Rangitaiki River
| Rangitaiki River | |
|---|---|
Rangitaiki River | |
The Rangitaiki River system | |
| Native name | Rangitaiki (Māori) |
| Location | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Bay of Plenty |
| District | Taupo, Whakatāne |
| Towns | Murupara, Edgecumbe |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • coordinates | 39°0′7″S 176°26′53″E / 39.00194°S 176.44806°E |
| Mouth | |
• location | Bay of Plenty |
• coordinates | 37°54′32″S 176°52′55″E / 37.90889°S 176.88194°E |
• elevation | Sea level |
| Length | 155 kilometres (96 mi) |
| Basin size | 3,005 square kilometres (1,160 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 74 m3/s (2,600 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • right | Otamatea River, Wheao River, Whirinaki River, Horomanga River |
| Waterbodies | Lake Āniwaniwa, Lake Matahina |
| Waterfalls | Āniwaniwa Falls |
The Rangitaiki 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.