Flaxbourne River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Flaxbourne River |
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Ward Beach, where the Flaxbourne River flows into the sea
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Inland Kaikoura Range |
| River mouth | Pacific Ocean |
The Flaxbourne River is a river found in the Marlborough area of New Zealand. It starts high up in the Inland Kaikoura Range and Halden Hills. From there, it flows towards the east and then southeast, eventually reaching the Pacific Ocean near a town called Ward.
The river got its name from the Flaxbourne sheep station, which is a large farm for sheep. This farm was set up by Sir Charles Clifford way back in 1847. The Flaxbourne River is quite narrow, and many willow trees grow along its banks, sometimes making it hard to see the water clearly.
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How the Flaxbourne River is Used
The Flaxbourne River is very important for the local community. It provides water for many different uses.
Water for Farms and Homes
Farmers use the river's water for irrigation. This means they use it to water their crops and fields, especially during dry periods. The river also supplies water for farm animals, known as "stock," and for people's homes.
Water Supply Challenges
During the summer months, there is a very high demand for water from the river. Often, people need more water than the river can provide at that time. Even though the main river never completely dries up, some of the smaller streams that feed into it often do dry out during most summers.
A Name Change for Ward?
As of 2017, there was a discussion about changing the name of the nearby town, Ward, to Flaxbourne. This shows how important the river is to the identity of the area.
