42:
572:. Most rivers arise from an already-existing range of mountains or hills, but beginning about 3 million years ago the central North Island mountain ranges began to uplift across the Manawatū's current course. Because it drained a large catchment, the river had sufficient flow to keep pace with and erode the rising mountains, eventually forming the Manawatū Gorge; other rivers were unable to and were diverted into the Manawatū instead.
57:
630:. Three major swamps bordered the Manawatū: Moutoa Swamp north of the river, towards the mouth, known as the "Great Swamp" in the 19th century; Makerua Swamp further inland, to the south of the Manawatū and north of the Tokomaru River, which covered 22000 acres; and Taonui Swamp on the north side of the river. The main vegetation in the swamps was
575:
After exiting the
Manawatū Gorge, the river carries rock and sediment down from the mountains. During glacial times, with the prevalence of ice, snow, and bare mountains, this erosion increases and forms a stony elevated terrace. During an interglacial, while the mountains are forested, gravel
425:
Haupipi-a-Nanaia, a descendant of Haunui-a-paparangi. Haupipi-a-Nanaia or Hau, travelled down the west coast in pursuit of his wife
Wairaka, who had eloped. When Hau reached what is now known as the Manawatū River, he is said to have stopped and clutched his chest, horrified at the prospect of
434:(stand still). In this context, when said together, the interpretation is ‘heart standing still’ to represent how Hau felt when he first saw the river. However cross he did, and a few kilometres south of Paekākāriki, Hau overtook the fugitives and changed Wairaka into a rock.
540:. The Manawatū's total length is 180 kilometres (110 mi), making it only the 12th-longest in the country, but at 102 cubic metres per second (3,600 cu ft/s) it is one of New Zealand's greatest rivers in terms of flow, and second only to the
743:. In 2011, the Horizons Regional Council laid blame with the Palmerston North City Council for "considerable" and "sustained" breaches of one of its discharge consents, and some degree of non-compliance with two others. A report by the
719:
had improved over the previous seven to ten years in the
Manawatū-Whanganui region. The report found strong statistical evidence of a connection between regional scale water quality improvements and local scale interventions.
579:
The
Manawatū Plain was seabed 5 to 6 million years ago, and as it was raised above water by the action of the Australian and Pacific Plates it buckled, forming five long and low ridges (or
509:. Sediment deposited along its course has created levees, higher than the surrounding plain; when the river is in flood it overflows these and creates wetlands. The Manawatū reaches the
998:
568:
The
Manawatū is unique among New Zealand rivers in that it crosses a mountain range. The river has formed a "water gap" across the mountains because it is older than the Ruahine and
702:
1069:
1025:
576:
outwash is reduced and the river cuts down into the terrace, forming a gorge. This cycle has created four distinct terraces between the
Manawatū Gorge and Palmerston North.
560:
1.1 km (0.68 mi) over the Moutoa
Floodway and 180 m (590 ft) over the river. It replaced the 1938 and 1942 bridges in February 2020, at a cost of $ 70m.
665:) and damaging over 1000 Manawatū farms. The cost of the flood in terms of insurance payouts was NZ$ 122 million. Further damage was prevented by the opening of the Moutoa
895:
972:
994:
219:
744:
694:
1518:
1422:
1148:
727:
were criticised for an application to discharge 8,500 cubic metres (300,000 cu ft) of wastewater into the
Manawatū River. In 2009, the
1361:
622:
Across the flood plain of the
Manawatū and on the low-lying land bordering the river, the predominant vegetation was semi-swamp forest, mostly
365:
1131:
1112:
337:
1213:
1077:
853:
595:
At the time of human arrival, the
Manawatū Plains were covered with forest. Towards the foothills and the Manawatū Gorge grew
1523:
557:
552:
The river is crossed by 18 road bridges (not including the under-construction Parahaki Island Bridge), 3 rail bridges and
148:
1149:
State of New Zealand's Environment 1997 - Chapter 7: Nature of NZ's water environment [Ministry for the Environment]
1047:
1155:
1473:
1002:
877:
829:
497:; its bed at this point is mud and silty sand. In its meandering and frequent shifting of course it has created
1174:
732:
627:
623:
753:
levels. Using those measures, they found only four other New Zealand rivers rate worse than the Manawatū (the
1467:
1437:
1306:
1206:
706:
459:
1321:
735:(GPP) compared to 300 rivers and streams in the Western world. High GPP rates are an indication of poor
686:
418:
105:
1326:
1260:
1241:
674:
616:
973:"Assessment of recent reductions in E. coli and sediment in rivers of the Manawatū-Whanganui Region"
1455:
1412:
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1331:
1270:
766:
740:
670:
658:
596:
402:
357:
1366:
728:
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1407:
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on the North Island of New Zealand. It flows initially eastward before turning south-west near
1402:
1199:
1127:
1108:
736:
646:
608:
463:
426:
crossing so mighty an expanse of water. Therefore the river's name comes from the Māori words
394:
313:
78:
47:
587:, and Oroua Rivers, forcing them to flow southwest rather than directly into the Tasman Sea.
