# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Waikato River Trails Trust have constructed a series of wonderful cycling and walking trails along the Waikato River from Lake Arapuni to Atiamuri.

In 2007, Kessels & Associates completed an environmental management strategy for the Trust. This year, we developed a 10 year restoration plan for the Huihuitaha Wetland. Britta Deichmann was engaged by the Trust to support the restoration of this wetland as part of the River Trails ongoing commitment to enhancing the biodiversity values along the Waikato River.

The restoration plan included methods to allow for the removal of a number of weeds, restorative planting and monitoring strategies. Britta also conducted training sessions for the trails maintenance staff to assist with weed recognition and microplanting to ensure sustainable restoration planting.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Waikato River Trails Trust have constructed a series of wonderful cycling and walking trails along the Waikato River from Lake Arapuni to Atiamuri. In 2007, Kessels & Associates completed an environmental management strategy for the Trust. This year, we developed a 10 year restoration plan for the Huihuitaha Wetland.

# data[].attributes.body
Video about the Waikato River

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
by C W Clark - 28 September 1926 From Ruapehu's snowy slopes A turgid torrent flows; But soon in spacious Taupo Lake It seeks a short repose. There fed by fellow streams and rills, Its...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The climate is mild and temperate with moderate rainfall of 1200-1600mm per annum, with the higher western hills having the most rain. Summers are drier with maximum temperatures of 25-28 degrees Celsius. Summer droughts occur one year in ten. Winter maxima are 12-15 degrees Celsius.

# data[].attributes.body
This is very useful for the history of Waikato river :)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A river used to run through it

Driving to Auckland some years ago, just as State Highway 1 approached the Waikato River at Lake Karapiro, I glanced eastwards and was struck by some cliffs that reared up from the green farmland. They looked as if they should have had a river running between them. Later, when I consulted a geologist friend, I was gratified to learn that the Waikato River was believed to have once flowed through the opening, known as the Hinuera Gap, on its way to the Hauraki Gulf.

When and why the Waikato changed course has been investigated by Vern Manville and Colin Wilson, two scientists working for the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences. They believe it was one of the consequences of the catastrophic Oruanui eruption of the Taupo volcano around 26,500 years ago. This ejected about 530 cu km of magma, making it 15 times bigger than the better-known eruption around 1800 years ago.

The collapse of a caldera formed the depression we now know as Lake Taupo. The eruption destroyed an older lake that overlapped part of the new one but extended much further to the north-east. Some of the original lake water remained after the eruption but the new depression took between 100 and 200 years to fill completely. Fossil beaches high above the lake show that it was once over 100 m deeper than it is today. At that time there was an outlet to the north-west through Waihora Bay and down Mangakino Stream.

Over the following centuries, tributaries of the former Waikato River gradually eroded their way through the volcanic deposits to reach the lake near its present-day outlet. The result was a catastrophic flood, 80 cu km of water being released over a period of probably just a few weeks, lowering the lake by over 80 m. Boulders more than 10 m in diameter found among the debris fans testify to the power of the flood, which rolled them like marbles through the river gorges.

For more than 300,000 years before the eruption, the Waikato River had flowed through the Hinuera Gap, across the Hauraki Plains and into the Hauraki Gulf. Debris left by the break-out flood and subsequent upstream erosion covers an area of the Hauraki Plains 20 by 70 km to a depth of 25 m. It also filled the riverbed, so the Waikato began to spill westward before the Hinuera Gap and into the Hamilton Basin, where it left deposits over 25 m deep.

It is not certain that this was a one-off change. The river may have vacillated between the two routes for some time, and there is even a debris fan indicating that at one stage the river cut out to the Hauraki Plains through the Morrinsville Gap.

Before the eruption, and for the next several thousand years, temperatures were colder than today, vegetation was sparser and, consequently, erosion was more rapid. After the Last Glacial Maximum, about 18,000 years ago, the world warmed and forests spread southwards, stabilising the land and reducing erosion. As its sediment load decreased, the river dug into its bed and became entrenched in its current route, through the Hamilton Basin to the west coast.

Heavy rainstorms may well contribute to changes of course, as unconsolidated volcanic debris erodes easily and floodwaters can carry so much of it that, when the flow returns to normal, it may dam the river. Such dams eventually breach, but not necessarily at the point where the river used to flow.

We do not have to go all the way back to prehistory to find dramatic examples of rivers changing course. Chinese history records several examples of the Yellow River breaking its banks and shifting its mouth by as much as 600 km, flooding vast areas and taking thousands of lives in the process.

In the United States, the Mississippi is currently trying to change its course, as it has done every thousand years or so. Nearly 500 km up the river from its mouth, 30 percent of the Mississippi flows away down a distributary known as the Atchafalaya. This route to the sea is only half as long as that of the main river, therefore it is steeper and the water flows faster. The Atchafalaya has been growing for 150 years and would have captured the entire river by now were it not for the US Army Corps of Engineers. The corps has been busy in the swamps around New Orleans building levees and controlling water since the War of 1812.

Charged by Congress with holding the Atchafalaya at one third of the main flow, the corps dammed the entrance to the Atchafalaya and directed the water through a new entrance it built upstream. Made of 200,000 tons of concrete and nearly 200 m long, this consists of 10 piers and 11 gates for controlling the flow of water. Opened in 1963, it was nearly lost in a flood a decade later, when a wall of water six storeys high flowed over it and crashed 10 m down into the Atchafalaya. The turbulence was so severe that the whole structure vibrated and holes bigger than football stadiums were excavated in the riverbed.

Each day the Mississippi carries something like 356,000 tons of sediment out to sea. Before the levees were constructed some of this sediment escaped the river in floods and built up the surrounding land. Without this supply of material the level of the land is dropping as it compacts.

Parts of New Orleans are now 5 m below sea level, and the Mississippi is becoming the world's largest aqueduct. Sooner or later, many people believe, the Mississippi will head down the Atchafalaya, if not through the new gates then by breaking through elsewhere, and once it has gone it will be impossible to bring back.

Interestingly, the greatest economic consequence of the river re-establishing itself would not be the flood damage but the fact that the old channel would silt up too fast to be dredged and would thus no longer be navigable, forcing a large chunk of United States heavy industry to relocate at a cost of millions of dollars.

