Waikawau River (Waikawau Bay)

The Waikawau River is the name of two rivers on the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand's North Island, which each have nearby settlements called Waikawau. The more southerly flows generally west from its sources in the Coromandel Range, reaching the Firth of Thames at Waikawau Beach. This river flows south east off the Moehau Range to join the Pacific in Waikawau Bay.[1] Both rivers were officially named on 21 June 2019.[2][3]

For the river in south Waikato, see Waikawau River (Waitomo District).
Waikawau River
Waikawau Bay and Waikawau River (centre)
Location
CountryNew Zealand
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationOnekura, Moehau Range
 • elevation374 m (1,227 ft)
Mouth 
 • location
Waikawau Bay, Pacific Ocean
 • elevation
0m
Length10 km (6 mi)
Coromandel Waikawau Bay

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "water of the shag" for Waikawau.[4]

Waikawau River has 69% of its catchment in forest and scrub. Fish in the river include giant kōkopu, long and shortfin eels (tuna), giant bully (tītarakura), common bully (toitoi), redfin bully, torrentfish (panoko), smelt (pōrohe), īnanga, koura, trout and shrimp.[5] Since 2006 work has been done to enhance 60 ha (150 acres) of wetlands and saltmarsh in the estuary, to increase bittern (matuku hūrepo), spotless crake (pūweto), banded rail (moho-pererū), fernbird (kōtātā) and pateke.[6] 98 plant species have also been identified in the reserve,[7] which is part of the 1,150 ha (2,800 acres) Waikawau Bay Farm Park.[8] A campsite is at the eastern end of the bay,[9] established in 1929.[10]

See also

References
  1. "Waikawau River, Waikato". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  2. "NZGB Gazetteer | linz.govt.nz". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  3. "Waikawau River". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  4. "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  5. "Minimum flows for ecosystem health in lowland streams of the Coromandel" (PDF). Waikato Regional Council. June 2007.
  6. "Waikawau Bay Wetland Restoration Project Report" (PDF). Moehau Environment Group. March 2007.
  7. "Waikawau Farm Park shore and estuary". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. 27 January 2003. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  8. "Waikawau Bay in the Coromandel saved for public". The Beehive. 27 February 2003. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  9. "Waikawau Bay Campsite". www.doc.govt.nz. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  10. "COROMANDEL ROADS. New Zealand Herald". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 13 April 1929. Retrieved 2023-03-18.

36.58483°S 175.50194°E / -36.58483; 175.50194

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