{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox river | name = Awapoto River | image = Awaroa Inlet 2186 05.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = Awapoto River (left) flowing into the Awaroa Inlet; Awaroa Road (far left) is also visible | map = {{Maplink|frame=yes|type=line|plain=yes|zoom=11|frame-align=center|frame-width=270|frame-height=270|stroke-color=#0000ff|stroke-width=2}} | map_size = | map_caption = Route of the Awapoto River | map_alt = | pushpin_map = New Zealand#New Zealand South Island | pushpin_map_size = 270px | pushpin_map_caption = Mouth of the Awapoto River | pushpin_map_alt = | source1_location = Evans Ridge<!-- Q30509096 --> | source1_coordinates = {{coord|-40.903|172.934|format=dms|display=inline}} | source1_elevation = {{convert|975|m}} | mouth_location = [[Awaroa Inlet]] | mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|m}} | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|-40.859|172.997|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = New Zealand | length = | discharge1_avg = | basin_size = | progression = '''Awapoto River''' → Awaroa Inlet → Awaroa Bay → [[Tasman Sea]] | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | waterfalls = | bridges = }}
The '''Awapoto River''', also known as '''Little River''' as a literal translation from [[Māori language|Māori]],<ref name="Awaroa Legacy">{{cite book |last1=Dawber |first1=Carol |last2=Wilson |first2=Lynette |date=1999 |title=Awaroa Legacy : the Story of the Hadfield Family |url= |location=Picton |publisher=River Press |isbn=9780959804164}}</ref>{{rp|46}} is a river in the [[Tasman District]] of New Zealand. It rises east of Evans Ridge. There are no named peaks near the source, but the [[Abel Tasman Inland Track]] follows Evans Ridge near the river's source.<ref name="Awapoto LINZ">{{LINZ|id=15956|name=Awapoto River|access-date=13 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{LINZ|id=20451|name=Evans Ridge|access-date=13 January 2024}}</ref> The Awapoto River initially flows north-east and then east through the [[Abel Tasman National Park]]. It flows through Hadfield Clearing and then passes under Awaroa Road before entering the [[Awaroa Inlet]].<ref name="Awapoto LINZ" />
What became known as Hadfield Clearing is part of the {{convert|1000|acre}} of land purchased by Frederick Hadfield in 1863; the river flows through this land. Together with William Lightband, he had also leased {{convert|2000|acre}} north of Abel Head,<!-- Q32114211 --> on the south side of Awaroa Inlet, from the previous year.<ref name="Awaroa Legacy" />{{rp|35}} Two of Frederick Hadfield's sons would take up farming in this area: William Hadfield (1844–1920) farmed along the Awapoto River; and Harry Hadfield (1847–1913) farmed along the [[Awaroa River (Tasman)|Awaroa River]] that flows into the southern reaches of Awaroa Inlet.<ref name="Awaroa Legacy" />{{rp|38–68}} William Hadfield had a modest homestead on his land and raised a family of two girls and seven boys.<ref name="Awaroa Legacy" />{{rp|38}} One of his sons was [[Darcy Hadfield]], the winner of New Zealand's first Olympic medal in rowing (in the [[Rowing at the 1920 Summer Olympics – Men's single sculls|single sculls in 1920)]].<ref>{{DNZB|McMillan|N. A. C.|3h2|Hadfield, Darcy Clarence|13 January 2024}}</ref>
Hadfield Clearing was farmed by the family until 2004, when Bill Hadfield died. In November 2006, the descendants sold the land—by now {{convert|790|ha}}—to the [[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]]; it was the last significant block of land to be incorporated into Abel Tasman National Park.<ref>{{cite web |title=It's all in a name ... Hadfield Clearing |url=https://www.janszoon.org/news/its-all-in-a-name-hadfield-clearing/ |publisher=Project Janszoon |access-date=13 January 2024}}</ref>
Since 2017, the [[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] and Project Janszoon have released just under 300 [[brown teal]] in the Awapoto River. The birds are successfully breeding in that location. Fiordland's [[Arthur River (New Zealand)|Arthur Valley]] is the only other mainland site in the [[South Island]] where brown teal live in the wild.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pāteke / brown teal |url= https://www.janszoon.org/the-park/wildlife/pateke-brown-teal/ |access-date=16 January 2024 |work=Project Janszoon}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Abel Tasman National Park}} {{Tasman District}}
[[Category:Rivers of the Tasman District]] [[Category:Rivers of New Zealand]] [[Category:Abel Tasman National Park]]