One of my favourite stories of people interfering with rivers concerns the Visigoths, who sacked Rome in the fifth century. After their leader, Alaric, had died, they dug a trench to divert the Busento River. Then they buried Alaric in the riverbed with his weapons and a portion of his treasure and redirected the Busento along its original course, over his grave.

Magazine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Driving to Auckland some years ago, just as State Highway 1 approached the Waikato River at Lake Karapiro, I glanced eastwards and was struck by some cliffs that reared up from the green farmland. They looked as if they should have had a river running between them.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It starts from the thawing ice and snow, then becomes a small stream, builds up into a river that pours into the southern end of Lake Taupō. It reappears at the northeastern tip of the lake.

It then draws on a catchment area of 14,260 square kilometres, is fed by around 5000 streams, drives the turbines of nine hydroelectric power stations and passes under more than 20 bridges.

From Mt Ruapehu's thawing slopes to the Tasman Sea at Port Waikato, it stretches 425 kilometres through the North Island.

The mighty Waikato is New Zealand's longest river.
READ MORE:
* Whanganui River gets the rights of a legal person
* New Zealand Land Wars should be taught in high school, says Waikato history teacher
* Hurricanes apologise for using Taranaki Land Wars to promote Chiefs match
* Victoria on the River opens in Hamilton
The name is generally considered to be a compound of wai (water) and kato (flow), but there are different interpretations from different iwi.

The river had many uses by Māori and early European settlers - as a source of food; and a place of leisure, cleansing, irrigation, transport; It generated power and income.

It has even changed direction, and once upon a time used to empty into the sea near Thames.

It is more than an awa (river), historian Paul Moon says. It has its own identity.

"You can say it's a single river, but in a sense, it's lots of different rivers that happen to follow the same river bed. Everyone has a special part of it."

He said the river resonates with both Māori and Pākehā.

"It's not just a Māori thing. Pākehā as well have a sense of the river having its own personality. I've talked to a lot of Pākehā who live on the river and they have a sense that it's part of them and part of how they live, too."

Moon's new book, The Waikato: A History of New Zealand's Greatest River, dives into the "hidden history" behind the river.

The book is broken down into seven sections, analysing each area of the river from Taupō, past Hamilton, through Huntly and beyond.

Over the years, while conducting research for other books, the historian began to accumulate stories about different parts of the river. He would pick up bits and pieces talking to locals, taking note of their experience with the river.

Over the last four years, he's collected it all for his latest book.

"You start to build up the impression that this river has a huge impact on people's lives, but in a way, saying, living in a suburb in Auckland doesn't.

"People can feel attached to their suburb, but the attachment people have to the river is often very profound, and very strong. And that struck me."

He believes it won't be long before the Waikato River has legal status as a person, like the Whanganui River.

In 2017, the Whanganui River gained its own legal identity with all the corresponding rights, duties and liabilities of a legal person.

Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Bill passed its third reading in Parliament and established a new legal framework for the river.

It recognised the river as an indivisible and living whole from the mountains to the sea.

"There might be some issues about who claims what stretch of the river ... particular iwi and hapū will have their own views on where their boundaries are. But that can be sorted out."

Moon said iwi and hapū who once lived along the Waikato specialised in agriculture. But in the 1860s, European settlers did not have the knowledge.

"Rivers can flood, they can change directions, they can dry up," Moon said. "If there was a risk of being flooded, then they would have to think where they were going to plant things. If there's a risk of not enough water, are you close for irrigation to bring water to?

"What do you do in heavy rain? What if the bank starts to slip? All these sorts of things came into account and were specific agricultural knowledge that gets built up from living there."

Moon said European soldiers were given 20 acres of land and told to farm it - but they didn't know what they were doing.

"They just thought, great, free land! But they struggled. A lot of them walked off the land, and in some cases they committed suicide."

He also discussed the effects of colonisation.

"People dam it, desert it, drain it, dump stuff in it - but the river has a life of its own and often fights back. It sounds a bit odd, but you can see that during the 18th, 19th and 20th century.

"You see humans live with it, then you see them try to change it. The river floods or changes course and it just has this dynamic relationship and sometimes it's quite volatile."

Events that stood out for Moon came after Taupō last erupted, about 180AD. After 20 years of the lake building up, 20 to 30 cubic kilometres of water suddenly burst, Moon said.

That's astonishing, he added.

"That caused a flood that went on for 200 kilometres down the river and flooded both sides. It took out a whole lot of seeds and plants that existed in some parts, and took them from the lake all the way down."

Boulders and ash destroyed everything in its path and changed the course of the river. The blast was so big, whole forestss were knocked down 10km away - not from lava, but from the blast alone.

He said most cities that are on rivers in the world are river-facing.

Before Hamilton was colonised, the Māori who lived in this area were river-facing, Moon said. The river was their main source of water, irrigation, cleaning - everything. They could also keep an eye on it if it flooded.

Only recently has Victoria Street, the main stretch in Hamilton, started to face the river. Victoria on the River opened in January this year and is a public recreation space that connects central Hamilton to the river.

The book is filled with around 140 images, some that most people will not have seen before. Most have never been published before.

Moon said it is designed for all ages - anyone can read it. It's not a technical or academic work, where you can start at a particular point that interests you.​

It will be available from May 17. Moon will be in Browsers on Thursday, June 21, to talk about his new book.

"I wanted to do the absolute best for the topic, because the river can't speak for itself. You need people to tell its stories and you need to be able to tell them well so that other people will learn about it."

- Stuff

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Waikato: A History of New Zealand's Greatest River

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It starts from the thawing ice and snow, then becomes a small stream, builds up into a river that pours into the southern end of Lake Taupō. It reappears at the northeastern tip of the lake.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand, running for 425 kilometres (264 mi) through the North Island. It rises in the eastern slopes of Mount Ruapehu, joining the Tongariro River system and flowing through Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Waikato River Trails is a combined walk- and cycleway along the Waikato River. Originally conceived and started by local politicians and trustees, in 2009 the trails became one of the seven Quick Start Projects that form the beginning of the New Zealand Cycle Trail.

# data[].attributes.body
SUPER SUPER INTERESTING> MUST READ.   WE"RE DRINKING THIS WATER. TALKS ABOUT THE FILTERING PROCESS!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Blog | Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Let me begin at the end. This is me yesterday holding a glass of water from the Waikato River after it's been through the Watercare treatment plant near Tuakau.

