Tukituki River facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tukituki River
Tukituki River and Te Mata Peak, May 2006
The Tukituki River system
Native name	Tukituki
Country	New Zealand
Region	Hawkes Bay
Physical characteristics
Main source	Ruahine Ranges
River mouth	Pacific Ocean Haumoana Sea Level 39°36′S 176°57′E / 39.600°S 176.950°E / -39.600; 176.950
Length	117 kilometres (73 mi)

The Tukituki River is found in the eastern North Island of New Zealand. It flows from the Ruahine Ranges to the Pacific Ocean at the southern end of Hawke's Bay.

The river flows for 117 kilometres (73 mi), east and then northeast, passing through the town of Waipukurau before flowing into Hawke Bay close to the city of Hastings. There, the Tukituki Valley is separated from Havelock North/Hastings by the craggy range of hills that includes Te Mata Peak.

Etymology

The Maori name Tukituki roughly translates "to demolish", presumably referring to the power of the river in flood. Maori legend has it that there are two taniwha living in lake at the southern end of the river that fought over a young boy after he fell into the lake. The struggle of the two taniwha was thought to split the river into the Waipawa and Tukituki Rivers and thereby draining the lake.