96-791: Mount Taupiri is a hill at the southern end of the Taupiri Range in the Waikato . The highest peak in the range, it rises to 288 metres above sea level and overlooks Taupiri township immediately to its south. It is separated from the Hakarimata Range to the south by the Taupiri Gorge, through which the Waikato River flows from the Waikato Basin to the Lower Waikato. The Mangawara Stream joins
192-513: A day has been drawn from the river at Tuakau, treated and pumped along a 38-kilometre (24 mi) pipe north to Auckland , where it is mixed with local water. This met 8% of Auckland's water needs in 2010/11. In December 2012 capacity was increased to 125 million litres (33,000,000 US gal), and in 2013 work started to increase it to 150 million litres (40,000,000 US gal). The treatment plant meets New Zealand's 2000 drinking water standards according to Water Care NZ. This
288-461: A land area of 23,901.09 km (9,228.26 sq mi) and a population of 536,200 (June 2024). The region encompasses all or part of eleven territorial authorities , the most of any region of New Zealand. It is centred on the Waikato which consists of Waikato District , Matamata-Piako District , Waipa District , South Waikato District and Hamilton City . In descending order of land area
384-504: A much wider variety of food from the Thames area. Missionaries had also established schools for Māori. Benjamin and Harriet Ashwell ran a school for 50 Māori girls aged 6–17 at Taupiri in 1853. The girls had been at the school for up to 3 years and could read and write in English and do mental arithmetic. At the time of the Waikato campaign of 1863 against the rebel Māori King Movement forces,
480-584: A number of hapū and iwi . The largest battle ever fought in New Zealand took place near Ohaupo about 1790–1805, between two competing alliances of hapū . During the latter stages of this volatile period, known as the Musket Wars (1807–1845), conflict led to a migration south to Taranaki and eventually Kapiti Island. In 1840 44 Waikato chiefs travelled north to the Manukau Heads and Manukau Harbour to sign
576-602: A scene depicting a hui (meeting) taking place in the village. Taupiri mountain is seen in the background on the other side of the Waikato River (which is not visible below the far palisade). The lower peak on the far right shows signs of the terraces of Te Putu's abandoned pā. To its left, in about the middle of the painting, is a still-lower bush-clad hill, which was the burial ground in Te Putu's time and below which his home of Te Mata-o-tutonga stood. The present-day burial ground
672-920: A separate kingdom – the King Movement or Kingitanga – in opposition to the government, the colonial government, with the help of troops brought from Britain and Queenite Māori loyal to the Crown, pushed south from the main settlement of Auckland , fighting against Waikato raiders in Auckland before venturing into the Waikato to attack the combined hapu of the King Movement. During 1863 and 1864 fighting occurred at Pukekohe East, Titi hill, Burtts Farm, Galloway Redoubt, Kiri Kiri, Martyn's Farm, Patumahoe, Rhodes Clearing, Williamson's Clearing, Otau, Camerontown, Kakaramea and Wairoa ranges (all Auckland), Meremere , Rangiriri, Ngāruawāhia, Rangiaowhia (southwest of Cambridge), Hairini Ridge and Ōrākau (near Kihikihi), all resulting in defeat for
768-519: A spur on Lake Karapiro to the south of the settlement of Piarere . The river's current course is largely the result of the massive Hatepe eruption of the Taupō Volcano in 180 AD. The mean discharge of the Waikato River is 340 cubic metres per second (12,000 cu ft/s), with the highest flows typically occurring in July and August. Specific mean annual floods are low (60–70 L s-1 km-2), and
864-449: A variety of supplementary feeds in winter or during the infrequent summer droughts. Main feeds are hay, grass silage and chopped corn feed. The later is often fed out on a concrete pad to save transportation and wastage by trampling. The manufacturing sector in Waikato contributed $ 2,688 million in GDP in the year to March 2018, 11.1% of the regional GDP. According to the 2013 New Zealand census,
960-479: A well-educated government agent, reported significant numbers of half-caste children in the Waikato in the late 1850s. However, in the Ngati Maniapoto iwi at least 7 Pakeha integrated successfully with the tribe from 1842, marrying Maori women. The best known are William Searancke, who became an important government agent, and Frenchman Louis Hetet, who became a successful trader. Their half-caste children lived with
1056-482: Is Lake Waikare . To the east, the land rises towards the forested slopes of the Kaimai and Mamaku Ranges . The upper reaches of the Waikato River are used for hydroelectricity , helped by several large artificial lakes in the region's south-east. The lowest and earliest-created such lake is Lake Karapiro , now developed as a world-class rowing centre, where the world championships were held in 2010. The river flows out of
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#17328690361771152-587: Is directly above State Highway 1 and the North Island Main Trunk railway line on a steep slope. Parking and access is difficult, because the road and railway lie largely on land at the foot of the slope that has been reclaimed from the river. Access is being improved by a bridge from the township over the Mangawara Stream, open in May 2020. The deceased Māori kings and queen are buried in the highest part of