I'm standing next to Shayne Cunis, Watercare's Water Treatment Manager. Shayne has been involved in various battles that Watercare has conducted to try to stop the Waikato River getting even more polluted, and, much to his chagrin, I mentioned him and Watercare's battles in Parliament a few years back.

This is me drinking the water.

Tastes pretty damn good actually, but by crikey it takes a lot of effort to make it this good.

This is what the river water looks like after it is drawn from the river, screened for big objects and has coagulants added.

Pretty ugly. You may be able to see large globs of muck coagulating on the aluminium sulphate coagulant.

Then this is what it looks like after the coagulated gunk is removed.

Much cleaner but still with a lot of nutrients. There is algae visibly growing on the surface and on the pipes.

Then the river water goes into the really fancy part of the treatment plant which is the membrane filtration - lots of long straws with tiny little holes in them - the holes are 0.035 microns across (micron is one thousandth of the milimetre). So only things that are smaller than 0.035 microns can get through into the straw and to your tap - which stops the protozoa such as giardia and cryptosporidium (from all the animal faeces in the river).

This is what the straws look like when they are out of the water.

After getting through the straws then they go through carbon filters, which apparently have nematodes and other things growing on them which filter the water even further. You can see through the clean water down to the carbon filters in this picture.

Then it gets a bit of chlorine added to kill the viruses and anything else. A bit of fluoride is added, as well as some lime to get the pH right.

And then out comes clean water that is sent in a pipe over the Bombay Hills to contribute about 10% of Auckland's water - a number that is likely to increase over time as Auckland grows.

This very sophisticated treatment plant cost around $155m. It delivers water at around 19c per cubic metre (1000 litres), which is considerably higher than the cost of the water coming out of the dams in the Hunua Ranges.

The Waikato river treatment plant and pipeline were built after the 1994 drought and were pretty controversial at the time. But it's here to stay.

What I like about it is that it means that about one in three New Zealanders (Auckland, Hamilton et al) have a very direct interest in the quality of the water coming down the Waikato River because their drinking water is extracted from that catchment. The more polluted that water is, the more expensive and difficult it is to treat it. And if the water gets more polluted, then Watercare will have to invest in even more sophisticated treatment equipment than they have now.

So how bad is the water at the end of the Waikato river?

This is a photo of the mouth of the Waikato taken from the plane yesterday.

Really bad is the answer. It has masses of sediment, lots of nitrogen and phosphorous that feeds algal blooms and heaps of faeces and everything associated with faeces such as bacteria and viruses. There is also a fair bit of heavy metals, some of it natural and some added by Contact's geothermal plant (they are one of the few geothermal plants that doesn't re-inject).

A short way upstream of the mouth, the level of faeces near Auckland's water intake regularly breaches swimming standards. The faeces is largely animal in origin.

In Hamilton they say "Flush twice, Auckland needs the water". And it's true that Hamilton's treated sewerage goes into the Waikato, but only a small fraction of the pollution in the river is due to Hamilton's sewerage or other point source discharges. Around 70% of all the nitrogen in the river, for example, comes from non-point sources, largely intensive agriculture.

At the top of the river, as the water leaves Lake Taupō, it is so clean that you can see 12m or more through it. By the time Aucklanders extract it at Tuakau, you can't see your feet if the water is half way up your ankles.

To get a first-hand view of the river I went for a paddle yesterday, starting at Mercer, past Auckland's water intake, and pulling out at the Tuakau bridge.

At Mercer I met with Rangi Mahuta and Sally Koia from Waikato Tanui. They are pretty distressed about the state of the river. Tainui are now part of the joint management River Authority which was a Treaty settlement deal. It has some funding to clean up the river and some regulatory tools. The Government has appointed John Luxton to co-chair the Authority with Tuku Morgan, which, given Luxton's background with Open Country Cheese with its record of pollution, doesn't fill me with hope. But we shall see.

Joining me on the paddle were Al Fleming and Jon Wenham from Forest and Bird. Al has blogged on the trip too, reflecting

"I can remember swimming in the Waikato River at Cambridge on a daily basis during my summer youth, but one look at the Waikato River at Mercer reminded me why that was no longer possible."

Jon on the river:

All the rain meant the river was probably even browner than usual - you can see the paddle disappearing into the water.

There were some nice bits of regenerating kahikatea forest, here's Al in front of some.

We paddled down past the intake for Auckland's water at this buoy.

And then we came across some pretty average farming practice in these parts.

These animals are unfenced right on the Waikato River. I went over to have a look and they decided I was interesting too, and a big bunch of them came over to have a look at the kayak.

The faeces and urine go straight into the river and the trampling on the edge adds to erosion and sediment. This is what Fed Farmers are defending against regulation.

It is very basic to fence animals out of large rivers, but even this very basic level of good farming practice isn't in place on the river. We need rules in place to regulate intensive agriculture like this so that we can clean up our rivers.

The real challenge is that getting basic good farming practice in place is only the beginning. Even with good practice there is still a huge run-off of nitrogen from intensive agriculture. As I said in the House back in 2008

Watercare ... stated in a submission that discharges from just one industrial dairy development in the Waikato catchment involving Landcorp could mean "the nitrate increase and increased risk of protozoa would cause a decline in water quality", and "If irrigation was allowed for this one project, summer low flows in the Waikato would reduce by a further 13 percent and river nutrient concentrations could go up by 120 percent."

Thankfully that particular project didn't go ahead after the financial crisis but there are plenty more that will take off with dairy prices at high levels. We need clean water rules.

Thanks to everyone involved including Colin for the kayaks.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Aucklanders, you know you're drinking the Waikato River

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
One in three New Zealanders (Auckland, Hamilton et al) have a very direct interest in the quality of the water coming down the Waikato River because their drinking water is extracted from that catchment. The more polluted that water is, the more expensive and difficult it is to treat it.

# data[].attributes.body
tps://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand. Its catchment covers 14,260 square km or 12 per cent of the area of the North Island. The river starts its journey to the sea from high in the central North Island volcanic zone, 2797 metres above sea level.

From there it flows into Lake Taupo. Leaving the lake, the river cuts through the volcanic plateau flowing north, passing through eight hydro electric dams, and onto the lowlands from Cambridge to Mercer.

