Oroua River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oroua River |
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Oroua River next to Iron Gate Hut in the Ruahine Ranges in 2016
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Ruahine Ranges |
| River mouth | Manawatu River |
| Length | 131km |
The Oroua River is a river found in the southwestern part of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an important waterway for the region.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The Oroua River gets its name from the Māori language. Its name, Ōroua, means "place of dredging for shellfish." This meaning was shared by the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Where Does the Oroua River Flow?
The Oroua River is a long river in the North Island of New Zealand. It starts high up in the Ruahine Range mountains. From there, it flows mostly towards the southwest.
The Oroua River is a branch, or tributary, of the larger Manawatu River. Near the town of Āpiti, the river carves its way through a deep gorge. After this, it flows out onto the open plains south of Kimbolton.
As the river nears Feilding, it is joined by two important streams. These are the Makino and Kiwitea streams. The Oroua River then flows along the eastern edge of Feilding.
You can find a popular swimming spot at Timona Park in Feilding. After passing Feilding, the Oroua River joins the Manawatu River. This meeting point is just west of Opiki, between Palmerston North and Shannon.
How Clean is the Oroua River?
The Oroua River is one of the more polluted rivers in New Zealand. It is in the bottom 25% of waterways for water quality. This means its water is not as clean as many other rivers.
Some main reasons for this pollution include water running off local farms. This runoff can carry unwanted substances into the river. Issues with the Feilding Wastewater Treatment Plant also add to the problem.
In 2011, a report showed that the water quality got worse near a meat works. However, by 2015, the quality of water from that plant had improved a lot. It was 87% better!
Because of these improvements, the Oroua River won an award. It received the New Zealand River award from Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA). This award was for big improvements in levels of phosphorus, nitrogen, e. coli, and how clear the water was.
Wildlife in the River
Near the start of the Oroua River, you can find a special bird. This is the whio, also known as the blue duck. The Oroua River has one of the largest groups of these birds.
This population is the southernmost group of wild blue ducks in the North Island. Blue ducks are unique and important to New Zealand's wildlife.
Flooding History
The Oroua River and the areas around it have experienced many floods. Major floods have been recorded in the past. These happened in 1880, 1897, 1902, and 1953.
In February 2004, there was a huge flood. Very heavy rain fell in the streams that feed the river. This caused a "once-in-a-hundred-years" flood.
This big flood forced over 500 people to leave their homes. It also caused more than $100 million in damage. The plains near Opiki have also faced flooding where the Oroua River meets the Manawatu River.
