42-544: Piriaka is a small rural settlement beside the Whanganui River , about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) southeast of Taumarunui on State Highway 4 (SH4) , in New Zealand 's King Country . Its name is Māori , from piri (to cling close) and aka (bush climbers of various kinds, such as rata ). The Piriaka Power Station is about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) north of the settlement. The Piriaka springs can be found just to
84-697: A lahar from Ruapehu in April 1975. Possibly this had effects downstream. Māori legend explains the formation of the river in the Mount Taranaki legend . When Mount Taranaki left the central plateau for the coast, the land was split open, and the river filled the rift. Another Māori legend explains that after Māui caught the giant fish that was to become the North Island of New Zealand, known as Te Ika-a-Māui, he prayed to Ranginui who then sent two tear drops to land on Māui's fish. These two tear drops then became
126-470: A broadleaf and podocarp forest; understory species include crown fern ( Blechnum discolor ), and a variety of other ferns and shrubs. In 1892 Alexander Hatrick was contracted by Thomas Cook & Son to carry tourists to Pipiriki on the paddle-steamer PS Waimarie , the journey was "The Rhine of Maoriland " tourist route into the interior of New Zealand. The river boat subsequently carried mail, passengers and cargo. PS Waimarie operates on
168-450: A legal person". He said some people would consider it strange, but it is "no stranger than family trusts, or companies, or incorporated societies." The bill finalised 140-year-old negotiations between Māori and the government. The river will be represented by two officials, one from Māori and the other from the government. Whanga nui is a phrase meaning "big bay" or "big harbour". Some very early maps show that European settlers called
210-599: A length of 290 kilometres (180 mi), the Whanganui is the country's third-longest river. Much of the land to either side of the upper reaches is part of the Whanganui National Park , though the river itself is not part of the park. The river rises on the northern slopes of Mount Tongariro , one of the three active volcanoes of the central plateau , close to Lake Rotoaira . It flows to the north-west before turning south-west at Taumarunui . From here it runs through
252-750: A potential path of more than 300 kilometres (190 mi). Lahars from the 1985 Nevado del Ruiz eruption in Colombia caused the Armero tragedy , burying the city of Armero under 5 metres (16 ft) of mud and debris and killing an estimated 23,000 people. A lahar caused New Zealand's Tangiwai disaster , where 151 people died after a Christmas Eve express train fell into the Whangaehu River in 1953. Lahars have caused 17% of volcano-related deaths between 1783 and 1997. Lahars have several possible causes: In particular, although lahars are typically associated with
294-569: A variety of invertebrates such as mayflies, stoneflies and caddis flies. Blue duck (whio) populations can be found at the junction of the Whanganui River and the Mangatepopo and Okupata streams. The Nankeen night heron established roosts along the Whanganui River in the 1990s and is breeding in New Zealand only in this location. Much of the flora in the river basin can be characterised as
336-551: A wall of mud 140 metres (460 ft) deep in the White River canyon and covered an area of over 330 square kilometres (130 sq mi), for a total volume of 2.3 cubic kilometres ( 1 ⁄ 2 cu mi). A debris-flow lahar can erase virtually any structure in its path, while a hyperconcentrated-flow lahar is capable of carving its own pathway, destroying buildings by undermining their foundations. A hyperconcentrated-flow lahar can leave even frail huts standing, while at
378-455: Is a lookout providing an excellent view of the Whanganui River . This spot is known as the Piriaka lookout. 38°55′17″S 175°20′10″E / 38.92139°S 175.33611°E / -38.92139; 175.33611 This Manawatū-Whanganui geography article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Whanganui River The Whanganui River is a major river in
420-423: Is of special and spiritual importance for Māori, who also refer to it as Te awa tupua . It was the home for a large proportion of Māori villages in pre-European times. As such, it is regarded as taonga , a special treasure. Local iwi first petitioned Parliament in the 1870s, and efforts have since been made to safeguard the river and give it the respect it deserves. For the same reason, the river has been one of
462-413: Is said that Taumarunui was the highest reach of the Whanganui River that was navigable by river boat. The river flow was managed by the "Wanganui River Trust Board" which built containing walls to direct and deepen the rivers channels for river traffic. Even so, river boats sometimes found it necessary to winch themselves up the more difficult rapids. The River Trust existed from 1891 to 1940. The flow of
