Rakaia River

Rakaia River
Rakaia River mouth
The Rakaia River system
Native nameRakaia (Māori)
Physical characteristics
SourceSouthern Alps
Length150 kilometres (93 mi)
Discharge 
 • average203 cubic metres per second (7,200 cu ft/s)
 • minimum87 m3/s (3,100 cu ft/s)
The Rakaia River as viewed from Mount Hutt

The Rakaia River is in the Canterbury Plains in New Zealand's South Island.[1] The Rakaia River is one of the largest braided rivers in New Zealand.[2] The Rakaia River has a mean flow of 203 cubic metres per second (7,200 cu ft/s) and a mean annual seven-day low flow of 87 m3/s (3,100 cu ft/s).[3] In the 1850s, European settlers named it the Cholmondeley River, but this name lapsed into disuse.[4] The name Rakaia comes from Māori "Ō Rakaia", meaning the place where people were arranged by ranks.[5][6]

  1. ^ "Place name detail: Rakaia River". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 2 April 2008.
  2. ^ Morland, K. 1994: Water Resources of the Canterbury Region. Canterbury Regional Council Unpublished Technical Report U94/59.
  3. ^ Morgan, M., Bidwell, V., Bright, J., McIndoe, I, and Robb, C. (2002): Canterbury Strategic Water Study Archived 20 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Lincoln Environmental Report No 4557/1, Lincoln University, New Zealand. Table 6.1.
  4. ^ 'Rivers Revert', John Wilson. 'Canterbury', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 19-Sep-2007 URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/Places/Canterbury/Canterbury/en, retrieved 30 June 2008.
  5. ^ "Rakaia River". Christchurch City Libraries.
  6. ^ George Leslie Wickenden (1966). "Rakaia River". In A. H. McLintock (ed.). Te Ara.

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