Hurunui River
Encyclopedia
The Hurunui River is the fourth largest of the four principal rivers in north Canterbury
, New Zealand
, with a catchment area of 2,670 square kilometres. The river flows from the eastern side of the Southern Alps
, to the Pacific Ocean
.
Some of the tributaries include the Jollie Brook, the Glenrae River and the Mandamus River
. The north branch of the river flows through Lake Sumner
. A hot pool has been constructed at the base of a small waterfall on a side stream of the river.
Chinook salmon
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) were introduced from California in the 1900s for game fishing.
to protect the Hurunui River.
On August 14, 2009, the Special Tribunal considering the application recommended to the Minister that a conservation order be granted for the North Branch of the Hurunui River but not the South Branch. On 2 September, Whitewater NZ lodged an appeal of the Tribunal's decision with the Environment Court in order to include the South Branch of the Hurunui River.
responsible for administering the river, for resource consent
s to dam the river and to take water for irrigation. The proposed scheme involves a weir that will raise the level of Lake Sumner, a dam and lake on the south branch of the river and an intake on the main stem of the river.
In October 2009, the Hurunui Water Project said it would delay the processing of its applications for resource consents for up to a year so that the Canterbury Water Management Strategy
could address the issue of water storage. A march planned in Christchurch
as a protest to the scheme still when ahead as scheduled two days after the announcement. As well as hundreds of protest marchers, kayakers and fishers travelled down the Avon River
. Sam Mahon
, a Canterbury based artist concerned about water pollution, made a bust of Environment Minister Nick Smith
out of dairy-cow dung in order to publicise the campaign to stop the Hurunui River from being dammed for irrigation.
In February 2010 the Hurunui Water Project announced that it would reactivate the resource consent process. On 16 November 2010, the Hurunui Water Project lodged a High Court appeal of Environment Canterbury's decision to make the damming of the Hurunui River a non-complying activity in the Canterbury Natural Resources Regional Plan.
Canterbury, New Zealand
The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. Its main city, Christchurch, hosts the main office of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Regional Council - called Environment Canterbury - and the University of Canterbury.-...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, with a catchment area of 2,670 square kilometres. The river flows from the eastern side of the Southern Alps
Southern Alps
The Southern Alps is a mountain range extending along much of the length of New Zealand's South Island, reaching its greatest elevations near the island's western side...
, to the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
.
Some of the tributaries include the Jollie Brook, the Glenrae River and the Mandamus River
Mandamus River
Mandamus River is a river in the South Island of New Zealand.The headwaters are on the southern side of the Organ Range and it feeds into the Hurunui River 25 kilometers due west of Culverden....
. The north branch of the river flows through Lake Sumner
Lake Sumner
Lake Sumner, known as Hokakura in Māori, is a lake situated 100 km northwest of Christchurch in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. The lake is located in the Lake Sumner Forest Park; the Hurunui River and several other lakes also lie within the park.The Lake Sumner region is a popular area...
. A hot pool has been constructed at the base of a small waterfall on a side stream of the river.
Recreation
The river has class II and III rapids and is popular for kayaking. The best whitewater is considered to be below the confluence of the north and south branches of the river in Maori Gully and in the Harwarden Gorge.Chinook salmon
Chinook salmon
The Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, is the largest species in the pacific salmon family. Other commonly used names for the species include King salmon, Quinnat salmon, Spring salmon and Tyee salmon...
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) were introduced from California in the 1900s for game fishing.
Water conservation order
On 30 August 2007, the New Zealand Fish and Game Council and the New Zealand Recreational Canoeing Association (now known as Whitewater NZ) lodged an application with the Ministry for the Environment for a Water Conservation OrderWater Conservation Order
A water conservation order is a legal ruling to protect aspects of water bodies. It may be to protect the quantity of the water itself or for any issues relating to the water body as a whole.-New Zealand:...
to protect the Hurunui River.
On August 14, 2009, the Special Tribunal considering the application recommended to the Minister that a conservation order be granted for the North Branch of the Hurunui River but not the South Branch. On 2 September, Whitewater NZ lodged an appeal of the Tribunal's decision with the Environment Court in order to include the South Branch of the Hurunui River.
Hurunui Water Project
The Hurunui Water Project has applied to Environment Canterbury, the regional councilRegional Council
Regional Council or regional council may refer to the following:*Regional Council *Regional Council, Hong Kong*Regional council *Regional Council - the Parliament of a Regione of Italy*Regional councils in New Zealand...
responsible for administering the river, for resource consent
Resource consent
A resource consent is the authorisation given to certain activities or uses of natural and physical resources required under the New Zealand Resource Management Act . Some activities may either be specifically authorised by the RMA or be permitted activities authorised by rules in plans...
s to dam the river and to take water for irrigation. The proposed scheme involves a weir that will raise the level of Lake Sumner, a dam and lake on the south branch of the river and an intake on the main stem of the river.
In October 2009, the Hurunui Water Project said it would delay the processing of its applications for resource consents for up to a year so that the Canterbury Water Management Strategy
Canterbury Water Management Strategy
The Canterbury Water Management Strategy is being developed in Canterbury, New Zealand to address water related issues in the region.It was initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry for the Environment and Environment Canterbury after a drought in 1998...
could address the issue of water storage. A march planned in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
as a protest to the scheme still when ahead as scheduled two days after the announcement. As well as hundreds of protest marchers, kayakers and fishers travelled down the Avon River
Avon River, Canterbury
The Avon River flows through the centre of the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, and out to an estuary, which it shares with the Heathcote River, the Avon Heathcote Estuary.- Geology :...
. Sam Mahon
Sam Mahon
Sam Mahon is a socialist artist and author living in Waikari in the South Island of New Zealand. He is the son of Peter Mahon, a lawyer notable for the Mt Erebus disaster inquiry....
, a Canterbury based artist concerned about water pollution, made a bust of Environment Minister Nick Smith
Nick Smith (New Zealand)
Nicolas Rex "Nick" Smith is a New Zealand politician and a member of the New Zealand Parliament as a National Party MP...
out of dairy-cow dung in order to publicise the campaign to stop the Hurunui River from being dammed for irrigation.
In February 2010 the Hurunui Water Project announced that it would reactivate the resource consent process. On 16 November 2010, the Hurunui Water Project lodged a High Court appeal of Environment Canterbury's decision to make the damming of the Hurunui River a non-complying activity in the Canterbury Natural Resources Regional Plan.
External links
- nzfishing.com - fishing information