The river finally flows into the Tasman Sea at Port Waikato after a journey of 425 km from Lake Taupo.

The Waikato River is a tupuna (ancestor), a taonga (treasure), and the mauri (life force) of Tainui Waka and Ngati Tūwharetoa.

The Waikato region generates more power than any other region in New Zealand. There are eight hydro electric dams, capable of generating 1450MW of electricity, in the middle reach of the river.

It takes several weeks for a drop of water to flow from Taupo to Port Waikato, without the dams it would take about seven days.

Lake Karapiro, the largest hydro lake on the river, is home to a variety of cultural and sporting events, including those at an international level.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand. Its catchment covers 14,260 square km or 12 per cent of the area of the North Island. The river starts its journey to the sea from high in the central North Island volcanic zone, 2797 metres above sea level.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Waikato River Stock Photos and Pictures | Getty Images

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find the perfect Waikato River stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Download premium images you can't get anywhere else.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This timeline gives key dates relating to the Waikato River.

This timeline was co-authored with Jonathan Kilgour, Research and Projects Manager, Waikato-Tainui College for Research and Development.

Long ago - Creation of the Waikato River

Taupiri lives with her husband in what is now known as the Waikato region. When she falls ill, her brother Tongariro sends the healing waters of the Waikato to her aid. Ever since, the Waikato River has flowed from Tongariro to his sister Taupiri in the Waikato region.

1839 - Declaration of Independence

Pōtatau Te Wherowhero signs the Declaration of Independence, which recognises the independence of the iwi that sign the Declaration. Today, the Court recognises the Treaty of Waitangi and not the Declaration of Independence.

1858 - Kīngitanga formed

The Kīngitanga is established with Pōtatau Te Wherowhero installed as the first Māori King at Ngāruawāhia. The King Movement was formed to maintain the mana of iwi, prevent inter-tribal warfare and prevent further loss of Māori land.

1863-1965 - Raupatu/land confiscations

The Crown passes laws to confiscate land belonging to "Māori rebels". In 1863, the Waikato people are branded rebels, and over 1.2 million acres of land are confiscated following battles between British troops and Waikato.

1870s - Catfish introduced

Catfish are introduced into the Waikato River. It is not clear why they were introduced, but they are now widespread through the Waikato River system.

1884 - Tāwhiao seeks justice

The second Māori King, Tāwhiao, travels to England to petition the Queen to return confiscated lands. He is twice refused an audience and told to petition the New Zealand Government.

1892-1896 - First regatta on the river

The first unofficial regatta is held on the river in 1892 in Ngāruawāhia and then officially in 1896.The regatta is an opportunity for Pākehā settlers and Māori to come together. The regatta is now one of New Zealand's largest aquatic festivals.

1903-1910 - Mahuta serves in Parliament

The third Māori King, Mahuta, becomes a member of the New Zealand Parliament. His younger brother Te Wherowhero serves as King while he is in Parliament.

1913 - First hydroelectric power station

Horahora, the first hydroelectric power station built on Waikato River, is opened. It originally powers the gold mine in Waihi, but is purchased by the government in 1919 before supplying power to Cambridge and eventually the Bay of Plenty and Auckland.

1913 - Te Rata delegation to England

The fourth Māori King, Te Rata, travels to England to seek redress for confiscated lands. He is received by King George V and Queen Mary, but the British Government tells him to petition the New Zealand Government.

1928 - Confiscations considered to have been immoral

The Sim Royal Commission, led by senior Supreme Court Judge Sir William Sim, reviews historical evidence and finds the confiscation of Waikato land to have been immoral, illegal and excessive.

1930 - Native fish become extinct

The grayling (known as pokororo, upokororo, paneroro and kanae-kura), fish native to New Zealand, are found in the Waikato River especially around the mouth of the Karāpiro Stream until about 1874, when it is suspected heavy flooding wiped them out.

1946 - Tainui Māori Trust Board

Tainui accepts an offer of £6000 per year for 50 years and £5000 per year forever from the Prime Minister on the basis that it is not a full and final settlement for past confiscations. The Tainui Māori Trust Board is established to administer the payments.

1947 - Karāpiro Power Station

Karāpiro Power Station is built to replace Horahora Power Station. Lake Karāpiro is formed to power the new station and in the process submerges Horahora Power Station. Karāpiro is one of eight power stations along the Waikato River.

1956 - Addressing flooding in the river

Swamp drainage and removal of vegetation causes the Waikato-Waipā drainage system to become overloaded, and there are floods in the lower reaches of the river from the late 19th century. The Waikato Valley Authority is established to manage flooding issues.

1963 - Noxious weed found

Hornwort is discovered in the Waikato catchment at Lake Ōhakuri. It causes the closure of the Lake Ōhakuri Power Station in 1965. Hornwort does not have roots so is easily transported by the river current or on boats or fishing equipment.

1975 - Taupiri returned

Taupiri maunga is returned to Waikato-Tainui. Taupiri is sacred to Waikato-Tainui and today is a burial ground closely associated with the Kīngitanga.

1983 - Koi carp found in the river

Koi carp establish a breeding population in the river. Koi carp feed by sucking mud from stream and lake beds to filter out food, making the water very muddy and smothering aquatic animals and plants.

1987 - Claim for the river

Sir Robert Mahuta files a claim for the return of the Waikato River with the Waitangi Tribunal on behalf of himself, Waikato-Tainui, the Tainui Māori Trust Board and Ngā Marae Tōpu.

1995 - Settlement for land confiscations

The Crown and Waikato-Tainui sign a settlement for raupatu (land confiscations). The settlement excludes the Waikato River but includes a formal apology from the Queen, $170 million including the return of lands and the return of a special taonga, Korotangi.

2009 - Waikato River Settlement

The Crown and Waikato-Tainui sign a deed of settlement that recognises te mana o te awa and mana whakahaere of the river. The Waikato Raupatu River Trust and Waikato River Authority are established.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This timeline gives key dates relating to the Waikato River. This timeline was co-authored with Jonathan Kilgour, Research and Projects Manager, Waikato-Tainui College for Research and Development. Taupiri lives with her husband in what is now known as the Waikato region. When she falls ill, her brother Tongariro sends the healing waters of the Waikato to her aid.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Waikato River is New Zealand's longest river.

