Waipā River
| Waipā River | |
|---|---|
From Waingaro Rd bridge looking north down Waipā River to Ngāruawāhia Point bandstand, the Waikato (coming from right) and the Hakarimata Range in the background (19 September 2012) | |
The Waipā River – The Waikato's largest tributary | |
| Location | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Rangitoto Range |
| • elevation | 703 m (2,306 ft) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Waikato River |
• elevation | 20 m (66 ft) |
| Length | 115 km (71 mi) |
| Basin size | 3,050 km2 (1,180 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 83.9 m3/s (2,960 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Wharekiri Stream, Kaama Stream, Waiharakea Stream, Otanetapoto Stream, Mangawhaka Stream, Ngakuratro Stream, Mangawhero Stream, Mangapu River, Orahiri Stream, Waitomo Stream, Mangamahoe Stream, Owaikura Stream, Ongaruhe Stream, Moakurarua Stream, Ngakoaohia Stream, Mangauika Stream, Ngaparierua Stream, Mangawawe Stream, Mangamauku Stream, Mangao Stream, Rangitukia Stream, Paratawa Stream, Tunaeke Stream, Karakariki Stream, Mangaotama Stream, Karangatuoro Stream, Timaru Stream, Te Paki Stream, Maroheno Stream, Firewood Creek, Mangarata Stream. |
| • right | Otamaroa Stream, Okahukura Stream, Mata Stream, Tunawaea Stream, Owawenga Stream, Tauraroa Stream, Parapara Stream, Mohoanui Stream, Mangaoronga Stream, Okuri Stream, Okohau Stream, Mangawhero Stream, Puniu River, Mangapiko Stream, Mangakaware Stream, Mangaotama Stream, Mangahia Stream, Koromatua Stream, Ohote Stream. |
The Waipā River is in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. The headwaters are in the Rangitoto Range east of Te Kūiti. It flows north for 115 kilometres (71 mi), passing through Ōtorohanga and Pirongia, before flowing into the Waikato River at Ngāruawāhia. It is the Waikato's largest tributary. The Waipā's main tributary is the Puniu River.
In the headwaters upstream of Ōtorohanga the river can be very clear during low flow conditions. This section of the river flows through rough farmland and patches of native bush. In this clearer part of the river there can be very good fly fishing for trout but access to the river may be limited without landowner permission.
The Waipā is prone to flooding in its lower reaches as flood flows can be over 100 times—20 to 560 m3/s (710 to 19,780 cu ft/s)—those of dry flows and the river can rise up to 11 m (36 ft).
In 2013 Maniapoto Māori Trust Board and the riparian local councils set up a joint management agreement for the river, following the passing of Nga Wai o Maniapoto ( Waipā River) Act 2012. On 16 July 2020 the official name was gazetted as Waipā River.