Wheao River
| Wheao River | |
|---|---|
Route of the Wheao River | |
Mouth of the Wheao River Wheao River (North Island) | |
| Location | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • coordinates | 38°48′42″S 176°35′39″E / 38.81156°S 176.5942°E |
| Mouth | |
• location | Rangitaiki River |
• coordinates | 38°33′39″S 176°38′34″E / 38.56085°S 176.64269°E |
| Length | 38 km (24 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Wheao River → Rangitaiki River → Bay of Plenty → Pacific Ocean |
| Landmarks | Wheao Dam |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Flaxy Creek, Rangitaiki Canal, |
| • right | Waituheomana Stream, Otueta Stream, Waione Stream, Mangakaretu Stream, Mangamingi Stream |
The Wheao River is a river of the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island. An upper tributary of the Rangitaiki River, it flows predominantly north from its origins at Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park through the Kaingaroa Forest to reach the Rangitaiki River at Ngahuinga Crossing, south of Murupara.[1]
History
The river is a part of the Wheao and Flaxy Hydro Power Scheme. During construction in 1982, a breach of the canal bank led to significant flooding of the power plant.[2]
See also
References
- ^ "Place name detail: Wheao River". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
- ^ Jones, O. T. (1988). Canal Failure on Wheao Power Scheme. Fifth Australia-New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics Sydney, 22-23 August 1988 (PDF) (Report).