1248-410: Is equal to or better than the A standard for Auckland's other water supplies. Slightly-modified human wastes are pumped into the river downriver of several towns. Hamilton city has one of the most modern water treatment systems in the world following a 2003 report by GHB water consultants. In 2007 $ 22 million was spent upgrading the existing intake station south of the city at Riverlea. This will meet
1344-454: Is frequently used by rowers, kayakers and powered pleasure craft. Water-skiers and jet skis have zones outside the city limits where they can be used. The river was of military importance in the land wars between New Zealand settler and Kingitanga forces during 1863–64 and significant battles were fought. Three shallow draft gunboats were designed in New Zealand and built in Sydney in kitset form;
1440-472: Is generated annually by the scheme, which is around 13% of New Zealand's total electrical generating capacity. The river also provides cooling water for the coal / natural gas fired thermal power station at Huntly . The power station uses river water as a cooling medium for the old steam units, which means that large quantities of warm water is returned to the river. To limit environmental impacts, conditions are imposed by its resource consent , specifying
1536-697: Is joined by its largest tributary, the Waipā River , at Ngāruawāhia. It then flows north through the Taupiri Gorge to enter the lower Waikato region. Further north is Huntly and then Meremere , where the Whangamarino and Maramarua Rivers join it. From Mercer, where the Mangatawhiri River joins it, the Waikato flows west and southwest. Just before its mouth at Port Waikato , the Araroa River joins from
1632-403: Is seen as the major causes of this pollution. Since 2000 Environment Waikato has joined with conservation minded farmers to bring about more efficient and scientific use of fertilizers. The removal of the native vegetation throughout the catchment to accommodate the increasing demand for farmland has contributed to the silting-up of the river with loose soils from eroded farmland, although most of
1728-457: Is the low average wind speed in the interior basin due to the sheltering influence of the hills and mountains to the west and south-west. The prevailing winter wind is from the south-west. The Waikato has very high sunshine hours by world standards, averaging 2200 hours per year or about 40% higher than in the UK. This results in rapid growth of grass, crops and ornamental plants. Hamilton Waikato takes in
1824-805: The 2018 census , and an increase of 95,130 people (23.6%) since the 2013 census . There were 246,723 males, 250,380 females and 1,671 people of other genders in 180,006 dwellings. 2.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+ . The median age was 37.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 100,743 people (20.2%) aged under 15 years, 93,111 (18.7%) aged 15 to 29, 218,808 (43.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 86,109 (17.3%) aged 65 or older. People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 71.7% European ( Pākehā ); 25.2% Māori ; 5.2% Pasifika ; 12.2% Asian ; 1.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English
1920-798: The Chiefs Super Rugby team and Waikato Mitre 10 Cup rugby team at Waikato Stadium and the Northern Districts Knights in domestic cricket at Seddon Park , both in Hamilton. Waikato River The Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand, running for 425 kilometres (264 mi) through the North Island . It rises on the eastern slopes of Mount Ruapehu , joining the Tongariro River system and flowing through Lake Taupō , New Zealand's largest lake. It then drains Taupō at
2016-800: The Kingitanga forces. Eventually the rebel King Movement forces pulled back to positions in the area to the south of the Punui River in South Waikato, still known as the King Country , after 19 defeats by the British. Rewi's Last Stand , one of New Zealand's first motion pictures, in 1925, portrayed an entertaining, fictionalized version of the Ōrākau siege. The headquarters of the Māori King Movement are now at Turangawaewae Marae at Ngāruawāhia . After
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#17328690361772112-592: The Māori language and translates as flowing water . The Waikato River has spiritual meaning for various local Māori tribes , including the large Tainui , who regard it as a source of their mana , or pride. The widely respected marae of Tūrangawaewae is close to its banks at Ngāruawāhia. For many years the Tainui tribe have sought to re-establish their links to the river after the New Zealand Wars (see Invasion of
2208-575: The Tongariro Power Scheme . The Waikato River flows out of Lake Taupō at the town of Taupō in Tapuaeharuru Bay at the northeast end of the lake. It flows northeast past the town, alongside State Highway 1, to the Huka Falls . State Highway 5 runs more or less parallel to the river as it flows further northeast. About 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the lake, the river flows west and into
2304-628: The WHO provisional guideline of 0.01 grams of arsenic per cubic metre and making the water unsuitable for drinking water unless treated. The majority of arsenic in the Waikato River comes from the Wairakei Geothermal Power Station . The amount of arsenic gradually declines as the river flows northwards and is at its lowest at the Waikato River Heads. Since 2002, around 75 million litres (20,000,000 US gal) of water
2400-828: The Waikato Catchment Board . The Waikato United Council , was formulated under the Local Government Act 1974 , but due to objections excluded Thames/Coromandel district, though otherwise covered the present extent of the region. It was set up under the Town and Country Planning Act 1977 and the Waikato Region Constitution Order 1980. WUC covered Hamilton City , Huntly , Ngāruawāhia , Cambridge , Te Awamutu , Matamata , Putāruru and Tokoroa boroughs, Matamata , Raglan , Waikato , and Waipa counties, Ōtorohanga and Waitomo districts. It took over
