ranked as one of the ten most polluted of the larger rivers in New
Zealand. Some of the pollution was caused by liquid wastes from industries such as a meat
processing plant and wool scourers in the vicinity of the river. The wastes were discharged
directly into it but as of 2012 it was piped to the municipalsewage treatment plant. There had
been some non-compliance issues with theresource consents for water discharge.
[9]

[10]