Wharepapa Arthur Marble Aquifer
| Wharepapa Arthur Marble Aquifer | |
|---|---|
View north along the Tākaka Valley | |
| Location | Golden Bay / Mohua |
| Coordinates | 40°51′57″S 172°46′39″E / 40.86583°S 172.77750°E |
| Type | Aquifer |
| Primary inflows | Tākaka River, Waingaro River and karst uplands |
| Catchment area | 940 km2 (360 sq mi) |
The Wharepapa Arthur Marble Aquifer is a complex karst aquifer system beneath the Tākaka Valley in Golden Bay / Mohua in the South Island of New Zealand. The aquifer is the source of the water that flows from the renowned Te Waikoropupū Springs near Tākaka. Recharge of the aquifer occurs from a mix of sources, including water infiltrating from the channels of the Tākaka and Waingaro rivers. Discharge from the aquifer occurs at Te Waikoropupū Springs and submarine springs offshore.
In October 2023, the Wharepapa Arthur Marble Aquifer system and Te Waikoropupū Springs received protection through a water conservation order, the highest level of protection that a body of water can receive in New Zealand. However, the Fast-track Approvals Act passed in 2024 overrides the Resource Management Act and can thus nullify the water conservation order.