2496-441: The 1890s invention of refrigeration. Dairying and the completion of the main trunk railway line at the turn of the century lead to a small, steady increase in population. After 1900, dairy production in the Waikato continued to grow, exporting butter and cheese mainly to Britain. Following major floods in 1907, a Waikato River Board was formed in 1911. However, it was reported as ineffective in 1921 and ceased to operate, though
2592-606: The Avantidrome through St Peter's School of Cambridge and Tamahere was being constructed in 2019/2020, including an underpass at SH21 to Tamahere Park. Te Araroa (the walkway running the length of the country) follows the Waikato for most of its 80 kilometres (50 mi) between Mercer and Hamilton. The Waikato River and its hydro lakes are home to at least 19 types of native fish and 10 types of introduced fish. The introduced species include rainbow and brown trout providing what has been called "the finest fly-fishing in
2688-632: The Hamilton Regional Planning Authority and mainly dealt with regional planning and civil defence. By 1989, WUC had committees for regional planning, civil defence, regional government, and the Waikato Regional Development Board. From 1987 it also included Thames-Coromandel District , Great Barrier Island , Hauraki Plains , Ohinemuri and Piako counties, and Morrinsville , Paeroa , Te Aroha and Waihi boroughs. On 1 November 1989, Waikato Regional Council
2784-774: The Kihikihi area by the introduction of such crops as peaches, maize and wheat. Missionaries brought in millers and helped Māori establish eight flour mills. These flourished until 1857, as they provided flour for the growing Auckland market in the 1850s and for a brief while were exporting to Australia. There were mills at Aotea , Kaitotehe , Karakariki, Kihikihi , Kirikiriroa , Kohanga, Kopatauaki, Mahoe , Mangaharakeke, Mangapapa, Mangarewarewa, Mangatawhiri , Matamata pā, Maungakawa , Maungatautari , Mohoaonui, Otawhao, Patetere, Rangataiki, Rangiaowhia , Taupō, Te Kopua, Te Rore , Tireke, Tuakau , Waitetuna , Whaingaroa and Whatawhata . The route used to travel to and from Auckland
2880-651: The Maungatautari gorge and Hamilton Basin. Deposits show that the Waikato River was already in the Waikato Basin 21,800 years ago. The river starts in the form of many small streams on the eastern slopes of Mount Ruapehu . The Mangatoetoenui Glacier (once also called the Waikato Glacier) is one of the principal sources. The southernmost tributary is called the Upper Waikato Stream. The Waipakihi River joins
2976-653: The Treaty of Waitangi, officially making the Waikato area part of New Zealand. Three Ngāti Maniapoto chiefs signed, as did three Ngāti Haua chiefs but most signatories were Waikato. Chief Te Whero whero did not sign, "probably due to the lack of dignity compared to the Waitangi event". Unusually, the copy signed was in English. Between 1840 and 1860 the CMS missionaries of the Anglican church assisted Waikato Māori in revolutionising their economy in
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3072-692: The Waikato ) and the subsequent confiscations of the 1860s, and are continuing negotiations with the New Zealand government . The Tainui iwi was advised not to bring a case for the river before the Waitangi Tribunal as they would not win. An out-of-court settlement was arranged and the deed of settlement signed by the Crown and Waikato-Tainui in August 2008 settled the raupatu claim to the Waikato River, although other claims for land blocks and harbours are still outstanding. Waikato-Tainui now have joint management of
3168-492: The Waikato Region increased by 5 per cent per year compared with 3.2 per cent for the national average. This faster growth can be attributed to rapidly growing dairy and business services industries, facilitated by proximity to the Auckland city, the main international gateway for New Zealand. Given the suitable geography and climate, the Waikato economy is strongly based on agriculture, especially dairy. Dairy farming has been
3264-464: The Waikato River at the base of the hill. Mount Taupiri is a sacred mountain and burial ground for the Waikato tribe of the Māori people . Until sometime in the 19th century a large Māori village or town, Kaitotehe, stood on the flat land on the other side of the river, below the Hakarimata Range. In early years it was the home of Pāoa , brother of Mahuta, before Pāoa moved to Hauraki. It became
3360-692: The Waikato from the Kaimanawa Mountains to the west. From the point where the river meets the Waihohonu Stream, down to Lake Taupō , it has been formally named the Tongariro River since 1945. The Poutu Stream joins from Lake Rotoaira to the east, as a tributary of the Tongariro, which flows northward, with State Highway 1 in parallel, through the town of Tūrangi , and into the southern side of Lake Taupō. Extensive engineering of lakes, tunnels and canals are used to generate hydroelectric power in
3456-422: The Waikato use the nickname Mooloo to apply to themselves or to their region, particularly in relation to sporting endeavours. The word was likely first applied to the Waikato provincial rugby team . Its origin is related to the mascot of a pantomime-like milking cow used in parades, public events and sports matches — particularly rugby, reflecting the importance of the dairy industry to the region. Waikato hosts
