Ōpārau River Explained

Ōpārau River
Mouth Location:Kawhia Harbour
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:New Zealand
Length:24.5km (15.2miles)
Source1 Elevation:953m (3,127feet)
Mouth Elevation:0m
Basin Size:120km2

The Ōpārau River is a river of the Waikato Region of New Zealand's North Island in the area occupied by Ngāti Hikairo.[1] It flows southwest from its sources in the Pirongia Forest Park, the highest being The Cone, and flows into the Kawhia Harbour, 5km (03miles) east of Kawhia.[2] The river has about 1710NaN0 of tributaries.[3]

Name

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives translations of "place of many fortified villages" or "place of falsehood" for Ōpārau.[4] The official name was confirmed by Gazette as Ōpārau River on 21 June 2019.[5]

Pollution

The river is naturally turbid and had low to moderate levels of phosphorus and nitrogen,[6] though it is among the poorer rivers for ammoniacal nitrogen, black disc and e coli measurements.[7]

Nature

Tiritiri Matangi peninsula, in the river's estuary,[8] is a protected area of international ecological significance, as it is an important stop for migratory seabirds.[9] Redfin bully and kōaro are common fish in the river.[10] Fragrant fern[11] and Pānakenake grow in the valley.[12]

Walks

Walking tracks around the upper catchment of the river are the Ōpārau Route, Bells Track and Hihikiwi Track (part of Te Araroa long distance trail).[13]

Roads and bridges

In 1885 the road crossing the river was only 60NaN0 wide at Ōpārau.[14] From about 1900 a coach ran for passengers between Kawhia and Te Awamutu,[15] with a launch between Kawhia and Ōpārau.[16] Ōpārau Ferry Bridge opened in 1913.[17] In 1924 a 520NaN0 concrete bridge was built over the Ōpārau to carry what is now SH31.[18] Metalling of the road was completed in 1926.[19]

In 1938 the Hamilton mayor, John Fow, and Chamber of Commerce were reviewing plans for a new link to Kawhia. A route through the valley, via Kaniwhaniwha[20] and Karamu was suggested and, by 1945, there was much backing for a 100NaN0 long road on that route, which would have reduced the distance between Hamilton and Kawhia by about 200NaN0.[21]

Hydroelectric

From 1923 Ōpārau was served by hydroelectric power, generated for the dairy[22] by a 330NaN0 turbine at Mangapapa Falls,[23] about 20NaN0 upstream from the village.[24] A 1922 Order in Council allowed up to 100NaN0 per second of water to be taken.[25] The dairy opened in 1904.[26]

School

Ōpārau village had a school from 1902[27] until it closed in 2006.[28]

See also

External links

Photos -

-38.05°N 229°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Aug 2005. Ngāti Hikairo Iwi Management Plan Freshwater.
  2. Web site: The Cone, Waikato. 2021-05-08. NZ Topo Map. en.
  3. Web site: Environmental monitoring data for Oparau River. 2021-05-08. Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA).
  4. Web site: 1000 Māori place names. New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  5. Web site: Ōpārau River. 2021-05-08. gazetteer.linz.govt.nz.
  6. Web site: Nov 2009. Shore Futures. Waikato Regional Council.
  7. Web site: Oparau River at Langdon Rd (Off Okupata Rd) River Quality. 2021-05-08. Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA).
  8. Web site: Tiritirimatangi Peninsula, Waikato. 2021-05-08. NZ Topo Map. en.
  9. Web site: Dec 2016. West Coast News. Waikato Regional Council.
  10. Web site: Distribution, abundance and conservation status of native fish in some Waikato streams in the North Island of New Zealand. 2021-05-08. ResearchGate. en.
  11. Web site: Fragrant fern. 2021-05-08. collections.tepapa.govt.nz.
  12. Web site: Pānakenake (Lobelia angulata). 2021-05-09. iNaturalist. en.
  13. Web site: Sep 2011. Pirongia and Raglan tracks. Department of Conservation.
  14. Web site: 24 Feb 1885. TO KAWHIA ON WHEELS. WAIKATO TIMES. 2021-05-08. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  15. Web site: 7 Jul 1900. TE AWAMUTU. WAIKATO ARGUS. 2021-05-09. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  16. Web site: 19 Dec 1902. KAWHIA. AUCKLAND STAR. 2021-05-09. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  17. Web site: 28 May 1913. KAWHIA COUNTY COUNCIL. KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. 2021-05-09. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  18. Web site: 9 Oct 1924. OTOROHANGA NEWS. WAIPA POST. 2021-05-09. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  19. Web site: 27 Apr 1926. LOCAL AND GENERAL. WAIPA POST. 2021-05-09. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  20. Web site: 25 Mar 1938. PUBLIC OPINION. WAIKATO TIMES. 2021-05-08. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  21. Web site: 8 Dec 1945. ROAD TO KAWHIA. WAIKATO TIMES. 2021-05-08. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  22. Web site: 6 Dec 1923. HON J. G. COATES' VISIT. WAIPA POST. 2021-05-09. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  23. Web site: 15 Dec 1923. OPARAU DAIRY COMPANY. WAIKATO TIMES. 2021-05-09. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  24. Web site: 1953. 1:63360 map Sheet: N73 Kawhia. 2021-05-09. www.mapspast.org.nz.
  25. Web site: 3 Jul 1922. License authorizing the Oparau Co-operative Dairy Company (Limited) to Use Water from the Mangapapa Stream.
  26. Web site: 4 Jun 1904. Local and General. WAIKATO TIMES. 2021-05-09. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  27. Web site: 17 Oct 1902. KAWHIA. WAIKATO TIMES. 2021-05-09. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  28. Web site: 2012-03-01. Waikato classrooms sitting idle. 2021-05-09. Stuff. en.

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