Rangitaiki River
| Rangitaiki River | |
|---|---|
Route of the Rangitaiki River | |
| Native name | Rangitāiki (Māori) |
| Location | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Bay of Plenty |
| District | Taupō, Whakatāne |
| Towns | Murupara, Edgecumbe, Thornton |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Confluence of the Tirikahu Stream and Lake Pouarua |
| • coordinates | 38°57′23″S 176°24′27″E / 38.95634°S 176.40756°E |
| Mouth | |
• location | Bay of Plenty |
• coordinates | 37°54′32″S 176°52′55″E / 37.909°S 176.882°E |
• elevation | Sea level |
| Length | 155 kilometres (96 mi) |
| Basin size | 3,005 square kilometres (1,160 mi2) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 74 m3/s (2,600 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Rangitaiki River → Bay of Plenty → Pacific Ocean |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Waikaukau Stream, Pekepeke Stream, Wairohia Stream, Ngatamawahine Stream, Pahekeheke Stream, Waikowhewhe Stream, Waitaruna Stream |
| • right | Otamatea River, Mangakokomuka Stream, Mangatiti Stream, Wheao River, Mangapaepae Stream, Waiariari Stream, Whirinaki River, Omahuru Stream, Horomanga River, Mangahouhi Stream, Mangapapa Stream, Kioreweku Stream, Mangamako Stream, Waihua Stream, Tawhia Stream, Mangamutu Stream, Waikokopu Stream, Kaiwhakinokino Stream, Waikuku Stream, Kakahotoa Stream, Reids Central Canal |
| Waterbodies | Lake Āniwaniwa, Lake Matahina |
| Waterfalls | Motutoa Rapids, Āniwaniwa Falls |
The Rangitaiki River, also known as the Rangitāiki River, is the longest river in the Bay of Plenty region in New Zealand's North Island. It is 155 kilometres (96 mi) long, and rises inland to the east of the Kaingaroa Forest in the Taupō District. The Rangitaiki catchment covers an area of 3,005 km2 (1,160 sq mi). It flows in a generally northeastward direction, passing through the town of Murupara and skirting close to the western edge of Te Urewera National Park before turning northwards, flowing past Edgecumbe and into the Bay of Plenty close to Thornton.
There are two man-made lakes on the Rangitaiki formed by hydro-electric dams, Lake Āniwaniwa (formerly Lake Aniwhenua). and Lake Matahina.