3552-557: The average dairy herd in the Waikato has progressively increased. It was about 320 cows in 2012 and in 2016 was about 351 (total Waikato herd 1.41m cows), milked in either a herringbone or automated rotary cowshed so a large herd can be milked in under two hours. The cows are kept on grassland pasture all year due to the mild climate. In the Waikato the original English grasses used by earlier settlers – browntop , fescue and Yorkshire Fog – have been replaced with higher producing Italian ryegrass and nitrogen-fixing white clover. Farmers use
3648-400: The banks of the river. These include an unlined waste dump at Horotiu, just downriver from Hamilton, whose leachates include persistent organic pollutants such as dieldrin in quantities toxic to freshwater marine life. The 2002 GHD report saw new regulations put in place to make industries comply with a new bylaw which stops hazardous substances entering the water system at all according to
3744-522: The cemetery, on the summit where Te Putu's pā stood. 37°36′17″S 175°11′10″E / 37.6048°S 175.1862°E / -37.6048; 175.1862 Waikato The Waikato ( / ˈ w aɪ k ɑː t ɔː / ) is a region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato District , Waipa District , Matamata-Piako District , South Waikato District and Hamilton City , as well as Hauraki , Coromandel Peninsula ,
3840-427: The census question. Of those at least 15 years old, 65,295 (16.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 212,241 (53.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 101,277 (25.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $ 40,300, compared with $ 41,500 nationally. 40,746 people (10.2%) earned over $ 100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
3936-492: The cities demand until 2016. Waste water in its untreated state is 99.9% water and 0.1% other matter. A series of sophisticated machines produce clean water of a high standard getting rid of bad tastes odours and toxins to meet the upgraded NZ water standards. The Pukete 2 project which started in 2002 will upgrade the plant in a series of stages costing $ 24 million. A further issue is industrial and metropolitan waste from early-established landfills and waste-emitting factories on
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4032-492: The colonial provinces of New Ulster (1841–1853) and Auckland (1853–1876) but was principally Māori. During the land wars of the 1860s, the Waikato was the scene of five battles in what is referred to as the Invasion of the Waikato . In retaliation for the help Waikato Māori (mainly Ngāti Maniapoto ) gave Taranaki Māori in their conflict over land in the earlier First Taranaki War , and the decision by some Waikato hapu to form
4128-967: The country's largest lake, Lake Taupō , which is served by several important fishing rivers such as the Tongariro , on the Central Plateau , draining the eastern side of Mount Ruapehu and its neighbours. The climate is mild and temperate with moderate rainfall of 1,200 to 1,600 mm (47 to 63 in) per annum, with the higher western hills having the most rain. Summers are drier with typical maximum temperatures of 22–28 degrees Celsius and overnight lows of 12–16 degrees. Summer droughts occur one year in ten. Typical winter maxima are 10–16 degrees Celsius, with lows generally ranging from 0–8 degrees. Depressions experience regular morning fog, under anticyclonic conditions, which burns off by late morning to produce many still, clear sunny days. Morning frosts are also common during winter anticyclones. Another distinctive feature
4224-418: The east of the coastal hills lies the broad alluvial plain of the Waikato River. This region has a wet temperate climate, and the land is largely pastoral farmland created by European settlers draining the extensive natural swamps, although it also contains undrained peat swamp such as the 200 km (77 sq mi) peat dome south of Ngatea. It is in the broad undulating Waikato Plains that most of
4320-533: The elevation of the first Māori king there was a wide range of opinions among influential Māori with some such as Wirimu Tamihana's father advocating supporting the Crown while Te Heuheu of Tuwharetoa advocated all out war against the government. This view was initially unpopular as the king movement hoped to work alongside the crown. Māori were upset at the number of children that had been fathered by Pakeha, who had then disappeared. The children were left to be raised by their mothers with general hapu support. John Gorst,
4416-486: The eleven territorial authorities are Taupō District (part), Waikato District, Waitomo District (part), Thames-Coromandel District , Ōtorohanga District , South Waikato District, Matamata-Piako District, Waipa District, Hauraki District , Rotorua Lakes District (part), and Hamilton City. The name for the region is taken from the Waikato River ; waikato is a Māori word traditionally translated as "flowing water" (specifically, wai = "water" and kato = "the pull of
4512-521: The end of the Australian gold rush, allowing importing of cheaper food, especially flour, from Australia. Even in the boom time of 1854–55, food grown by Waikato Māori, such as Ngāti Maniapoto, was taken to the Auckland market in very small amounts compared to food from the Waiheke Island -Thames area. In early 1855 Ngāti Maniapoto took only 3 canoes of potatoes to Auckland compared to 279 canoes containing
4608-731: The end of the Waikato River Trails, via Cambridge and Hamilton to Ngāruawāhia. Completion was planned for 2017, but the Cambridge-Hamilton section opening was further delayed from 2021 and opened on 9 December 2022. North of AFFCO at Horotiu , the route includes the second longest cycle bridge in the country (after the Timber Trail ), a 140 m (150 yd) long cable network arch bridge, budgeted to cost $ 2.6m and to open in August, but opened in November 2017. The section from