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317:
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115:
41:
482:. At this stage the river is still flowing swiftly and carrying gravel from the mountains.
1443:
1376:
896:"Opening of Whirokino Trestle and Manawatū River Bridge adds traffic to congested highway"
758:
556:
walk/cycleway. The lowest and longest, Whirokino Trestle and Manawatū River Bridge, carry
533:
494:
471:
414:
361:
341:
657:
The Manawatū River flooded in February 2004, displacing over 3000 people (primarily from
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1371:
762:
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134:
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386:
205:
1381:
1291:
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455:
345:
184:
95:
995:"Forest & Bird calls on Fonterra to clean up its act on the Manawatu River"
1347:
1296:
603:
forest at lower altitudes. Along the plains and terraces the forest was mixed
510:
498:
189:
17:
786:
The Reed Dictionary of Māori Place Names, Te Papakupu Ingoa Wāhi Māori a Reed
234:
221:
163:
150:
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666:
580:
443:
256:
56:
1311:
724:
710:
662:
475:
1301:
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502:
583:) parallel to the mountains, which impede the flow of the Manawatū,
458:, flowing 40 kilometres (25 mi) before turning north-west near
1070:"Recreational river water quality league table: water clarity and
506:
486:
1191:
698:
690:
1195:
703:
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)
1124:
Ravaged Beauty: An Environmental History of the Manawatu
999:
Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand
930:
928:
800:
798:
796:
794:
517:, on the west coast of the North Island, creating the
401:, and across the Manawatū Plains to the Tasman Sea at
638:: harakeke in the drier parts, raupō in the wetter.
1421:
1395:
1345:
1279:
1248:
442:The Manawatū River has its headwaters northwest of
351:
331:
323:
309:
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290:
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211:
195:
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140:
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34:
747:ranked 76 New Zealand sites for water clarity and
649:as a Wetland of International Importance in 2005.
478:and turns south-west, flowing through the city of
788:(3rd Ed) Reed Publishing: Auckland, New Zealand
421:region. The name of the river was given by the
1280:Towns and settlements (upstream to downstream)
1105:New Zealand's Rivers: An Environmental History
1076:. Ministry for the Environment. Archived from
1346:Major tributaries (upstream to downstream by
1207:
1107:. Christchurch: Canterbury University Press.
685:In 2018 a case study on water quality in the
8:
1048:"Manawatu River pollution blamed on council"
1026:"Ecosystem metabolism in the Manawatu River"
524:Major tributaries of the river include the
70:
1214:
1200:
1192:
389:of New Zealand. The river flows from the
709:. Results showed that water quality for
413:The river, along with the more northern
29:River in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand
1396:Other features (upstream to downstream)
1175:"Manawatu River bad, but not the worst"
777:
958:
946:
934:
919:
878:"Whirokino Trestle Bridge replacement"
816:
804:
296:102 m/s (3,600 cu ft/s)
31:
731:found that the river had the highest
701:and the results were reviewed by the
489:, it slows and has a lower gradient,
470:. Beyond the gorge it joins with the
274:5,899 km (2,278 sq mi)
7:
669:, which intercept the river between
689:region was jointly commissioned by
1156:"Manawatu River quality not worst"
25:
643:Manawatū river mouth and estuary
55:
40:
1001:. 9 August 2006. Archived from
450:, on the eastern slopes of the
462:. At this point it enters the
385:is a major river of the lower
213: • coordinates
142: • coordinates
1:
1154:Galloway, Jill (2012-02-23).
