Ūawa River

The Ūawa River is a river in the Gisborne Region of New Zealand. The river drains an area of consisting of predominately managed forestry land northwest of Tolaga Bay. The river flows out into the Pacific at Tolaga Bay. The river is prone to flooding and has had significant issues with forestry slash.

Ūawa River
The Ūawa River mouth
Native name	Ūawa (Māori)
Location
Country	New Zealand
Region	Gisborne District
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Tauwharepārae
• coordinates	38°16′18″S 178°6′33″E
• elevation	520 m (1,710 ft)
Mouth
• location	Tolaga Bay
• coordinates	38°22′27″S 178°18′25″E
• elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	86 km (282,000 ft)
Basin features
Progression	Pangopango Stream → Waiau River → Hikuwai River → Ūawa River
River system	Ūawa River
Tributaries
• right	Mangatokerau River, Mangaheia River

Image of a bridge over the Ūawa River, circa 1915

Course

The ultimate source of the river is at the head of the Pangopango Stream near Tauwharepārae. The stream initially flows north and where it is joined by Ngapunarua Stream it becomes the upper section of the river, the Waiau River. The river meanders in a northerly direction through large areas of managed forestry before bending eastwards towards the settlement of Hikuwai.

The middle section of the river is known as the Hikuwai River. This section begins at the confluence of the Waiau River and the Mangarākai Stream. The river flow south through this section, meandering through an area of farmland and the settlements of Arero and Mangatuna. State highway 2 follows the river valley through this section crossing the river four times.

The lower section begins at the confluence of the Mangatokerau and the Hikuwai River. The river and meanders south for about 10 kilometres (6 mi) passing the settlement of Wharekaka before flowing into the sea at Tolaga Bay.

Flooding

The catchment area of the river is prone to high rain falls when easterly weather systems make landfall from the Pacific Ocean. During Cyclone Gabrielle the monitoring river level at Willow Flat rose from an average two-metre height to a height of over 14 m (46 ft).

See also

• List of rivers of New Zealand