4704-618: The end of the war and the withdrawal of British and Australian troops, the region experienced a long period of economic recession after 1866. Most Māori had moved to the King Country and European settlers were more attracted to the South Island with its large gold discovery in Otago and the more easily farmed Canterbury Plains. The Waikato had poor land access and was not suitable for sheep farming which dominated livestock production in New Zealand until
4800-452: The extent of the region is the Waikato River catchment. Other major catchments are those of the Waihou , Piako , Awakino and Mokau rivers. The region is bounded by Auckland on the north, Bay of Plenty on the east, Hawke's Bay on the south-east, and Manawatū-Whanganui and Taranaki on the south. Waikato Region is the fourth largest region in the country in area and population: It has
4896-642: The frequency of events with greater than 3 times the median flow is 0.4 events / year, due to flow regulation and groundwater storage in pumice. As well as being a water and recreation resource, the river was historically a critical communications and transport link for the communities along it. It took about 3 days to paddle a waka from Waiuku to the Cambridge/Te Awamutu area. Taupō , Mangakino , Cambridge , Hamilton , Horotiu , Ngāruawāhia , Huntly , Hampton Downs , Meremere , Waiuku and Port Waikato are on or close to it. The Waikato River in Hamilton
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#17328690361774992-407: The government's expense. This upset the older chiefs, who wanted the strong Māori leader Te Wherowhero to return from Mangere to his lands at Tamahere (South Hamilton) to rein in the out-of-control young chief magistrates. The Waikato has a prominent history, particularly regarding relationships between Māori and European in early colonial New Zealand. The Waikato was within the defined boundaries of
5088-627: The graves of the British military dead can be found at Rangiriri opposite the hotel, shops and cafe. The Waikato's first hydro-electric power station was the Horahora Power Station , now located under the Horahora bridge deep beneath the surface of Lake Karapiro . Horahora was built to supply electricity for the Martha gold mines at Waihi . The river has a series of eight dams and nine hydro-electric power stations that generate electricity for
5184-471: The headquarters of the Ngāti Mahuta people. Brothers Whare and Tapuae, grandsons of Mahuta and the leaders of Ngāti Mahuta, lived there. After the two brothers were killed, Tapuae's son Te Putu built Taupiri pā on the summit of a spur of Taupiri mountain, in the 1600s. When Te Putu was an old man in the 1700s, he was treacherously killed by Ngātokowaru of Ngāti Raukawa at Te Mata-o-tutonga, his home outside
5280-464: The huge Oruanui eruption 27,000 years ago ignimbrite was showered all over the North Island to a thickness of 200 metres (660 ft). A new lake was formed – Lake Taupō . The water accumulated until a new outlet was forced 120 metres (390 ft) above the present lake level, near Waihora Bay. Over the next few thousand years the bed of the river was raised by large amounts of eruption debris. Then
5376-489: The hulk of the paddle steamer Rangiriri is preserved at Hamilton . In addition locally sourced barges were rebuilt with steel plating to carry troops and supplies. In support of these invasions, New Zealand developed its first "navy", the Waikato Flotilla , run by an Australian Francis Cadell who was presented with a gold watch and diamonds by the New Zealand government in recognition of his service. A cemetery containing
5472-448: The iwi, and some became leading figures. What tipped the balance was conflict and criminal activity within the Waikato region. Influential chiefs said the treaty had promised the government would help maintain peace. They asked for government magistrates and courts. The government attempted to fulfil these requests but many of the young men who put themselves forward for the positions simply saw that they had an opportunity to get wealthy at
5568-568: The lake's northeastern edge, creates the Huka Falls , and flows northwest through the Waikato Plains . It empties into the Tasman Sea south of Auckland , at Port Waikato . It gives its name to the Waikato region that surrounds the Waikato Plains. The present course of the river was largely formed about 17,000 years ago. Contributing factors were climate warming, forest being reestablished in
5664-488: The local government areas of Hamilton City, the southern part of Waikato district, Waipa district, most of Matamata-Piako district and the South Waikato district. Hamilton Waikato tourism takes in additionally the northern part of Waikato district (Tuakau and other centres), the northern King Country (Waitomo and Ōtorohanga districts), and the Te Aroha district. The parts of Waikato region beyond these limits are usually identified as Thames Valley and/or Hauraki/Coromandel (for
5760-684: The main agricultural activity since the late nineteenth century. Within the Waikato region, small co-operative dairy companies were widespread during the 20th century. Towards the end of the 20th century, frequent mergers of co-operative dairy companies occurred, which ultimately ended in the formation of New Zealand wide dairy co-operative Fonterra in 2001. In 2007, dairy farming and dairy processing combined contributed $ 2 billion (13%) to GRP, which had risen to $ 2.4bn by 2014, but only 13,683 (7.6%) of jobs in 2016. Dairy farms are mainly family owned (2,608 of 4,020 farms in 2016) with owners employing sharemilkers in many cases (1,412 sharemilkers). The size of
