Rangitīkei awa
Ki uta, ki tai, Nga puna rau o Rangitīkei
He tuawai o te rohe mai i te mātāpuna ki tai kia whakapakari ai te iwi
Connecting and sustaining its people and communities for a positive future.
Rangitīkei catchment
Rangitīkei Awa
The Awa is one of New Zealand’s longest rivers at 253 kilometres, originating in the Kaimanawa Ranges southeast of Lake Taupō and flowing south to the South Taranaki Bight at Tangimoana. Known for its high cultural, ecological, and recreational values, the Awa has a catchment area of 3,186 square kilometres in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region. The river’s exceptional upper reaches were granted a Water Conservation Order in 1993, with its tributaries including Kawhatau Awa providing abundant fishing resources. The Awa supports fertile land for cultivation and is home to native fish species like Pātiki, making it one of New Zealand’s premier fisheries.
Kawhatau Awa
The Kawhatau Awa is a tributary of the Rangitīkei Awa, between Utiku and Mangaweka. The Kawhatau is a premier fishing spot for trout and is also considered to be a significant source of the gravels in the lower part of the river. This Awa was extensively utilised for its plentiful fishing resources including Pā Harakeke.
Pourangaki Stream
The Pourangaki Stream flows northwest from sources in the Ruahine, reaching the Kawhatu River. It is extensively used for fishing, including Pā Harakeke.
Pāharakeke Stream
Hautapu Awa
The Hautapu Awa has a catchment area of 303 square kilometres, originating in Waiouru and flowing 32 kilometres to meet the Rangitīkei Awa south of Taihape. Concerns regarding water quality and infestations of willow trees and Old Mans Beard affect the Awa’s usability and biodiversity. Additionally, the Hautapu River and its upstream tributaries were previously protected by a Local Water Conservation Notice in 1990 due to their significance for the regionally important brown trout fishery.
Moawhango Iti - Moawhango
The Moawhango Awa originates in the south-western Kaimanawa Ranges and runs 62 kilometres to enter the Rangitīkei Awa south of Taihape. It has a catchment area of 793 square kilometres. This Awa was also revered for its abundance of fish and bird life, forested and tussocked banks and quality of water. Both the Moawhango Awa and Rangitīkei Awa are recognised as significant trout fisheries and trout spawning habit. Degradation of the Moawhango Awa has negatively impacted upon the species present and activities being undertaken.
The Moawhango River is a major tributary of the Rangitīkei River. The river is utilised as part of the Tongariro Power Development (TPD) scheme. Water from the Southern slopes of Mt Ruapehu is diverted into Lake Moawhango via a tunnel where it is then directed into the Tongariro River. Lake Moawhango was created by the Moawhango Dam, built in 1979. The dam is a significant piece of infrastructure and the TPD is the largest take of water in the Rangitīkei catchment, accounting for 16% of the mean annual low flow (MALF) at Mangaweka. Genesis Energy, owner of the TPD scheme, is required to release four flushing flows of 30 cubic metres a second for nine hours between December and March. The operation of the Dam has a significant effect on flows in the middle and lower Rangitīkei River
Oporoa - Lake and Stream
Lake Oporoa, located about 1.5 kilometres from the Rangitīkei Awa, serves as a vital migratory route for culturally harvested tuna. Prioritizing traditional tuna harvesting and restoring the Lake’s health to safe environmental levels is essential. The Lake receives overland flow, with some water diverted to reduce erosion risk. During Summer, minimal flushing occurs, leading to algal blooms and increased sediment from stock grazing under lakeside trees, which negatively affects tuna populations and cultural harvesting efforts.
Pourewa Stream
The Pourewa Stream is a tributary of the Awa. It is nearby to the Rātā Marae, and there is potential to use the project to encourage re-engagement of Hapū and Iwi back to the area. In the past, the mauri of the stream has been desecrated and many wāhi tapu have been destroyed through disregard of Māori values.
The stream has a range of fish species including non-migratory bullies, red fin bullies, torrent fish, both long finned and short finned eels. Kākahi are also known to be present. It is hoped that a healthy Pourewa will sustain seasonal whānau gatherings, restore traditional kai and undertake manaaki manuhiri. The stream is also within a Horizons Regional Council engineering scheme which protects the lowland terraces from flooding events by having detention dams further upstream and managing the willows along the rest of the stream
Rangitawa Stream
Located near Halcombe with a predominantly rural catchment, it is a small eastern tributary of the Rangitīkei Awa. A source of Rangitawa pumice, a 70cm thick outcropping in the Stream
Tutaenui Stream
The Tutaenui Stream is located in Marton, providing local drinking water and taking away effulent from the wastewater system It is the first catchment native fish can come into as they swim inland up the Rangitīkei Awa. The Stream is completely dry from November to April as its water is held back
Makowhai Stream
The Makowhai Stream is a culturally important stream for its fisheries and was once the most reliable and abundant tributary of the lower Rangitīkei Awa. The Makowhai Stream is a tributary of the Awa which should have high native fish diversity given the streams proximity to the coast. Native fish species that have been recorded in the Makowhai include: both long fin and short fin eels, Common Bully, Inanga and Pātiki/Black Flounder.
Only a very limited number of fish surveys have been undertaken in the Makowhai however other fish species which should be present given the streams proximity to the coast include: Banded Kōkopu, Giant Kōkopu, Uplands bully, Crans bully and smelt. The most likely reason these species would not be present is a lack of suitable habitat. Further surveys will enable a fuller understanding of species in the stream and what is required to return to sustainable levels.
Waitapu Stream
An important stream which signifies block, hapū and iwi boundaries. This stream was used extensively for its fishing resources.
Waituna Stream
The Waituna was used extensively for its fishing resources. The Waituna like other side streams, were often more easily accessible and having gentler flows shaded by bank vegetation, have always been particularly important as sources of food.
Our Projects
We want the health and wellbeing of the Awa to be restored. We expect this to require a different type of conversation and approach to the balance of activity occurring across the Awa, and how the impacts of those activities will be managed.
Click the link below to read more about the mahi we are doing to restore the mana of our the Rangitīkei Awa and its full catchment area.
