Kaituna River
| Kaituna River | |
|---|---|
Rafting on the Kaituna River | |
Route of the Kaituna River | |
Mouth of the Kaituna River Kaituna River (North Island) | |
| Location | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Lake Rotoiti |
| • location | Ōkere Inlet |
| • coordinates | 38°01′03″S 176°20′41″E / 38.0174°S 176.34481°E |
| Mouth | |
• location | Bay of Plenty |
• coordinates | 37°44′54″S 176°24′54″E / 37.74839°S 176.41512°E |
| Length | 53 km (33 mi) (approx) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 36 m3/s (1,300 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Kaituna River → Bay of Plenty → Pacific Ocean |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Hururu Stream, Paraiti River, Pakipaki Stream, Parawhenuamea Stream, Waiari Stream, Raparapahoe Canal, Kopuaroa Canal |
| • right | Onepu Stream |
| Waterfalls | Okere Falls, Tutea Falls, Trout Pool Falls, Kaituna Falls |
| Bridges | Okere Bridge, Kaituna River Bridge |
The Kaituna River is in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is the outflow from Lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti, and flows northwards for 45 kilometres (28 mi), emptying into the Bay of Plenty at Maketu. It was the subject of a claim concerning the effluent flowing down the river from Lake Rotorua, which resulted in movement to a land treatment system.
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "eat eels" for Kaituna.
The upper section of the Kaituna, also referred to as Okere River, offers some of the best whitewater kayaking and rafting in the world, with the Okere Falls area containing the highest commercially rafted waterfall, 7 metres (23 ft), in the world. It is also famous for its trout fishing.