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#1733084585681504-664: The Matapuna Bridge of 1903-1904 near Taumarunui . Lahar A lahar ( / ˈ l ɑː h ɑːr / , from Javanese : ꦮ꧀ꦭꦲꦂ ) is a violent type of mudflow or debris flow composed of a slurry of pyroclastic material, rocky debris and water. The material flows down from a volcano , typically along a river valley . Lahars are often extremely destructive and deadly; they can flow tens of metres per second, they have been known to be up to 140 metres (460 ft) deep, and large flows tend to destroy any structures in their path. Notable lahars include those at Mount Pinatubo in
546-448: The North Island of New Zealand . It is the country's third-longest river, and has special status owing to its importance to the region's Māori people . In March 2017 it became the world's second natural resource (after Te Urewera ) to be given its own legal identity, with the rights, duties and liabilities of a legal person . The Whanganui Treaty settlement brought the longest-running litigation in New Zealand history to an end. With
588-575: The Philippine government were not adequate to stop over 6 m (20 ft) of mud from flooding many villages around Mount Pinatubo from 1992 through 1998. Scientists and governments try to identify areas with a high risk of lahars based on historical events and computer models . Volcano scientists play a critical role in effective hazard education by informing officials and the public about realistic hazard probabilities and scenarios (including potential magnitude, timing, and impacts); by helping evaluate
630-608: The 230-kilometre (140 mi) stretch between Whanganui and Taumarunui. The complete list of bridges in order from source to sea are: Whanganui – A bridge over the Whanganui to connect Raetihi to Taranaki was to be constructed in the Mangaparua area (where the Bridge to Nowhere ) is located, but this plan was never implemented. The oldest bridges over the river are rail bridges; the Aramoho Rail Bridge of 1876 in Whanganui and
672-626: The Hatrick boats, MV Wairua , has also been restored and can be seen on the river. During the early 20th century , the Wanganui River, as it was then called, was one of the country's top tourist attractions, its rugged beauty and the Māori kāinga (villages) that dotted the banks attracting thousands of tourists a year. With the completion of the North Island Main Trunk railway, the need for
714-735: The Philippines and Nevado del Ruiz in Colombia, the latter of which killed more than 20,000 people in the Armero tragedy . The word lahar is of Javanese origin. Berend George Escher introduced it as a geological term in 1922. The word lahar is a general term for a flowing mixture of water and pyroclastic debris. It does not refer to a particular rheology or sediment concentration. Lahars can occur as normal stream flows (sediment concentration of less than 30%), hyper-concentrated stream flows (sediment concentration between 30 and 60%), or debris flows (sediment concentration exceeding 60%). Indeed,
756-531: The Ruapehu Crater Lake (the same root cause of the Tangiwai disaster ). This toxic water entered the Whanganui River and had the effect of killing much of the fish life downstream. In the aftermath of the poisoning, eels as large as 8.2 kilograms (18 lb) and trout as large as 2.3 kilograms (5.1 lb) were washed up dead along the banks of the river. The tributary Whakapapa River had fish losses due to
798-626: The arrival of Europeans, the area around the Whanganui was densely inhabited and with the arrival of the colonial settlers, the area near the river's mouth became a major trading post. Although it was already a significant route to the interior, the major development of the river as a trade route was by Alexander Hatrick , who started the first regular steam-boat service in 1892 . The service eventually ran to Taumarunui where rail and coach services connected with points north. One of Hatrick's original boats, paddle-steamer PS Waimarie , has been restored and runs scheduled sailings in Whanganui. Another of
840-557: The effectiveness of proposed risk-reduction strategies; by helping promote acceptance of (and confidence in) hazards information through participatory engagement with officials and vulnerable communities as partners in risk reduction efforts; and by communicating with emergency managers during extreme events. An example of such a model is TITAN2D . These models are directed towards future planning: identifying low-risk regions to place community buildings, discovering how to mitigate lahars with dams, and constructing evacuation plans. In 1985,
882-540: The effects of volcanic activity, lahars can occur even without any current volcanic activity, as long as the conditions are right to cause the collapse and movement of mud originating from existing volcanic ash deposits. Several mountains in the world – including Mount Rainier in the United States, Mount Ruapehu in New Zealand, and Merapi and Galunggung in Indonesia – are considered particularly dangerous due to