Facts on the Waikato River...
Length: 435km
Start (Headwater): Mt Ruapehu
Finishes: Port Waikato
Passes through: Taupo, Huka Falls, Aratiatia Rapids, Cambridge, Lake Karapiro, Ngaruawahia, Huntly

Having the largest river in the region also gives this area the status of the largest generator of Power, eight hydro dams generating 1450 Megawatts of elecricity. Add in the Geothermal Power also in areas like Taupo literrally makes the central North island a powerful region.
If you put a cup of water in the river at Ruapehu it would take several weeks to make its way to Port Waikato. With no dams to contend with it would only take 7 days.

Taupo is really lucky as the Waikato River creates two of the best known natural attractions in New Zealand. Huka Falls and Aratiatia Rapids. Huka falls has over 200,000 litres of water cascading over it every second. Thousands of visitors to Taupo visit the Huka falls every year, I can only imagine how many hashtags, snapchats and facebook posts the Huka falls appear in. Aratiatia Dam openings 4 times a day which is getting more and more people visting every year. Both Huka falls and Aratiatia Rapids are an easy drive from central Taupo and even Rotorua.
A great alternative is walking or Mountain Biking. Check out our easy to follow maps - Directions

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Waikato River New Zealand's longest river | Huka falls, Aratiatia Rapids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Waikato River is New Zealand's longest river. Facts on the Waikato River... Length: 435km Start (Headwater): Mt Ruapehu Finishes: Port Waikato Passes through: Taupo, Huka Falls, Aratiatia Rapids, Cambridge, Lake Karapiro, Ngaruawahia, Huntly Having the largest river in the region also gives this area the status of the largest generator of Power, eight hydro dams generating 1450 Megawatts of elecricity.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
History of Waikato River | Hamilton Activities

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Waikato River is New Zealand's longest river at 425 kilometres in length. It drains Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake and creates the Huka Falls.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
At 425km in length, the Waikato is the longest river in New Zealand. It begins on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu, draining into Lake Taupo and exiting at the north-east. After flowing through a series of hydro electric dams and passing through Cambridge, Hamilton, Ngaruawahia and Huntly, the river ends as it enters the Tasman Sea at Waikato Heads.

The Waikato River offers great kayaking, boating, rowing and trout fishing spots, particularly on its picturesque hydro lakes such as Lake Karapiro, home of the 2010 World Rowing Championships. Along its banks, scenic walking and cycling tracks have been developed and have proved to be a popular way to enjoy the tranquility of the river.

Walkers, joggers and cyclist can be found enjoying the riverside paths all year round and a relaxed horse trek is another way to admire the sights of the river. Venturing on to the river is also made easy with a boat cruise through Hamilton's tree-lined cityscape which offers the chance to learn more about the city's rich history and culture.

Waikato River Trails

The Waikato River Trails offer a myriad of stunning walking and biking tracks in the South Waikato area as part of the National Cycleway Project. These trails cover about 100km, winding their way along a path that encompasses native bush, farmland, historic landmarks, wetlands and expansive lake and river views.

Cultural significance

The Waikato River has carved a distinctive path through the region geologically and historically, being important to both Maori and European settlement of the area.

The great voyaging Tainui waka (canoe) is said to have named the river "Waikato", meaning "flowing water" after observing the river's strong pull to the sea.

The river is an important taonga (treasure) of the Tainui tribe and provides a physical and spiritual sustenance for Maori in the region. A well-known tribal proverb refers to the taniwha (mythical water spirit) dwelling in the river as a metaphor for Maori chiefs: "Waikato taniwha rau, he piko he taniwha, he piko he taniwha" which translates to "Waikato of a hundred taniwha. At every bend a taniwha can be found." The expression relates the strength of the Waikato tribes to that of the river.

Have you got a great story to tell? Add your own article

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Waikato River | Hamilton - Waikato, New Zealand

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
At 425km in length, the Waikato is the longest river in New Zealand. It begins on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu, draining into Lake Taupo and exiting at the north-east. After flowing through a series of hydro electric dams and passing through Cambridge, Hamilton, Ngaruawahia and Huntly, the river ends as it enters the Tasman Sea at Waikato Heads.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/environment/natural-resources/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Page content Page content Section navigation Topic navigation Accessibility keys Sitemap Search Contact us www.govt.nz portal

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A river used to run through it

Driving to Auckland some years ago, just as State Highway 1 approached the Waikato River at Lake Karapiro, I glanced eastwards and was struck by some cliffs that reared up from the green farmland. They looked as if they should have had a river running between them. Later, when I consulted a geologist friend, I was gratified to learn that the Waikato River was believed to have once flowed through the opening, known as the Hinuera Gap, on its way to the Hauraki Gulf.

When and why the Waikato changed course has been investigated by Vern Manville and Colin Wilson, two scientists working for the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences. They believe it was one of the consequences of the catastrophic Oruanui eruption of the Taupo volcano around 26,500 years ago. This ejected about 530 cu km of magma, making it 15 times bigger than the better-known eruption around 1800 years ago.

The collapse of a caldera formed the depression we now know as Lake Taupo. The eruption destroyed an older lake that overlapped part of the new one but extended much further to the north-east. Some of the original lake water remained after the eruption but the new depression took between 100 and 200 years to fill completely. Fossil beaches high above the lake show that it was once over 100 m deeper than it is today. At that time there was an outlet to the north-west through Waihora Bay and down Mangakino Stream.

Over the following centuries, tributaries of the former Waikato River gradually eroded their way through the volcanic deposits to reach the lake near its present-day outlet. The result was a catastrophic flood, 80 cu km of water being released over a period of probably just a few weeks, lowering the lake by over 80 m. Boulders more than 10 m in diameter found among the debris fans testify to the power of the flood, which rolled them like marbles through the river gorges.

For more than 300,000 years before the eruption, the Waikato River had flowed through the Hinuera Gap, across the Hauraki Plains and into the Hauraki Gulf. Debris left by the break-out flood and subsequent upstream erosion covers an area of the Hauraki Plains 20 by 70 km to a depth of 25 m. It also filled the riverbed, so the Waikato began to spill westward before the Hinuera Gap and into the Hamilton Basin, where it left deposits over 25 m deep.

