Ōhau River (Canterbury)

The Ōhau River is a river in the Mackenzie Basin of New Zealand's South Island. It is the primary outflow of Lake Ōhau, from which it flows in a roughly eastward direction until reaching the artificial Lake Benmore after a distance of roughly 27 kilometres (17 mi). In 1981, the artificial Lake Ruataniwha was created along the river's length to power a small hydroelectric power station as part of the Waitaki hydro scheme.[1] Prior to the creation of the Waitaki hydro scheme, the river flowed directly into the Waitaki River rather than through a series of lakes.[2] The river forms part of the traditional boundary between Otago and Canterbury regions.[3]

Ōhau River
Ōhau River upstream of Lake Ruataniwha
Ōhau River (Canterbury) is located in New Zealand
Ōhau River (Canterbury)
Location
CountryNew Zealand
Physical characteristics
SourceLake Ōhau
 • coordinates44°17′06″S 169°56′11″E / 44.2851°S 169.9365°E / -44.2851; 169.9365
 • elevation540 metres (1,770 ft)
MouthLake Benmore
 • coordinates
44°20′39″S 170°12′17″E / 44.3441°S 170.2048°E / -44.3441; 170.2048
 • elevation
380 metres (1,250 ft)
Length27 km (17 mi)
Basin features
ProgressionLake BenmoreLake AviemoreLake WaitakiWaitaki RiverPacific Ocean
Tributaries 
 • leftTwizel River
 • rightWairepo Creek
WaterbodiesLake Ruataniwha

Prior to European settlement of the region, the river was a traditional mahinga kai (food gathering site) for Māori travelling through the Mackenzie Basin, providing valuable food sources such as weka, tuna (eels), and pora (Brassica rapa subsp. sylvestris)[4][5]

References

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  1. ^ "NZGB Gazetteer". New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  2. ^ Mannering, G. E. (1891). With axe and rope in the New Zealand Alps . p. 127 – via Wikisource.
  3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). www.meridianenergy.co.nz. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 February 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Cultural Atlas - Ōhau". Kā Huru Manu. Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Brassica rapa subsp. sylvestris. Pōhata. Wild turnip. - Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga". rauropiwhakaoranga.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 13 August 2023.