The Oruawharo River is a river on the North Auckland Peninsula of New Zealand. It flows westward into the Kaipara Harbour west of Wellsford. It forms part of the boundary between the Northland region and the Auckland Region.

Oruawharo River
The Oruawharo River as seen from Ātiu Creek Regional Park, draining into the Kaipara Harbour
Location
Country	New Zealand

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives translations of "place of [a] stretched-out pit" or "place of Ruawharo [a personal name]" for Ōruawharo.[1]

History

In pre-European times, the Oruawharo River was important to the Tāmaki Māori people of the Kaipara Harbour. The Opou portage allowed waka to be transported across the Okahukura Peninsula between the Oruawharo and Tauhoa rivers.[2]

See also

• List of rivers of New Zealand

References

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

External links

• Photographs of Oruawharo River held in Auckland Libraries' heritage collections.