The Cook River / Weheka is in the South Island of New Zealand. The headwaters are from the La Perouse Glacier on the western flanks of the Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana, and it flows west, then northeast, then northwest and into the Tasman Sea. Its tributaries include the Balfour River, fed by Balfour Glacier, and the Fox River, fed by Fox Glacier / Te Moeka o Tuawe. Much of the river lies within the Westland Tai Poutini National Park.[1] The river was renamed from Cook River to Cook River / Weheka as a result of the Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998.

Cook River / Weheka
Cook River near State Highway 6
Map
Route of Cook River / Weheka
Cook River / Weheka is located in South Island
Cook River / Weheka
Mouth of Cook River / Weheka
Cook River / Weheka is located in New Zealand
Cook River / Weheka
Cook River / Weheka (New Zealand)
Native nameWeheka
Location
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWest Coast
DistrictWestland
Physical characteristics
SourceLa Perouse Glacier
 • locationSouthern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana
 • coordinates43°34′33″S 170°02′20″E / 43.57583°S 170.03888°E / -43.57583; 170.03888
 • elevation890 m (2,920 ft)
MouthTasman Sea
 • location
2 kilometres (1 mi) south of Gillespies Beach
 • coordinates
43°25′47″S 169°47′21″E / 43.42972°S 169.78916°E / -43.42972; 169.78916
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length34 kilometres (21 mi)
Basin features
ProgressionLa Perouse GlacierCook River / WehekaTasman Sea
River systemCook River / Weheka
Tributaries 
 • leftDriblet Creek, Hermit Creek, Bullock Creek (upper section), Bullock Creek (lower section)
 • rightMcBain Creek, Balfour River, Fox River, Clearwater River

Brown trout can be fished for in the river.[2]

Access along the river by foot is difficult beyond the junction with the Balfour River. There are no approved helicopter landing sites in the river valley, but there are chamois, tahr and small numbers of red deer available to hunters.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. Map 76. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
  2. ^ "Cook River Trout Fishing (Weheka River)". New Zealand Fly Fishing for Trout and Salmon. Archived from the original on 18 October 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
  3. ^ "Fox Glacier to Karangarua". New Zealand Department of Conservation. Archived from the original on 14 November 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
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