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#1733084585681924-884: The event of a Mount Rainier eruption. A lahar warning system has been set up at Mount Ruapehu by the New Zealand Department of Conservation and hailed as a success after it successfully alerted officials to an impending lahar on 18 March 2007. Since mid-June 1991, when violent eruptions triggered Mount Pinatubo 's first lahars in 500 years, a system to monitor and warn of lahars has been in operation. Radio-telemetered rain gauges provide data on rainfall in lahar source regions, acoustic flow monitors on stream banks detect ground vibration as lahars pass, and staffed watchpoints further confirm that lahars are rushing down Pinatubo's slopes. This system has enabled warnings to be sounded for most but not all major lahars at Pinatubo, saving hundreds of lives. Physical preventative measures by
966-674: The heart of the city and surrounding areas. Over 6 metres (20 ft) of mud inundated and damaged the towns of Castillejos , San Marcelino and Botolan in Zambales , Porac and Mabalacat in Pampanga , Tarlac City , Capas , Concepcion and Bamban in Tarlac . The Bamban Bridge on the MacArthur Highway, a major north–south transportation route, was destroyed, and temporary bridges erected in its place were inundated by subsequent lahars. On
1008-474: The lahars killed more than 1500. The eye of Typhoon Yunya passed over the volcano during its eruption on 15 June 1991, and the resulting rain triggered the flow of volcanic ash , boulders, and water down rivers surrounding the volcano. Angeles City in Pampanga and neighbouring cities and towns were damaged by lahars when Sapang Balen Creek and the Abacan River became channels for mudflows and carried them to
1050-483: The lower stretches of the river, including dinner cruises to Avoca Hotel at Upokongaro and trips to Hipango Park for overnight camping. On 18 June 2010 the Adventurer 2 river boat embarked, attempting to make the 230-kilometre (140 mi) voyage to Taumarunui . The first voyage to Taumarunui in 82 years. The Adventurer 2 now offers this trip to tourist as an historic alternative to jet boating and canoeing
1092-655: The morning of 1 October 1995, pyroclastic material which clung to the slopes of Pinatubo and surrounding mountains rushed down because of heavy rain, and turned into an 8-metre (25 ft) lahar. This mudflow killed at least 100 people in Barangay Cabalantian in Bacolor . The Philippine government under President Fidel V. Ramos ordered the construction of the FVR Mega Dike in an attempt to protect people from further mudflows. Typhoon Reming triggered additional lahars in
1134-513: The most fiercely contested regions of the country in claims before the Waitangi Tribunal for the return of tribal lands. The Whanganui River claim is heralded as the longest-running legal case in New Zealand history with petitions and court action in the 1930s, Waitangi Tribunal hearings in the 1990s, the ongoing Tieke Marae land occupation since 1993, and the highly publicised Moutoa Gardens occupation in 1995. On 30 August 2012 agreement
1176-524: The overall death toll to over 25,000. Footage and photographs of Omayra Sánchez , a young victim of the tragedy , were published around the world. Other photographs of the lahars and the impact of the disaster captured attention worldwide and led to controversy over the degree to which the Colombian government was responsible for the disaster. Lahars caused most of the deaths of the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo . The initial eruption killed six people, but
1218-640: The rheology and subsequent behaviour of a lahar may vary in place and time within a single event, owing to changes in sediment supply and water supply. Lahars are described as 'primary' or 'syn-eruptive' if they occur simultaneously with or are triggered by primary volcanic activity. 'Secondary' or 'post-eruptive' lahars occur in the absence of primary volcanic activity, e.g. as a result of rainfall during pauses in activity or during dormancy. In addition to their variable rheology, lahars vary considerably in magnitude. The Osceola Lahar produced by Mount Rainier in modern-day Washington some 5600 years ago resulted in
1260-682: The risk of lahars. Several towns in the Puyallup River valley in Washington state, including Orting , are built on top of lahar deposits that are only about 500 years old. Lahars are predicted to flow through the valley every 500 to 1,000 years, so Orting, Sumner , Puyallup , Fife , and the Port of Tacoma face considerable risk. The USGS has set up lahar warning sirens in Pierce County, Washington , so that people can flee an approaching debris flow in
1302-486: The river has been altered with the diversion of water from the headwaters by the Tongariro Power Scheme and into Lake Taupō . This may have been a contributing factor to the demise of the raft race and means river boats can no longer make the entire trip to Taumarunui during the drier months (see below). Despite being New Zealand's longest navigable river, the Whanganui has few bridges. Only two are located on
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1344-580: The river the Knowsley River , however it was known as the Wanganui River until its name was officially changed to Whanganui in 1991, respecting the wishes of local iwi. Part of the reason for this change was also to avoid confusion with the Wanganui River in the South Island . The city at the river's mouth was called Wanganui until December 2009, when the government decided that while either spelling
