Waitākere River

{{Short description|River in the Auckland Region, New Zealand}} {{for|the river in the South Island|Waitakere / Nile River}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=September 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox river | name = Waitākere River | native_name = | name_other = | name_etymology = | nickname =  | image = Waitākere River 20241222 103123.jpg | image_size = 270px | image_caption = The Waitākere River at Te Piringa / Cascade Kauri in the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park | image_alt =  | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 10 | mapframe-wikidata = yes | mapframe-point = none | mapframe-caption = Route of the Waitākere River | map_alt = | pushpin_map = Auckland#New Zealand | pushpin_map_size = 270px | pushpin_map_caption= Mouth of the Waitākere River | pushpin_map_alt =  | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = New Zealand | subdivision_type2 = Region | subdivision_name2 = Auckland Region | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 =  | length = {{convert|16|km|mi|abbr=on|0}} | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = | discharge1_max =  | source1 = | source1_location = Waitākere Reservoir | source1_coordinates= {{coord|-36.89952|174.52935|type:river_region:NZ|display=inline}} | source1_elevation = | mouth = Tasman Sea | mouth_location = | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|-36.89142|174.44269|type:river_region:NZ|display=inline,title}} | mouth_elevation = | progression = '''Waitākere River''' → Tasman Sea | river_system = | basin_size = | basin_landmarks = Te Henga / Bethells Beach | basin_population = | tributaries_left = Cascade Stream, Bacon Stream, Maioha Stream, Wipene Stream, Koropotiki Stream, Brissenden Stream, Waiti Stream | tributaries_right = Kelly Stream, Toetoeroa Stream, Anderson Stream, Waitupu Stream, Mokoroa Stream | waterbodies = Te Henga Wetland | waterfalls = Waitākere Falls | bridges = | ports = | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }}

The '''Waitākere River''' is a river of the Auckland Region of New Zealand's North Island. It flows north then west from its sources in the Waitākere Ranges, reaching the Tasman Sea at Te Henga / Bethells Beach, to the south of Muriwai Beach. The upper reaches of the river are dammed to form the Waitākere Reservoir. The Waitākere Falls, just below the dam, are {{convert|95|m|ft}} high and the third highest waterfall in the North Island.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cr01.info/waterfalls/waitakere/waitakere.html |title=Waitakere waterfalls |work=New Zealand Waterfalls |accessdate=31 March 2014 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231518/http://cr01.info/waterfalls/waitakere/waitakere.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Geography== [[File:Waitakere Dam.jpg|thumb|left|The Waitākere Reservoir and the Waitākere Falls, pictured during a period of drought in 2013]]

The stream originated in the Waitākere Reservoir in the Waitākere Ranges, and begins flowing northwards after leaving the Waitākere Dam. The Waitākere Falls can be found on the river adjacent to the dam.<ref name="LINZ">{{LINZ|id=6815 |name=Waitākere River |access-date=14 June 2024}}</ref> The stream flows northwest through the Waitākere Ranges and is joined by a number of tributary streams, including the Cascade Stream, the location of a waterfall known as the Cascades,<ref>{{LINZ|id=43579 |name=The Cascades |access-date=14 June 2024}}</ref> and an unnamed tributary stream where the Waitoru Falls are located.<ref>{{LINZ|id=47228 |name=Waitoru Falls |access-date=14 June 2024}}</ref> After exiting the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park and meeting the Waitupu Stream, the Waitākere River flows westwards until it become a wetland, and flows into the Tasman Sea at Te Henga / Bethells Beach.<ref name="LINZ"/>