5856-470: The main weeds being alder and yellow flag iris . In prehistoric times, the Waikato's course has occasionally shifted to flow north through the Hinuera Gap into the Firth of Thames and from there into the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana . The most recent occasion this is known to have occurred ended some 20,000 years ago, although it is possible that it also flowed north more recently, until about 1800 years ago. A remnant of this former course can be seen as
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#17328690361775952-550: The national grid. These were constructed between 1929 and 1971 to meet growing demand for electricity. The power scheme begins at Lake Taupō, which has control gates to regulate the flow of water into the river. Once released through the gates it takes over 18 hours for the water to flow to the last power station at Karapiro. On its journey downstream it passes through power stations at Aratiatia , Ohakuri , Atiamuri , Whakamaru , Maraetai , Waipapa , Arapuni and Karapiro . Approximately 4000 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity
6048-446: The need for a replacement was considered in 1933. Hauraki Catchment Board was set up in 1946. Major floods also occurred in 1953 and 1956. Waikato Valley Authority was established by the Waikato Valley Authority Act on 26 October 1956. The Water and Soil Conservation Act 1967 extended it to become a Catchment/Regional Water Board. The Ministry of Works and Development Abolition Act 1988, left WVA with that work and it became
6144-434: The north-eastern part of Waikato region) and Taupō, on the Volcanic or Central Plateau (for the south-eastern part of the region). Waikato Region covers 23,900.95 km (9,228.21 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 536,200 as of June 2024, with a population density of 22 people per km . Waikato Region had a population of 498,771 in the 2023 New Zealand census , an increase of 40,569 people (8.9%) since
6240-410: The north. Numerous small islands lie in the long, thin delta of the river as it passes through low-lying swampy land between Meremere and the coast, the largest of which is Motutieke Island . There are also over 40 islands between Ngāruawāhia and Tuakau, depending on the level of the river. Maurea Islands, just south of Rangiriri were subject to a restoration trial to test comparative weed treatments,
6336-407: The northern King Country , much of the Taupō District , and parts of the Rotorua Lakes District . It is governed by the Waikato Regional Council. The Waikato stretches from Coromandel Peninsula in the north, to the north-eastern slopes of Mount Ruapehu in the south, and spans the North Island from the west coast, through the Waikato and Hauraki to Coromandel Peninsula on the east coast. Broadly,
6432-420: The original, blocked outlet suddenly gave way; the lake level fell 75 metres (246 ft) as about 80 cubic kilometres (19 cu mi) of water and debris poured out in a catastrophic breakthrough flood causing the river to change course near Piarere . The Hinuera Gap and Waitoa River are evidence of the river's former course. The water level dropped quickly and the river stayed in this new course through
6528-554: The population was estimated by the government at about 3,500 Māori. During the late 1850s Maniapoto in particular become disgruntled in their dealings with Pakeha. They complained about the way they were treated in Auckland by traders but their chief complaint was that the government was underpaying them for land they were selling. The average price paid by government was 6d per acre but it was sold to settlers for 10/- per acre. The government argued that it had to pay for surveying and administration costs but to Māori it seemed unfair. Before
6624-491: The pā by the banks of the Waikato River. He was buried at the pā, which thus became tapu (sacred) and was abandoned. Early European travellers in the area were obliged by Māori to cross to the other side of the Waikato River to avoid the sacred area. In the early 19th century Kaitotehe was the home of Pōtatau Te Wherowhero , the paramount chief of Ngāti Mahuta who became the first Māori King . English explorer and artist George French Angas visited Kaitotehe in 1844 and painted
6720-421: The quantity of water that can be removed by the station along with the maximum temperature of the water when returned to the river, 25 °C (77 °F). These conditions mean that output of the older steam units can be restricted, especially on very hot summer days. In 2006, a cooling tower was installed. This allows one 250 MW unit to run at full load even during such times. After widescale droughts in 1994,
6816-405: The region's population resides, and the land is intensively farmed with both livestock, mainly dairy cattle but with sheep farming on the hillier west margins, and crops such as maize. The area around Cambridge has many thoroughbred stables. The north of the region around Te Kauwhata produces some of New Zealand's best wines. Dozens of small shallow lakes lie in this area, the largest of which
6912-435: The river current in the sea"). When Waikato is used in spoken language some people use it in the definite article , "the Waikato", whereas some people do not use "the". It is unknown why a difference is made. "The" usually refers to a smaller region than the Waikato local government region. Two definitions that would meet with wide acceptance are those of the Waikato rugby football union and of Hamilton Waikato tourism. To