It is not certain that this was a one-off change. The river may have vacillated between the two routes for some time, and there is even a debris fan indicating that at one stage the river cut out to the Hauraki Plains through the Morrinsville Gap.

Before the eruption, and for the next several thousand years, temperatures were colder than today, vegetation was sparser and, consequently, erosion was more rapid. After the Last Glacial Maximum, about 18,000 years ago, the world warmed and forests spread southwards, stabilising the land and reducing erosion. As its sediment load decreased, the river dug into its bed and became entrenched in its current route, through the Hamilton Basin to the west coast.

Heavy rainstorms may well contribute to changes of course, as unconsolidated volcanic debris erodes easily and floodwaters can carry so much of it that, when the flow returns to normal, it may dam the river. Such dams eventually breach, but not necessarily at the point where the river used to flow.

We do not have to go all the way back to prehistory to find dramatic examples of rivers changing course. Chinese history records several examples of the Yellow River breaking its banks and shifting its mouth by as much as 600 km, flooding vast areas and taking thousands of lives in the process.

In the United States, the Mississippi is currently trying to change its course, as it has done every thousand years or so. Nearly 500 km up the river from its mouth, 30 percent of the Mississippi flows away down a distributary known as the Atchafalaya. This route to the sea is only half as long as that of the main river, therefore it is steeper and the water flows faster. The Atchafalaya has been growing for 150 years and would have captured the entire river by now were it not for the US Army Corps of Engineers. The corps has been busy in the swamps around New Orleans building levees and controlling water since the War of 1812.

Charged by Congress with holding the Atchafalaya at one third of the main flow, the corps dammed the entrance to the Atchafalaya and directed the water through a new entrance it built upstream. Made of 200,000 tons of concrete and nearly 200 m long, this consists of 10 piers and 11 gates for controlling the flow of water. Opened in 1963, it was nearly lost in a flood a decade later, when a wall of water six storeys high flowed over it and crashed 10 m down into the Atchafalaya. The turbulence was so severe that the whole structure vibrated and holes bigger than football stadiums were excavated in the riverbed.

Each day the Mississippi carries something like 356,000 tons of sediment out to sea. Before the levees were constructed some of this sediment escaped the river in floods and built up the surrounding land. Without this supply of material the level of the land is dropping as it compacts.

Parts of New Orleans are now 5 m below sea level, and the Mississippi is becoming the world's largest aqueduct. Sooner or later, many people believe, the Mississippi will head down the Atchafalaya, if not through the new gates then by breaking through elsewhere, and once it has gone it will be impossible to bring back.

Interestingly, the greatest economic consequence of the river re-establishing itself would not be the flood damage but the fact that the old channel would silt up too fast to be dredged and would thus no longer be navigable, forcing a large chunk of United States heavy industry to relocate at a cost of millions of dollars.

One of my favourite stories of people interfering with rivers concerns the Visigoths, who sacked Rome in the fifth century. After their leader, Alaric, had died, they dug a trench to divert the Busento River. Then they buried Alaric in the riverbed with his weapons and a portion of his treasure and redirected the Busento along its original course, over his grave.

Magazine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Driving to Auckland some years ago, just as State Highway 1 approached the Waikato River at Lake Karapiro, I glanced eastwards and was struck by some cliffs that reared up from the green farmland. They looked as if they should have had a river running between them.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Paul Moon: the history of the Waikato River

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Paul Moon is a professor of history at AUT whose latest book is "The Waikato - A History of New Zealand's Greatest River". At 425 kilometres long, the Waikato is the longest river in New Zealand and Moon traces its path, uncovering settlements that have disappeared and stories that have taken place along the river.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Waikato River Authority, a co-governance body established between the Crown and Waikato River Iwi to restore the Waikato River, reaches an historic milestone today when it opens for funding applications for the first time.

The government has committed $210 million over the next 30 years to ensure the Authority has the resources it needs to protect the Waikato River from further degradation.

The Authority is able to distribute funds each year for projects that will improve the health and wellbeing of the river.

In this first year of funding, an allocation of up to $6 million will be made.

The Authority is seeking funding applications, both large and small, from organisations the length of the Waikato River - from Huka Falls to Port Waikato - that have projects and initiatives they would like to implement for the betterment of the river and its catchment.

Funding criteria and six priority funding areas have been established to guide applicants and to ensure the effectiveness of the clean-‐up fund.

The co-‐chairs of the Waikato River Authority, Tukoroirangi Morgan and the Hon John Luxton, say they are immensely gratified that the day has arrived when the Authority can get down to the business of cleaning up the river.

"There has been a huge amount of work behind the scenes to establish the Authority and ensure it is both effective and enduring.

Building strong relationships between the key groups that will have critical responsibility for the future of the river is well underway.

"We are now moving into a more public and practical phase of our journey to restore the Waikato River and we are delighted to be doing so," says John Luxton.

"The task ahead of us is considerable. However the fact that we have reached such a significant milestone is tremendously encouraging.

The Waikato River is precious to all who are part of the Waikato community and the Authority is certain that byworking together as a community we will achieve the goal of a healthier and cleaner river," says Tukoroirangi Morgan.

The Waikato River Authority was formed late last year from 2 Acts of Parliament, The Waikato-‐Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Act, and the Ngati Tuwharetoa, Raukawa, and Te Arawa River Iwi Waikato River Act.

The Authority is the sole trustee of the Waikato River Clean-‐up Trust. The Waikato River Authority's funding strategy is to see many projects requiring smaller amounts of funding in the tens of thousands of dollars range.

It also expects to receive applications for higher cost projects in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and above, but will fund fewer of these applications An application for funding of clean-‐up projects can be made to the Waikato River Authority from 1 October 2011 through until 16 December this year.

Applicants will be notified in February 2012 regarding which projects are successful.

Because this is the Authority's first funding round, it is setting up a register for signalling preliminary interest from organisations that may seek financial support for projects.

Initial interest in implementing a project for the Waikato River can be submitted at www.waikatoriver.org.nz .

The Authority's website also contains information about the funding criteria and application forms.

