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The Makotuku River is a river of the west of New Zealand's North Island. It flows southwest from Tūroa ski field, on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu, and passes through the town of Raetihi before its confluence with the Mangawhero River. It has been affected by several lahars over the last 160,000 years.[1]

Makotuku River
Makotuku River at Raetihi
Etymology	Maori meaning "white heron stream"
Native name	Mākōtuku  (Māori)
Location
Country	New Zealand
Region	Manawatū-Whanganui
District	Ruapehu District
Settlements	Horopito, Raetihi
Physical characteristics
Source	Mount Ruapehu
• location	Sunset Ridge, Tūroa skifield
• coordinates	39°18′7″S 175°31′44″E
• elevation	1,700 metres (5,600 ft)
Mouth	Mangawhero River
• coordinates	39°28′8″S 175°18′4″E
• elevation	455 metres (1,493 ft)
Length	40 km (25 mi)
Basin features
Progression	Makotuku River → Mangawhero River → Whangaehu River
River system	Whangaehu River

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "white heron stream" for Mākōtuku.[2]

Water quality

The long term e. coli rating for the river at Raetihi is poor.[3]

Water supply

Raetihi's drinking water comes from the river. In 2018 Veolia added activated carbon dosing, coagulation, flocculation, a lamella settler, filters and UV disinfection to the previous two settling ponds and chlorination, to minimise the effect of future pollution events.[4]

Oil spills

In December 1979 17,000 litres (3,700 imp gal; 4,500 US gal) of heating oil (diesel and kerosene) and, in September 2013, 19,000 l (4,200 imp gal; 5,000 US gal) of diesel spilt into the river at the Turoa ski field,[5] 27 km (17 mi) upstream. The 2013 leak required Raetihi to have 21 days of water supply from road tankers.[4] The leaks had impacts on mayflies, lichens, mosses, fish and whio.[5][6] Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Ltd was fined $300,000 for the 2013 spill.[7]

Hydro electricity

The 60kW[8] Raetihi hydro-electric scheme produces about 1.75 GWh (6.3 TJ) a year and was built in 1918, about 6 km (3.7 mi) north of Raetihi. Its water comes from the Makotuku River, Makara Stream, Makaraiti Stream and a tributary of Mangaone Stream. It has a head of 116 m (381 ft) from its headpond to its generator, near the Orautoha Stream.[9] The original generator remains in use.[10]

Makotuku River Walkway

The 1.2 km (0.75 mi) Makotuku River Walkway was upgraded in 2021, with loop tracks on the east side of Raetihi.[11] Much of the funding for the work came from the compensation paid after the 2013 oil spill.[12]

See also

• List of rivers of New Zealand

References

External links

"Place name detail: Makotuku River". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 12 July 2009.

На других языках

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[de] Makotuku River

Der Makotuku River ist ein Fluss in Neuseeland, der über den Mangawhero River und den Whangaehu River an der Südwestküste der Nordinsel in die Tasmansee entwässert. Seine Quelle liegt am höchsten Berg der Nordinsel, dem 2797 m hohen Mount Ruapehu. Die Mündung in den Mangawhero River liegt südlich der Ortschaft Raetihi.[1] Der Name der Māori lässt sich frei als „Fluss des Silberreihers“ übersetzen.[2]

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- [en] Makotuku River

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