7008-515: The river headwaters and the deepening, rather than widening, of the existing river channel. The channel was gradually eroded as far up river as Piarere , leaving the old Hinuera channel through the Hinuera Gap high and dry. The remains of the old course are seen clearly at Hinuera , where the cliffs mark the ancient river edges. The Waikato's main tributary is the Waipā River , which converges with it at Ngāruawāhia . The name Waikato comes from
7104-618: The river in Lake Karapiro. Nine hydroelectric power stations at eight dams extract energy from the river between Taupō and Karapiro. All the lakes in this stretch of the river (apart from Lake Taupō) are artificial. The river leaves the Volcanic Plateau at Karapiro, where it emerges from the Maungatautari Gorge, and flows northwest into the Waikato Basin, flowing through the towns of Cambridge , Hamilton , and Ngāruawāhia . It
7200-453: The river to Orakei Korako , from Hamilton Gardens to Mystery Creek and Fairfield Bridge and, since 2009, from Tuakau to Port Waikato . On 19 July 2021 a ferry service began on the river in Hamilton, linking Swarbrick's Landing and Braithwaite Park with the museum and gardens . Services ended with liquidation of the company in September 2022. Three trails follow parts of
7296-534: The river with Waikato Regional Council . The ancestral Waikato River flowed from an ancient lake (Lake Huka) in the centre of the North Island through deep gorges of welded ignimbrite and rhyolite , northward through the Hinuera Valley and Hauraki Basin into the Thames Estuary. It is possible that the river flowed through the Waikato Basin about a million years ago before returning to its Hinuera course. After
7392-461: The river. Boosted by New Zealand Cycle Trail funding, the Waikato River Trails , a 100-kilometre (62 mi) series of connected river cycling trails in the South Waikato. The River Trail has five sections, open to both walkers or bikes, between Lake Karapiro and Aratiatia. It opened in 2011. Te Awa River Ride runs for 65 km (40 mi) following the river from Horahora, near
7488-995: The river. Jet skis are confined to the city margins because of their noise. Power boats regularly use the river, including manufacturers and boating shops testing and demonstrating boats, especially in summer. In addition there are numerous kayaks and a few waka. There are council boat ramps, run by Waikato District , Hamilton City, South Waikato District and Taupō District , at Port Waikato Rd; Hoods Landing Rd, Otaua; Elbow Rd, Aka aka; River Rd, Tuakau ; Riverbank Rd, Mercer ; Churchill East Rd, Rangiriri ; Ohinewai Landing Rd; Boatie Reserve SH1, Parry St and Riverview Rd, Huntly ; SH1 Taupiri ; Waikato Esplanade, Ngāruawāhia ; Farm and Braithwaite Parks, Pukete ; Swarbricks Landing, Hamilton Pde, Pine Beach, Ferrybank, Memorial Park , Roose Commerce Park, Hayes Paddock , Hamilton Gardens ; Narrows Lane, Tamahere ; Karapiro (6 ramps); Arapuni (4); Maraetai ; Whakamaru (3); Ohakuri and Mangakino . A ferry service along part of its length
7584-515: The sea route across the Manukau to Ihumatao (where Auckland International Airport is now). The main tribe to use this route and the main traders were the Maniapoto tribe. They occupied an area of fertile land south of Te Awamutu at Kihikihi and Rangiaowhia. Maniapoto sold wheat, peaches, potatoes and other food to Auckland and bought back shirts, sugar, tobacco and rum. The boom time ended in 1856–1857 with
7680-749: The sector employed 18,519 people, or 9.9% of the region's employed population. With a large dairy farming industry, the Waikato also has a large dairy processing industry. Fonterra operates dairy processing plants at Te Rapa , Te Awamutu, Hautapu , Waitoa , Tīrau and Lichfield . Other dairy processing plants include Tatua Dairy Company 's plant at Tatuanui , and Open Country Dairy's plant at Horotiu and Waharoa . The Waikato region has eight major freezing works : AFFCO at Horotiu, Greenlea at Hamilton and Morrinsville, Silver Fern Farms at Te Aroha and Waitoa, Te Kuiti Meat Processors and Universal Beef Packers at Te Kuiti, and Crusader Meats at Benneydale. The Kinleith Mill south of Tokoroa processes wood from
7776-420: The silting is due to the construction of the many hydrodams. In its pre-1930s wild state, the silt was flushed from the river every winter by flood surges. The remnants of these can be seen in the silt channels carved out of what is now St Andrews golf course, adjacent to the river in Hamilton. Arsenic enters the river at concentrations that reach 0.035 grams of arsenic per cubic metre in places, exceeding
7872-475: The southern end of Lake Ohakuri . It exits from the northwest end of that lake and flows west through the small Lake Atiamuri and into the long east–west oriented Lake Whakamaru , with State Highway 30 following its course. It passes northwest through Lake Maraetai and Lake Waipapa, where it is joined by the Waipapa River , then north through Lake Arapuni and into Lake Karapiro . Pokaiwhenua Stream joins
7968-482: The southern parts of Franklin District. That seems to be the only legislation naming it 'Environment Waikato', which had been its operating name until 2011, shortly after the 'Rates Control Team' won about half the seats in the 2010 election. In the 2010 local government elections, the Waikato Region had the country's lowest rate of returned votes. Since then the percentage turnout has declined further. The people of
8064-614: The surrounding forests into pulp and paper. Before the arrival of Europeans, the Waikato contained the third most densely populated part of New Zealand, after Northland/Auckland and the Bay of Plenty. The Waikato rohe (area) was inhabited by iwi (tribes) such as those of the Tainui confederation, including Waikato and Ngāti Toa . Between about 1750 and 1842 the area was subject to a large number of invasions by other Māori iwi and hapu confederations and large scale population migrations took place by
