Cust River

{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox river | name = Cust River | image = | image_size = | image_caption = | source1_location = [[Canterbury Plains]] | mouth_location = [[Cam River / Ruataniwha]] | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|-43.37375|172.63433|format=dms|type:river_region:NZ-CAN|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = [[New Zealand]] | length_km = 51 | source1_elevation = | mouth_elevation = | discharge1_avg = | basin_size = }} The '''Cust River''' is a river in the [[Canterbury, New Zealand|Canterbury]] region of New Zealand. It flows east across the upper [[Canterbury Plains]] from its source north of the town of [[Oxford, New Zealand]], flowing into the [[Cam River / Ruataniwha]] close to the town of [[Rangiora]]. The small town of [[Cust, New Zealand|Cust]] lies on the banks of the river.<ref>{{cite book|title=Reed New Zealand Atlas|year=2004|isbn=0-7900-0952-8|editor=Peter Dowling |publisher=Reed Books|pages=Maps 81–82|no-pp=true}}</ref> The lower part of the river, to the south-west of Rangiora, is diverted into a channel and called the "Main Drain".<ref>{{cite book|title=Discover New Zealand:A Wises Guide|edition=9th|year=1994|pages=373, 394}}</ref> The channel was built in 1862 to drain the swampy land between Rangiora and the [[Waimakariri River]], and when it was enlarged in 1868 it accidentally captured the Cust.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wil.co.nz/river.htm|title=The Waimakariri River|access-date=30 August 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014040202/http://www.wil.co.nz/river.htm|archive-date=14 October 2008}}</ref>

The river was named in 1849 after Sir [[Edward Cust]], a member of the [[Canterbury Association]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.visitwaimakariri.co.nz/new-zealand/Cust/ |title=Cust, New Zealand|access-date=30 August 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Reed |first=A. W. |title=Place Names of New Zealand |year=2010 |publisher=Raupo |location=Rosedale, North Shore |isbn=9780143204107 |page = 94 |editor=Peter Dowling }}</ref>

[[Brown trout]] spawn in the river<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Council/Proceedings/2002/February/StrategyFinance/Clause1AttachmentFish.pdf|title=Central Plains Water Proposal: Concerns of the North Canterbury Fish and Game Council|page=2|access-date=30 August 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724195348/http://www1.ccc.govt.nz/Council/Proceedings/2002/February/StrategyFinance/Clause1AttachmentFish.pdf|archive-date=24 July 2011}}</ref> and are suitable for fishing in spring.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzfishing.com/FishingWaters/NorthCanterbury/NCFishingWaters/NCCloseToChCh.htm|title=Fishing Close to Christchurch|access-date=30 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624204522/https://www.nzfishing.com/FishingWaters/NorthCanterbury/NCFishingWaters/NCCloseToChCh.htm|archive-date=24 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also== *[[List of rivers of New Zealand]]

==References== {{reflist}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20081014041929/http://www.linz.govt.nz/placenames/search/index.aspx Land Information New Zealand] - Search for Place Names

[[Category:Rivers of the Canterbury Region]] [[Category:Waimakariri District]] [[Category:Rivers of New Zealand]]