830:"New Zealand Topographic Map"
697:, the study was conducted by
122:Physical characteristics
1519:Rivers of Manawatū-Whanganui
1173:Goodwin, Emma (2012-03-21).
745:Ministry for the Environment
695:Ministry for the Environment
252: • elevation
1126:. Auckland: Dunmore Press.
544:among North Island rivers.
197: • location
1540:
1423:Longest New Zealand rivers
1122:Knight, Catherine (2014).
1103:Knight, Catherine (2016).
611:, changing to mixed tawa,
466:, between the Ruahine and
292: • average
1229:
691:Horizons Regional Council
300:
278:
266:180 km (110 mi)
179:
126:
61:The Manawatū River system
54:
39:
739:and can lead to various
733:gross primary production
417:, gives its name to the
353: • right
975:. Land Water People Ltd
699:Land Water People (LWP)
333: • left
164:40.01472°S 176.11694°E
71:
1524:Rivers of New Zealand
1266:Palmerston North City
645:was listed under the
1474:Waiau Toa / Clarence
1249:Administrative areas
1242:South Taranaki Bight
1028:. Cawthron Institute
741:environmental issues
169:-40.01472; 176.11694
1357:Mangatewainui River
1271:Horowhenua District
619:in the sand dunes.
393:, through both the
358:Mangatewainui River
305:Basin features
231: /
160: /
1367:Mangatainoka River
1005:on 19 October 2007
961:, p. 150–151.
784:Reed, A.W. (1996)
729:Cawthron Institute
687:Manawatū-Whanganui
419:Manawatū-Whanganui
235:40.467°S 175.217°E
106:Manawatū-Whanganui
1506:
1505:
1261:Manawatū District
1179:Manawatu Standard
1160:Manawatu Standard
1133:978-1-927212-13-4
1114:978-1-927145-76-0
997:(Press release).
737:ecological health
647:Ramsar Convention
379:
378:
16:(Redirected from
1531:
1438:Clutha / Mata-Au
1413:Manawatū Estuary
1317:Palmerston North
1256:Tararua District
1216:
1209:
1202:
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1188:
1186:
1185:
1169:
1167:
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1074:bacteria levels"
1072:Escherichia coli
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858:www.pncc.govt.nz
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789:
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519:Manawatu Estuary
480:Palmerston North
448:Tararua District
399:Palmerston North
397:and the city of
354:
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318:Manawatu Estuary
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246:
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240:-40.467; 175.217
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202:Manawatu Estuary
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1408:Manawatū Plains
1391:
1377:Pohangina River
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854:"He Ara Kotahi"
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599:, turning into
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495:Manawatu Plains
472:Pohangina River
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415:Whanganui River
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362:Mangatoro River
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342:Pohangina River
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1410:
1405:
1403:Manawatū Gorge
1399:
1397:
1393:
1392:
1390:
1389:
1387:Tokomaru River
1384:
1379:
1374:
1372:Mangahao River
1369:
1364:
1362:Tiraumea River
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1223:Manawatū River
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1189:
1170:
1151:
1144:
1143:External links
1141:
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1138:
1132:
1119:
1113:
1099:
1097:
1094:
1092:
1091:
1080:on 22 May 2010
1061:
1039:
1024:Young, Roger.
1016:
986:
971:Snelder, Ton.
963:
951:
939:
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887:
869:
845:
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570:Tararua Ranges
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562:
549:
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468:Tararua Ranges
464:Manawatū Gorge
439:
436:
410:
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395:Manawatū Gorge
391:Ruahine Ranges
383:Manawatū River
377:
376:
374:Tokomaru River
366:Tiraumea River
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48:Manawatū Gorge
45:
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35:Manawatū River
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18:Manawatu River
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1235:Ruahine Range
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996:
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967:
964:
960:
959:Knight (2014)
955:
952:
949:, p. 48.