8160-483: The urban and peri-urban areas). The region also includes the smaller towns of Huntly , Matamata , Morrinsville , Ngāruawāhia , Ōtorohanga , Paeroa , Putāruru , Raglan , Te Aroha , Te Kauwhata , Te Kūiti , Thames , Tīrau , Tuakau , Tūrangi , Whangamatā and Whitianga . The subnational gross domestic product (GDP) of the Waikato region was estimated at NZ$ 25.84 billion in the year to March 2019, 8.5% of New Zealand's national GDP. The subnational GDP per capita
8256-462: The use of the Waikato River to supply drinking water for Auckland was first considered. In July 2002, a water treatment plant was opened at Tuakau , which was expanded in 2021 after major droughts in 2020. The lower Waikato is popular for duck shooting . The Waikato is renowned among whitewater kayaking enthusiasts, specifically for the Full James rapid located north of Taupō. The Full James
8352-494: The west, the region is bounded by the Tasman Sea . The coastal region is largely rough hill country, known locally as the Hakarimata Range , though it is more gently undulating in the north, closer to the mouth of the Waikato River. The coast is punctured by three large natural harbours: Raglan Harbour , Aotea Harbour , and Kawhia Harbour . The area around Raglan is noted for its volcanic black sand beaches and for its fine surfing conditions at Manu Bay and Ruapuke beach. To
8448-464: The world". Other introduced species, like the carp and mosquitofish , have become major pests. The large catchment area of the Waikato River is highly fertile farmland, so intensive agriculture is present. Due to the agricultural activity within the catchment significant agricultural pollution is leached into groundwater and contained in the runoff . The mismanagement of nitrogen fertilizer and effluent spreading practices in dairy farming
8544-567: Was by dray to the Puniu stream, along the Waipā River to its junction with the Waikato. Near the Waikato Heads travellers entered the small Awaroa River . During summer it was necessary to push or pull the waka through to the Manukau Harbour at Waiuku. By the 1850s a small bullock track had been established to Auckland via the settlements of Mauku, Drury, Papakura and Otahuhu, or waka could take
8640-495: Was established by the Local Government (Waikato Region) Reorganisation Order 1989. from 40 former authorities: - 2 catchment boards (Hauraki and Waikato), 3 united councils (Waikato, Thames Valley and part of Tongariro ), 12 noxious plants authorities, 11 pest destruction boards and 12 drainage boards. The Land Transport Act 1998 added transport to WRC's responsibilities. From 1 November 2010 Environment Waikato took over
8736-459: Was estimated at $ 54,128 in the same period. In the year to March 2018, primary industries contributed $ 3.14 billion (13.0%) to the regional GDP, goods-producing industries contributed $ 5.70 billion (23.5%), service industries contributed $ 13.35 billion (55.0%), and taxes and duties contributed $ 2.08 billion (8.6%). Between 2000 and 2004, Waikato economic growth was lower than the national average. But from 2004 to 2007, real gross regional product for
8832-503: Was for years conducted by Caesar Roose , several of whose descendants still live beside it. He brought the 1894 400-passenger steamer Manuwai from the Whanganui in 1920. In 1924 a Cambridge to Port Waikato excursion was being run 2 or 3 times a year, taking 12 to 14 hours downstream and a few hours longer upstream; for example steamers in 1939 took about 90 minutes from Ngāruawāhia to Hamilton. Manuwai sank at her moorings in 1938, but
8928-556: Was spoken by 95.9%, Māori language by 6.3%, Samoan by 0.6% and other languages by 12.4%. No language could be spoken by 2.2% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 21.7, compared with 28.8% nationally. Religious affiliations were 30.6% Christian , 2.2% Hindu , 1.2% Islam , 1.8% Māori religious beliefs , 0.9% Buddhist , 0.5% New Age , 0.1% Jewish , and 2.2% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 53.5%, and 7.4% of people did not answer
9024-563: Was taken to Mercer for repair in 1939, where she was converted to a barge. Several of the old steamers remain under, or beside the river, including the Manuwai , Rawhiti (built 1925) and Freetrader on the west bank just south of Mercer. A 1928 article listed 14 boats that had provided river services. To improve navigation, rocks in the Narrows at Tamahere were removed in 1919. Public cruises operate from Aratiatia to Huka Falls , across
9120-618: Was that 200,928 (50.5%) people were employed full-time, 53,667 (13.5%) were part-time, and 12,165 (3.1%) were unemployed. The largest city in the Waikato Region is Hamilton , with an urban population of 192,000 (June 2024). It is home to the University of Waikato and the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec). Other major towns in the region are Tokoroa , Te Awamutu , Cambridge and Taupō with respective populations of 14,650, 14,150, 22,500 and 27,000. (These populations include
9216-486: Was the site of the 1999 World Whitewater Championships, as well as the pre-World event the year before. Lake Karapiro (an artificial lake) is regarded as one of New Zealand's best rowing venues. The World Rowing Championships in 1978 and 2010 , and the 1950 British Empire Games were hosted at Karapiro. The section of the river that flows through Hamilton has the most diverse river traffic with many schools and clubs using rowing skiffs. Rowing races are also held on
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