1386-481: The river, calling it the Rhine of New Zealand . The settlement of Jerusalem is of particular note. Jerusalem was home to two famous New Zealanders, Mother Mary Joseph Aubert , whose Catholic mission is still located at Jerusalem, and New Zealand poet James K. Baxter , who established a commune at the settlement in 1970 . Other settlements are Tieke Kāinga , Pipiriki , Rānana , Matahiwi , and Koriniti . The river
1428-648: The river. Though in low water flows it cannot make it all the way to Taumarunui. The Whanganui River was the supply artery for the early communities along its banks. River boats used to ply the river, and also into the Ohura River and Ongarue Rivers unless these routes were log jammed after floods. Between 1891 and 1958 the Alexander Hatrick Riverboat service operated on the Whanganui River. The paddle-steamer Wairere ordered from London and shipped in sections then assembled in Whanganui in late 1891. It
1470-466: The rivers Whanganui and Waikato . According to Māori tradition, the river was first explored by Tamatea, one of the leaders of the original migration to the new land, who travelled up the river and on to Lake Taupō . Many places along the river are named in his honour. The Whanganui River was an important communication route to the central North Island, both for Māori and for settlers, despite many stretches of white water and over 200 rapids. Prior to
1512-464: The rough, bush-clad hill country of the King Country before turning south-east and flowing past the small settlements of Pipiriki and Jerusalem , before reaching the coast at the city of Whanganui . It is one of the country's longest navigable rivers. The river valley changed in the 1843 Wanganui earthquake . In the 1970s a minor eruption from Mount Ruapehu spilled some of the contents from
1554-691: The same time burying them in mud, which can harden to near-concrete hardness. A lahar's viscosity decreases the longer it flows and can be further thinned by rain, producing a quicksand -like mixture that can remain fluidized for weeks and complicate search and rescue. Lahars vary in speed. Small lahars less than a few metres wide and several centimetres deep may flow a few metres per second. Large lahars hundreds of metres wide and tens of metres deep can flow several tens of metres per second (22 mph or more), much too fast for people to outrun. On steep slopes, lahar speeds can exceed 200 kilometres per hour (120 mph). A lahar can cause catastrophic destruction along
1596-559: The south of Piriaka (beside SH4 just at it starts to climb up to a higher altitude) at 38°55′33″S 175°20′27″E / 38.92583°S 175.34083°E / -38.92583; 175.34083 ( Piriaka Springs ) . These springs are well known in the local area, and also provide the main water supply for the settlement. About 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) further south along SH4, at 38°55′56″S 175°20′37″E / 38.93222°S 175.34361°E / -38.93222; 175.34361 ( Piriaka lookout ) , there
1638-506: The steamboat route to the north greatly diminished, and the main economic activity of the river area became forestry . During the 1930s , attempts were made to open the river valley up as farmland, but they were not successful. One legacy of that time is the Bridge to Nowhere , built to provide access to settlements long since abandoned. In 1912–13 the French filmmaker Gaston Méliès shot a (now lost) documentary film The River Wanganui about
1680-517: The volcano Nevado del Ruiz erupted in central Colombia. As pyroclastic flows erupted from the volcano's crater , they melted the mountain's glaciers, sending four enormous lahars down its slopes at 60 kilometers per hour (37 miles per hour). The lahars picked up speed in gullies and coursed into the six major rivers at the base of the volcano; they engulfed the town of Armero , killing more than 20,000 of its almost 29,000 inhabitants. Casualties in other towns, particularly Chinchiná , brought
1722-678: Was acceptable, Crown agencies would use the Whanganui spelling. See Controversy over Wanganui/Whanganui spelling Native fish species in the river include Cran's bully , upland bully , climbing galaxias (kōaro), longfin and short-finned eels , pouched lamprey , shortjaw kokopu , torrentfish , New Zealand smelt and black flounder. Introduced brown and rainbow trout are found, although not in high numbers, and there have been reports of catfish. Other native aquatic species include koura and declining numbers of New Zealand freshwater mussels . The river and its tributaries are home to
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1764-535: Was reached that entitled the Whanganui River to a legal identity , a first in the world, and on 15 March 2017 the relevant settlement was passed into law (Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Act 2017) by the New Zealand Parliament . Chris Finlayson , the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, said the river would have an identity "with all the corresponding rights, duties and liabilities of
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