For more information contact:

Bob Penter
Interim Secretary
Waikato River Authority
Ph: 0212 456359

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Historic day for all guardians of the Waikato River -

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Waikato River Authority, a co-governance body established between the Crown and Waikato River Iwi to restore the Waikato River, reaches an historic milestone today when it opens for funding applications for the first time. The government has committed $210 million over the next 30 years to ensure the Authority has the resources it needs to protect the Waikato River from further degradation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Page content Page content Section navigation Topic navigation Accessibility keys Sitemap Search Contact us www.govt.nz portal

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
OPINION: Jacqueline Rowarth, Waikato University's outspoken professor of agribusiness, has taken up a position as the chief scientist at the Environmental Protection Authority. The new appointment has necessitated her resignation from the university, a loss that will no doubt be felt by students and colleagues alike, as well as perhaps the wider Waikato farming community for whom the good professor has been an unstinting mouthpiece and apologist.

In an interview that marked her appointment, Rowarth championed her own academic background, explaining how it would serve her well in a role whose responsibilities include explaining the often complex science behind EPA decisions. "My new role will be a considerable change from teaching," she explained "but, as my students know, I have a focus on facts, evidence and data, analysis and synthesis."

A similar line in self-promotion was employed more recently by Rowarth when embroiled in controversy over comments made at a meeting in Pukekohe at the beginning of October. The professor attracted media attention and a critical response from fellow scientists after telling a group of 180 landowners and farmers that the Waikato River was amongst the cleanest in the world. According to Rowarth this criticism was ill-founded and based on a report of the meeting that was released to the press without her authorisation. She was quoted as saying "This whatever it is, press release, hasn't put things in context at all. I am very focused on actual data and also trying to think about what are our actual concerns."

In a sidebar to a feature in last week's Waikato Times that attempted to synthesise arguments about the region's water quality, Rowarth expressed her opinions directly. Seeking to complement the message conveyed by soil scientist Dr Doug Edmeades in the main article, the professor persisted in comparing nutrient levels in the Waikato River favourably with those seen in other OECD countries. Her and Edmeades' point is that, by the standards of the European Union, our river is good shape.

However much we accept such comparisons - and a dissenting view has been put by Massey University's formidably named Professor Russell Death, a noted freshwater ecologist - the manner in which Rowarth quotes Waikato Regional Council statistics in her sidebar piece warrants close scrutiny. When discussing Escherichia coli bacteria levels in the Waikato River, Rowarth references the council's website assertion that "the median number of E. coli bacteria in water used for recreation should be below 126 per 100ml". According to the WRC, levels above that mark involve health risks to swimmers and will likely cause ear infections and diarrhoea.

Rowarth argues that the river should be held to a much lower, EU standard and that such standards are safe. She then states that "according to the regional council website, the highest E coli recording for the Waikato River is 120 at Huntly. The Waipa River is 320 at Whatawhata. If the council used the same pass mark as the EU, the grade would be 'excellent"'.

Leaving aside the debatable assertion that EU levels are applicable or advisable in local conditions, the figures quoted by the professor do not, in fact, reflect the highest E. coli recordings from of these areas. The WRC website clearly states that these figures are medians, not maximums. Moreover, a cursory investigation of the actual highest readings reveals levels alarmingly in excess of safety margins, even those thought acceptable in Europe. According to the WRC, the highest E. Coli reading in Huntly, back in 2013, has been 1900 cfu/100ml. At Whatawhata it has been recorded as high as 2600.

The disparity between the figures asserted as correct by Rowarth and the reality of the situation rather makes a mockery of her earlier rhetoric. Given that she penned the sidebar article herself, there can be no suggestion this time of her being misquoted. Like the rest of us human beings, she has made a mistake. Like many of us, she has done so advocating a cause she genuinely believes in, defending farming practices that have a direct impact on E. Coli levels.

The saga begs questions about Rowarth's suitability for the EPA position. Defending her own appointment back in August, she conceded that it would "raise eyebrows" amongst the "environmental lobby" but that such concerns should be set aside because "her opinions were based on scientific evidence not emotion". In a world where such "evidence" can be emotively presented or manipulated, hiding behind the myth of scientific objectivity is unacceptable.

- Stuff

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Richard Swainson: Waikato River facts speak for themselves

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
OPINION: Jacqueline Rowarth, Waikato University's outspoken professor of agribusiness, has taken up a position as the chief scientist at the Environmental Protection Authority. The new appointment has necessitated her resignation from the university, a loss that will no doubt be felt by students and colleagues alike, as well as perhaps the wider Waikato farming community for whom the good professor has been an unstinting mouthpiece and apologist.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/4664/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
At 425km in length, the Waikato is the longest river in New Zealand. It begins on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu, draining into Lake Taupo and exiting at the north-east. After flowing through a series of hydro electric dams and passing through Cambridge, Hamilton, Ngaruawahia and Huntly, the river ends as it enters the Tasman Sea at Waikato Heads.

The Waikato River offers great kayaking, boating, rowing and trout fishing spots, particularly on its picturesque hydro lakes such as Lake Karapiro, home of the 2010 World Rowing Championships. Along its banks, scenic walking and cycling tracks have been developed and have proved to be a popular way to enjoy the tranquility of the river.

Walkers, joggers and cyclist can be found enjoying the riverside paths all year round and a relaxed horse trek is another way to admire the sights of the river. Venturing on to the river is also made easy with a boat cruise through Hamilton's tree-lined cityscape which offers the chance to learn more about the city's rich history and culture.

Waikato River Trails

The Waikato River Trails offer a myriad of stunning walking and biking tracks in the South Waikato area as part of the National Cycleway Project. These trails cover about 100km, winding their way along a path that encompasses native bush, farmland, historic landmarks, wetlands and expansive lake and river views.

Cultural significance

The Waikato River has carved a distinctive path through the region geologically and historically, being important to both Maori and European settlement of the area.

The great voyaging Tainui waka (canoe) is said to have named the river "Waikato", meaning "flowing water" after observing the river's strong pull to the sea.

The river is an important taonga (treasure) of the Tainui tribe and provides a physical and spiritual sustenance for Maori in the region. A well-known tribal proverb refers to the taniwha (mythical water spirit) dwelling in the river as a metaphor for Maori chiefs: "Waikato taniwha rau, he piko he taniwha, he piko he taniwha" which translates to "Waikato of a hundred taniwha. At every bend a taniwha can be found." The expression relates the strength of the Waikato tribes to that of the river.

