Awaroa River (Waikato River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Awaroa River |
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | near Karioitahi 100 m (330 ft) |
| River mouth | Waikato River 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 12 km (7.5 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 25.06 km2 (9.68 sq mi) |
The Awaroa River is a short river located in the Waikato District on New Zealand's North Island. It starts near Karioitahi Beach and Lake Puketi, flowing east and then south from Waiuku. The river eventually joins the Aka Aka Stream before emptying into the mighty Waikato River.
About the Awaroa River
The Awaroa River is only about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) long. Interestingly, its name, "Awaroa," means 'long river' in the Māori language. This might seem a bit confusing for such a short river! It's a common name in New Zealand, used for many other places too.
River Health
The Awaroa River is one of the rivers in the Waikato region. Out of 26 rivers, it is currently ranked as the 11th most polluted. This means its water quality needs improvement to be healthier for plants, animals, and people.
A River of History
In the 1850s, the Awaroa River was a very important waterway for trade. It connected the Waikato area with Auckland. Local Māori people used traditional canoes, called waka, to travel along the river. They would carry goods and even their canoes over land (this is called a portage) to reach the Manukau Harbour at Waiuku.
People even thought about building a canal or a special railway line here. This was to help transport coal from Huntly more easily. Ideas for these projects came up in 1850 and again in 1855. However, these plans were never carried out because they were considered too expensive for the amount of traffic they expected.
See Also
