{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox river | name = Tapu River | image =Tapu River estuary.jpg | image_size = | image_caption =Tapu River estuary | source1_location = Coromandel Range | mouth_location = Firth of Thames | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = New Zealand | length_km = 10.4 | source1_elevation ={{convert|644|m|abbr=on}} | mouth_elevation =0m | discharge1_avg = | basin_size_km2 = 26 }} The '''Tapu River''' (Waipatukahu Stream prior to 1974)<ref>{{LINZ|id=51149|name=Waipatukahu Stream|access-date=2023-03-17}}</ref> is a river of the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand's North Island. It flows west from the Coromandel Range, reaching the Firth of Thames at the settlement of Tapu, approximately halfway between Thames and Coromandel.<ref>{{LINZ|40461|Tapu River|2010-06-08}}</ref> thumb|Tapu River from SH25 bridge Except for ammoniacal nitrogen, water quality in the river is good, as it mainly drains native forest;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tapu River at Tapu-Coroglen Rd MCI_SWQ River Quality |url=https://www.lawa.org.nz/explore-data/waikato-region/river-quality/tapu-river/tapu-river-at-tapu-coroglen-rd-mci_swq/ |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA)}}</ref> only 5.1% of the catchment is farmed. The river runs over andesite and dacite. Fish in the river include long and shortfin eels (tuna), common bully (toitoi), redfin bully, torrentfish (panoko), smelt (pōrohe), īnanga, koura, trout and shrimp. To protect Tapu from flooding, the flow capacity of the river has been maximised.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 2006 |title=Minimum Flows for Ecosystem Health in Selected Coromandel Streams: Awaroa, Tapu, Waiomu and Wharekawa |url=https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/EWTR2007_31.pdf |website=Waikato Regional Council}}</ref> The native frogs, Leiopelma archeyi and Leiopelma hochstetteri, live near the valley.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Alison J. Perfect and Ben D. Bell |date=2005 |title=Assessment of the impact of 1080 on the native frogs Leiopelma archeyi and L. hochstetteri |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/documents/science-and-technical/drds209.pdf |website=Department of Conservation}}</ref>
The Tapu-Coroglen Road, opened in 1927,<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 December 1927 |title=Sun (Auckland) |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SUNAK19271214.2.91 |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> follows the river, passing the Rapaura Watergardens and the square kauri tree. Kauri was logged in the 1880s and 1950s.<ref name=":0" /> The SH25 bridge was built about 1937.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 August 1937 |title=Auckland Star |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19370828.2.179.1 |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref>
Gold was mined in the valley from 1868<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 January 1868 |title=WAIPATUKAHU. Daily Southern Cross |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18680124.2.14 |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> at several mines;<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 June 1884 |title=TAPU DISTRICT. Thames Advertiser |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THA18840626.2.8 |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> mining continued in the area until at least the 1930s.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 December 1935 |title=District Gold. Thames Star |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THS19351220.2.20 |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref>
==See also== *List of rivers of New Zealand
==References== {{reflist}}
{{coord|-36.983995|175.500037|region:NZ_type:river|display=title}}
Category:Thames-Coromandel District Category:Rivers of Waikato Category:Rivers of New Zealand Category:Firth of Thames Category:Hauraki Gulf catchment
{{Waikato-river-stub}}