Waita River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Waita River |
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Mataketake Range |
| River mouth | Tasman Sea |
| Length | 17 km (11 mi) |
The Waita River is a cool river located in the West Coast Region of New Zealand's South Island. It flows towards the west and eventually reaches the Tasman Sea. This happens about 10 kilometres northeast of where the Haast River meets the sea. The Waita River starts high up in the Mataketake Range. It winds its way through thick native forests. As it gets closer to the sea, the forest opens up into farmland. The Waita River even flows under State Highway 6, a major road in New Zealand. A smaller river called the Maori River joins the Waita along its journey.
Riverside Homes and History
You can find several old homes, called baches, right next to the Waita River. These baches are located after the river flows under State Highway 6. About seven people live in these homes all year round. Some of these baches are very old, dating back to the 1900s, and they have a lot of history.
The land where these baches sit is managed by the Department of Conservation. For a while, there was a plan to remove these baches. This was part of a bigger strategy to avoid private homes on public land. However, the final decision allowed the baches to stay. The rule now is that these baches should be made available for the public to use whenever possible.
Whitebait Fishing Business
The small community at Waita River is also home to a business that sells whitebait. Whitebait are tiny, young fish that are a popular food in New Zealand. This business started in 1970. Back then, it was just a few caravans where they bought and packed whitebait.
Over time, the business grew. They added a house and a warehouse with special packing areas. They also installed large walk-in freezers to store the fish. Today, this business sells whitebait to other companies. They also make and sell delicious whitebait patties to tourists who visit the area.
See also
