List of rivers of New Zealand by length facts for kids
This is a list of the longest rivers in New Zealand, and some other prominent rivers, ordered by length.
South Island rivers are marked "SI", and North Island rivers "NI".
Main page: Rivers of New Zealand
Contents
The 20 longest rivers
| Rank | Name | Island | Length (km) | Length (mi) | Source | Mouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waikato | North | 425 | 264 | ||
| 2 | Clutha / Matau | South | 322 | 200 | ||
| 3 | Whanganui | North | 290 | 180 | ||
| 4 | Taieri | South | 288 | 179 | ||
| 5 | Rangitikei | North | 241 | 150 | ||
| 6 | Mataura | South | 240 | 149 | ||
| 7 | Waiau (Southland) | South | 217 | 135 | ||
| 8 | Clarence | South | 209 | 130 | ||
| 9 | Waitaki | South | 209 | 130 | ||
| 10 | Oreti | South | 203 | 126 | ||
| 11 | Rangitaiki | North | 193 | 120 | ||
| 12 | Manawatu | North | 182 | 113 | ||
| 13 | Buller / Kawatiti | South | 177 | 110 | ||
| 14 | Waihou | North | 175 | 109 | ||
| 15 | Mohaka | North | 172 | 107 | ||
| 16 | Wairau | South | 169 | 105 | ||
| 17 | Whangaehu | North | 161 | 100 | ||
| 18 | Waimakariri | South | 161 | 100 | ||
| 19 | Mokau | North | 158 | 98 | ||
| 20 | Ngaruroro | North | 154 | 96 |
Other prominent rivers
Over 100 kilometres
- Waiau River, Marlborough (SI) - 147 km (92 mi)
- Rakaia River (SI) - 145 km (90 mi)
- Patea River (NI) - 143 km (89 mi)
- Hurunui River (SI) - 138 km (86 mi)
- Turakina River (NI) - 137 km (85 mi)
- Wairoa River, Bay of Plenty (NI) - 137 km (85 mi)
- Wairoa River, Northland (NI) - 132 km (82 mi)
- Awatere River (SI) - 126 km (78 mi)
- Ruamahanga River (NI) - 124 km (77 mi)
- Grey River or Mawhera River (SI) - 121 km (75 mi)
- Rangitata River (SI) - 120 km (74 mi)
- Tuki Tuki River (NI) - 119 km (74 mi)
- Motueka River (SI) - 116 km (72 mi)
- Waitaki River (SI) - 111 km (69 mi)
- Patea River (NI) - 105 km (65 mi)
- Aparima River (SI) - 102 km (63 mi)
50 to 100 kilometres
- Tutaekuri River (NI) - 100 km (62 mi)
- Whakatane River (NI) - 95 km (59 mi)
- Pomahaka River (SI) - 81 km (50 mi)
- Opihi River (SI) - 75 km (46 mi)
- Orari River (SI) - 74 km (46 mi)
- Karamea River (SI) - 73 km (45 mi)
- Ongarue River (NI) - 73 km (45 mi)
- Ahuriri River (SI) - 70 km (43 mi)
- Inangahua River (SI) - 65 km (40 mi)
- Moawhango River (NI) - 62 km (38 mi)
- Waitoa River (NI) - 62 km (38 mi)
- Shotover River (SI) - 60 km (37 mi)
- Hutt River (NI) - 56 km (35 mi)
- Ruakituri River (NI) - 55 km (34 mi)
- Manganui River, Northland (NI) - 53 km (33 mi)
- Whenuakura River (NI) -53 km (33 mi)
- Eglinton River (SI) - 51 km (32 mi)
- Kaituna River (NI) - 50 km (31 mi) (approx)
Under 50 kilometres
- Waingawa River, (Wairarapa), a tributary of the Ruamahanga River - 48 km (13 mi)
- Tauherenikau River, (Wairarapa), draining into Lake Wairarapa - 41 km (13 mi)
- Waiohine River, (Wairarapa), a tributary of the Ruamahanga River - 35 km (13 mi)
- Freshwater River (Stewart Island) - 25 km (15 mi) (longest New Zealand river not in the North or South Island)
- Waiwawa River - 21 km (13 mi) (longest river on the Coromandel Peninsula)
- Makara River (Chatham Island) - 16 km (10 mi) (longest New Zealand river not in New Zealand's main island chain)
- Avon River (SI) - 15 km (9.5 mi)
- Water of Leith (SI) - 14 km (9 mi)
Shortest rivers
- Awaroa River (Northland) - 12 km (7.5 mi)
- Awaroa River (Waikato River tributary) - 12 km (7.5 mi)
- Tawatahi River (Waikato) - 2 km (1.2 mi)
- Turanganui River (Gisborne) - 0.9 km (0.56 mi)
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List of rivers of New Zealand by length Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.