948:
947:Knight (2014)
943:
940:
937:, p. 25.
936:
935:Knight (2014)
931:
929:
925:
922:, p. 24.
921:
920:Knight (2014)
916:
913:
901:
897:
891:
888:
883:
879:
873:
870:
859:
855:
849:
846:
835:
831:
825:
822:
819:, p. 21.
818:
817:Knight (2014)
813:
810:
807:, p. 20.
806:
805:Knight (2014)
801:
799:
797:
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681:Water quality
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554:He Ara Kotahi
547:
545:
543:
542:Waikato River
539:
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531:
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452:Ruahine Range
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1337:Foxton Beach
1238:
1231:
1222:
1182:. Retrieved
1178:
1163:. Retrieved
1159:
1123:
1104:
1082:. Retrieved
1078:the original
1071:
1064:
1052:. Retrieved
1050:. Fairfax NZ
1042:
1030:. Retrieved
1019:
1007:. Retrieved
1003:the original
989:
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966:
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902:. 2020-03-04
899:
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857:
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833:
824:
812:
785:
780:
748:
722:
715:
684:
656:
640:
621:
594:
578:
574:
567:
551:
538:Oroua Rivers
523:
515:Foxton Beach
484:
441:
431:
430:(heart) and
427:
412:
387:North Island
382:
380:
338:Tamaki River
206:Foxton Beach
26:
1382:Oroua River
1292:Ormondville
1239:Flows into:
1084:26 November
979:22 November
834:NZ Topo Map
597:black beech
499:oxbow lakes
456:Ormondville
346:Oroua River
324:Tributaries
238: /
167: /
96:New Zealand
67:Native name
1513:Categories
1492:Rangitaiki
1456:Rangitīkei
1348:confluence
1297:Dannevirke
1184:2018-11-23
1165:2018-11-23
906:2020-05-29
863:2020-05-29
839:2020-05-29
773:References
767:Rangitīkei
667:floodgates
591:Vegetation
585:Rangitikei
581:anticlines
511:Tasman Sea
491:meandering
271:Basin size
190:Tasman Sea
1444:Whanganui
1307:Woodville
1287:Norsewood
759:Whanganui
624:kahikatea
534:Pohangina
493:over the
460:Woodville
444:Norsewood
438:Geography
310:Landmarks
283:Discharge
257:Sea level
155:176°7′1″E
152:40°0′53″S
1498:Manawatū
1322:Tokomaru
1312:Ashhurst
1054:14 April
1009:13 March
725:Fonterra
723:In 2006
711:sediment
693:and the
663:Feilding
653:Flooding
632:harakeke
605:podocarp
530:Mangahao
526:Makakahi
476:Ashhurst
370:Mangahao
226:175°13′E
87:Location
72:Manawatū
1480:Waitaki
1462:Mataura
1432:Waikato
1327:Shannon
1302:Kumeroa
1232:Source:
1096:Sources
884:. 2015.
755:Waitara
750:E. coli
716:E. coli
707:StatsNZ
675:Shannon
628:pukatea
564:Geology
548:Bridges
503:lagoons
446:in the
423:tohunga
223:40°28′S
92:Country
1450:Taieri
1332:Foxton
1130:
1111:
1032:15 May
671:Foxton
659:Marton
615:, and
613:tītoki
609:tōtara
507:swamps
505:, and
485:After
428:manawa
403:Foxton
327:
286:
263:Length
131:Source
112:Cities
102:Region
75:
1486:Ōreti
1468:Waiau
763:Waipā
636:raupō
617:māhoe
487:Opiki
185:Mouth
79:Māori
1496:12:
1490:11:
1484:10:
1128:ISBN
1109:ISBN
1086:2009
1056:2012
1034:2011
1011:2008
981:2018
882:NZTA
765:and
713:and
705:and
673:and
661:and
641:The
634:and
626:and
607:and
601:tawa
536:and
409:Name
381:The
46:The
1478:9:
1472:8:
1466:7:
1460:6:
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900:RNZ
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558:SH1
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