Have you got a great story to tell? Add your own article

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Waikato River | Hamilton - Waikato, New Zealand

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
At 425km in length, the Waikato is the longest river in New Zealand. It begins on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu, draining into Lake Taupo and exiting at the north-east. After flowing through a series of hydro electric dams and passing through Cambridge, Hamilton, Ngaruawahia and Huntly, the river ends as it enters the Tasman Sea at Waikato Heads.

# data[].attributes.body
https://teara.govt.nz/en/waikato-places/page-1

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.gotongariro.co.nz/maori-history-and-legends.html

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Legends handed down from generation to generation tell stories of how the landscape came to be. The three active volcanoes - Ruapehu, Tongariro, and Ngauruhoe - are considered such precious treasures that the local Tuwharetoa Māori gifted the vast area to the nation of New Zealand more than a century ago.

# data[].attributes.body
http://www.maoritelevision.com/news/regional/doc-staff-learn-waikato-river-history-first-hand

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
For the first time, Department of Conservation (DoC) staff are learning first hand, the historical significance of the Waikato River through a rowing expedition by the tribe. Waikato-Tainui want their relationship with the government department to be strengthened.

The Waikato River, home of a hundred guardians. A traditional source of life, food and a highway traversed by the Waikato people. Today is being traversed by some DoC management and staff for the first time.

Waikato Raupatu River Trust spokesperson, Moko Tauariki says, "They get to feel the spirit and experience the river. They also get to see its sacred sites from on the river."

David Speirs from DoC says, "For us the opportunity to share in the stories and the history, and the things that have made the Waikato Tainui - Waikato River relationship is gold, it's absolutely priceless. There's no better way of learning that, then on the river, in the water, smelling the water, hearing the sounds, and side by side with Waikato-Tainui."

It's been 16 years since the signing of the Waikato River Settlement, and ensuring its health and well-being is paramount for the tribe.

Tauariki says, "This is our ancestral river, it's not just water. Therefore for this portion of the river at the Port, they get to see the effluent and smell its stench. So you who hold the purse strings, need to open it and clean up this area of the river."

A view that is supported by DoC.

Speirs says, "One of the lessons for us in this is that you can't separate the decisions you make on the whenua from the awa, and our role in administering a third of New Zealand's land area, a huge part of the land that influences the Waikato river is critical in the health and well-being of the river."

There's only 15km left to row, but for both Waikato-Tainui and DoC this journey is just a beginning.

"We really want to do this every year. DoC regularly change their management as directed by the government," says Tauariki.

"Would you like to do it again? Yep, absolutely, absolutely, yep I think we should bring more staff into this, and as the opportunity presents, we will," says Speirs.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
DoC staff learn Waikato River history first hand

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
For the first time, Department of Conservation (DoC) staff are learning first hand, the historical significance of the Waikato River through a rowing expedition by the tribe. Waikato-Tainui want their relationship with the government department to be strengthened. The Waikato River, home of a hundred guardians.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.aa.co.nz/travel/editorial/port-waikato/

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/environment/natural-resources/http://www.waikatoexplorer.co.nz/waikato-river-history

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand, running for 425 kilometres (264 mi) through the North Island. It rises in the eastern slopes of Mount Ruapehu, joining the Tongariro River system and flowing through Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Waikato | Regional Information | Activity Highlights | Scenic Highlights | History

Explore the beauty and history of the awe-inspiring Waikato region. Discover the ancient stalagmites and stalactites and study the Maori history of the Waikato region.

Waikato History Overview

Waikato was the scene of significant battles during the Maori Land Wars of the mid 19 th century. Today you can visit the monuments and museums dedicated in their honour and discover the fierce history of the region.

In the fast-growing city of Hamilton, the serpentine beauty of the Waikato River is maximised at every opportunity. Discover parks, gardens and river walks where the forethought of the town planners is plain to see. Or take a trip to Ngaruawahia, one of the oldest and most historic settlements in the Waikato region.

Early History

The Waikato area is thought to have been settled as early as the 14 th century by Maori settlers, with many pa (villages) being established throughout the region. Over time many Maori warriors and tribes grew throughout the region.

In the early 1800s intense Maori tribal warfare broke out. European traders traded muskets and weaponry for flax, escalating the warfare.

In the 1830s European missionaries began to arrive, and by the 1840s peace was established. However Maori resistance to increasing land sales to European settlers started the land wars of the 1860s. In 1863 the New Zealand Settlements Act was established and 500,000 hectares of land was confiscated from the Maori people.

Once the land wars were settled, land clearing and development began. It proved difficult due to the boggy swamps of the Hauraki Plains, and the steep slopes of the Kaimai Ranges.

In the 1880s dairy farming became the main agricultural activity.

Hamilton, proclaimed a borough in 1877, was named after Captain John Charles Fane Hamilton, who fell in the battle of Gate Pa. The town's strategic location on the Waikato River led to it becoming the busy centre of economic activity.

As of the 2006 Census, Hamilton City holds a resident population of 129,249.

Ngaruawahia - a small town with a big history

Ngaruawahia is one of the oldest and most historic settlements in the Waikato and was once planned as the capital of New Zealand because of its strategic location. Strong cultural ties have long been a characteristic of the township. Turangawaewae Marae, on the northern bank of the Waikato River, is the official residence of the reigning Maori monarch Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu.

Ngaruawahia is located at the junction of two great rivers-Waikato and Waipa. These rivers were once canoe routes of great importance to Maori, and later to European settlers. While in Ngaruawahia, ask where to find the Hakarimata walkways-the best known of these is a three hour round trip walk with views over the Waikato River. Taupiri Mountain, which watches over Ngaruawahia, is sacred and contains the Waikato's most significant burial ground.

" Ngaruawahia Travel Directory

Useful Waikato Links

To help plan your Waikato holiday choose from the main categories below:

Waikato Region Information

Waikato Tourism Operators

Choose from our accommodation, attractions, tours, transport or visitor information categories below to find a tourism operator in Waikato.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
History and historical places in Waikato, NZ. Waikato's history is evident all around you in the Waikato region. Ancient stalagmites and stalactites adorn underground caverns and caves, and monuments and museums dedicated in honour of the Maori land wars are all around you in the Waikato.

# data[].attributes.body
http://aratiatiarapids.co.nz/2018/01/26/waikato-river/