== History ==

The river was a central point for Te Kawerau ā Maki Māori, who originally called the lower section of the river Te Awa Kōtuku, or the White heron's Plume River, and the upper section Waikirikiri.<ref name="Deed">{{cite web|url=https://www.govt.nz/assets/Documents/OTS/Te-Kawerau-a-Maki/Te-Kawerau-a-Maki-Deed-of-Settlement-Documents-22-Feb-2014.pdf|title=Te Kawerau ā Maki Deed of Settlement Schedule|publisher=New Zealand Government|accessdate=2021-01-29|date=22 February 2014|archive-date=15 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115160632/https://www.govt.nz/assets/Documents/OTS/Te-Kawerau-a-Maki/Te-Kawerau-a-Maki-Deed-of-Settlement-Documents-22-Feb-2014.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The name Te Awa Kōtuku was a reference to the Waitākere Falls.<ref name="Murdoch">{{Cite book| editor-first=James| editor-last=Northcote-Bade |title=West Auckland Remembers, Volume 1 |year=1990 |publisher=West Auckland Historical Society |isbn=0-473-00983-8 |chapter=Nga Tohu o Waitakere: the Maori Place Names of the Waitakere River Valley and its Environs; their Background History and an Explanation of their Meaning |first1=Graeme |last1=Murdoch |pages=17–26}}</ref> The area was the most densely settled area of West Auckland,<ref name="Murdoch"/> and the river banks were the locations of many Te Kawerau ā Maki kāinga, such as Ōhutukawa near Lake Wainamu, Motu, Ōkaihau, Raumati, Pihāriki, Parawai, and Waitī.<ref name="Deed"/> In Te Kawerau ā Maki legend, the river is home to a malevolent taniwha named Te Mokoroa.<ref name="THBBWRVPlan">{{cite web |title=Local Area Plan: Te Henga (Bethells Beach) and the Waitākere River Valley. Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area |date=October 2015 |url=https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/arts-culture-heritage/heritage-walks-places/docswaitakererangesheritagearea/te-henga-bethells-beach-local-area-plan.pdf |author=Waitākere Ranges Local Board |publisher=Auckland Council |access-date=15 May 2022 |isbn=978-0-908320-17-2 |archive-date=15 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515050307/https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/arts-culture-heritage/heritage-walks-places/docswaitakererangesheritagearea/te-henga-bethells-beach-local-area-plan.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

While the river currently flows into the Tasman Sea south of Ihumoana Island at Te Henga / Bethells Beach, the river previously flowed north of the island, over-top of a rock named Waitākere ("cascading water"). The mouth of the river ("Te Puaha o Waitākere") began to be known as Waitākere during the early 18th century, after the death of an important chief whose body was laid on the rock.<ref name="Murdoch"/> Over time, Te Kawerau ā Maki began referring to the entire river by the name Waitākere.<ref name="Murdoch"/>

The upper Waitākere River was first milled for kauri timber from the 1870s, with bullock carts transporting timber to Auckland along clay tracks and barges.<ref name="THBBWRVPlan"/> The opening of the North Auckland railway between Auckland and Helensville in 1881 opened up the upper Waitākere River area for more intensive logging.<ref name="THBBWRVPlan"/> In the late 1880s, a small sawmill operated in the Waitākere River valley.<ref name="THBBWRVPlan"/>

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Waitākere Falls was one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Waitākere Ranges, until the construction of the Waitākere Dam in 1910 severely reduced the water volume.<ref>{{Cite book| editor-first=James| editor-last=Northcote-Bade |title=West Auckland Remembers, Volume 1 |year=1990 |publisher=West Auckland Historical Society |isbn=0-473-00983-8 |chapter=Adres Reischek's Visit to the Waitakere Ranges |first1=James |last1=Northcote-Bade |pages=60}}</ref> The dam was constructed to solve successive drinking water crises faced by the city of Auckland.<ref name="EvolvingAuckland2.1">{{Cite book| editor-first=John| editor-last=La Roche |title=Evolving Auckland: The City's Engineering Heritage |year=2011 |publisher=Wily Publications |chapter=Auckland's Water Supply |first1=John |last1=La Roche |author-link1=John La Roche |pages=27–50 |isbn=9781927167038}}</ref> It caused a major drop in the volume of the river, stopping the river from being able to be navigated by canoe, reduced the water quality levels, and significantly affecting the availability of fish and other river resources, negatively affecting the Te Kawerau ā Maki community living along the river.<ref name="THBBWRVPlan"/> Between 1919 and 1925, kauri logging intensified when the Kauri Timber Company (KTC) operated along the Waitākere River valley.<ref name="THBBWRVPlan"/> During this period, the company operated a bush tramline along the valley.<ref name="THBBWRVPlan"/> In 1927, the height of the Waitakere Dam was increased, which increased the size of the Waitakere Reservoir and flooded the original site of Waitī.<ref name="Deed"/>

==Gallery== <gallery> File:Waitakare Reservoir 3.jpg|The Waitākere Reservoir File:WaitakereDam.jpg|The Waitākere Dam File:Waitākere River valley 20241222 113532.jpg|The upper Waitākere River valley northwest of the Waitākere Reservoir File:Waitakere River 20211102 133451.jpg|The Waitākere River near Te Henga (Bethells Beach) </gallery>

==References== <references />

Category:Rivers of the Auckland Region Category:Te Kawerau ā Maki Category:Waitākere Ranges Category:Waitākere Ranges Local Board Area Category:West Auckland, New Zealand