The Kumeū River drains the northern Waitākere Ranges near Auckland, New Zealand, running past the town of Kumeū before merging into the Kaipara River.
| Kumeū River | |
|---|---|
 The Kumeū River at Kumeū township | |
 Route of the Kumeū River | |
  Mouth of the Kumeū River .png)  Kumeū River (New Zealand) | |
| Native name | Te Awa Kumeū (Māori) |
| Location | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Auckland Region |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Te Henga Road ridge, Waitākere Ranges |
| • coordinates | 36°52′33″S 174°32′00″E / 36.87581°S 174.53328°E |
| Mouth | Kaipara River |
• coordinates | 36°45′32″S 174°30′31″E / 36.75892°S 174.50871°E |
| Length | 20 km (12 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Kumeū River → Kaipara River → Kaipara Harbour |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Mangatoetoe Stream |
| • right | Matariki Stream, Huranui Stream, McEntee Stream, King Stream, Le Gros Stream, Inkster Stream, Rackstraw Stream, Pakinui Stream, Waikoukou Stream |
Description edit
The river begins north of the Te Henga Road ridge, north of the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park.[1] It flows north to the townships of Waitākere and Taupaki. When the river reaches Kumeū and Huapai, it flows due west, meeting the Ahukuramu Stream. The Kaipara River begins at the confluence of the Kumeū River and Ahukuramu Stream.[2]
The river has a number of tributaries, including the McEntee Stream,[3] Mangatoetoe Stream[4] and Pakinui Stream.[5][6]
History edit
The stream is in the traditional rohe of Te Kawerau ā Maki.[6] Historically the upper river catchment was dominated by a kahikatea forest, and was used for a number of purposes: to hunt kūkupa (kererū, or New Zealand wood pigeon) and harvest harakeke (New Zealand flax) and toetoe (Austroderia) for weaving.[6]
The river formed a section of Te Tōangaroa, the portage between the Kaipara and the Waitematā Harbours.[6] Ngongetepara (Brigham Creek) is less than two kilometres away from the Kumeū River at its closest point.
The traditional taniwha kaitiaki (guardian) of the Kaipara and Kumeū Rivers was called Tangihua.[6]
References edit
- ^ "Kumeū River". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ^ "Ahukuramu Stream". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "McEntee Stream". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "Mangatoetoe Stream". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "Pakinui Stream". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Te Kawerau ā Maki; The Trustees of Te Kawerau Iwi Settlement Trust; The Crown (22 February 2014). "Te Kawerau ā Maki Deed of Settlement Schedule" (PDF). Retrieved 10 May 2022.
External links edit
- Photograph of Kumeu River held in Auckland Libraries' heritage collections.