Misplaced Pages

Kumeū River
The Kumeū River at Kumeū township
Route of the Kumeū River
Mouth of the Kumeū RiverShow map of AucklandKumeū River (New Zealand)Show map of 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 / -36.87581; 174.53328
Mouth	Kaipara River
• coordinates	36°45′32″S 174°30′31″E / 36.75892°S 174.50871°E / -36.75892; 174.50871
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

The Kumeū River drains the northern Waitākere Ranges near Auckland, New Zealand, running past the town of Kumeū before merging into the Kaipara River.

Description

The river begins north of the Te Henga Road ridge, north of the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park. 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.

The river has a number of tributaries, including the McEntee Stream, Mangatoetoe Stream and Pakinui Stream.

History

The stream is in the traditional rohe of Te Kawerau ā Maki. 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.

The river formed a section of Te Tōangaroa, the portage between the Kaipara and the Waitematā Harbours. 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.

References

1. "Kumeū River". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
2. "Ahukuramu Stream". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
3. "McEntee Stream". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
4. "Mangatoetoe Stream". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
5. "Pakinui Stream". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
6. ^ 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

• Photograph of Kumeu River held in Auckland Libraries' heritage collections.

• Rivers of the Auckland Region
• Rivers of New Zealand
• Kaipara Harbour catchment
• Rodney Local Board Area