Waimate Creek
Encyclopedia
Waimate Creek is a natural watercourse
in the southern Canterbury
region of New Zealand
's South Island
. Its original Māori name was Te Waimatemate, which means "slowly moving waters".
before reaching the narrow coastal plain of the Pacific Ocean
, skirting the west and southern side of Waimate
township and then discharging metres from the sea into the Wainono Dead Arm, which links the Waihao River
and Wainono Lagoon
. Its catchment area is approximately 78 km².
that has remained relatively intact. This zone contains vegetation such as willow
s and broom
. Fish species found within the stream include the Canterbury galaxias
, New Zealand longfin eel
, and upland bully
.
crosses Waimate Creek on the southwestern side of Waimate. In Studholme
, near its discharge into the Wainono Dead Arm, it is crossed by State Highway 1
and the Main South Line
railway. It was formerly crossed by the Waimate Gorge Branch
railway on the southwestern side of Waimate but this branch line
closed in 1953 and the bridge has been removed.
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
in the southern Canterbury
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.-...
region of 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...
's South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
. Its original Māori name was Te Waimatemate, which means "slowly moving waters".
Catchment
Waimate Creek runs roughly eastwards, rising in the Hunter HillsHunter Hills
Hunter Hills is a neighborhood located west of downtown Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Its motto, "One Community, One Family", has been its cornerstone since 2001. The neighborhood is encompassed in the 30314 zip code. Hunter Hills shares borders with Mozley Park, Dixie Hills and West Lake...
before reaching the narrow coastal plain of 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...
, skirting the west and southern side of Waimate
Waimate
WaimateUrban AreaPopulation:2,835 Extent:Territorial AuthorityName:Waimate District CouncilPopulation:7,206 Land area:3,582.19 km² Mayor:John ColesWebsite:...
township and then discharging metres from the sea into the Wainono Dead Arm, which links the Waihao River
Waihao River
The Waihao River is a natural watercourse in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island.- Characteristics :Its headwaters are in the Hunter Hills, foothills of the Southern Alps, and its catchment area is 550 km². The catchment receives approximately 1,000 mm of rain annually...
and Wainono Lagoon
Wainono Lagoon
Wainono Lagoon is a shallow lake in the southern Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. A number of rivers flow into the lagoon, including the Hook River from the north and the Waihao River from the south...
. Its catchment area is approximately 78 km².
Ecology
Waimate Creek is considered by Environment Canterbury to be in good ecological condition. This is due to intact native forest at its headwaters and a riparian zoneRiparian zone
A riparian zone or riparian area is the interface between land and a river or stream. Riparian is also the proper nomenclature for one of the fifteen terrestrial biomes of the earth. Plant habitats and communities along the river margins and banks are called riparian vegetation, characterized by...
that has remained relatively intact. This zone contains vegetation such as willow
Willow
Willows, sallows, and osiers form the genus Salix, around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
s and broom
New Zealand Broom
Carmichaelia is a genus of 24 plant species belonging to Fabaceae, the legume family. All but one species are native to New Zealand...
. Fish species found within the stream include the Canterbury galaxias
Common river galaxias
The common river galaxias or Canterbury galaxias, Galaxias vulgaris, is a galaxiid fish of the genus Galaxias, found only in Canterbury, New Zealand. It grows to a length of up to 15 cm .-References:*...
, New Zealand longfin eel
New Zealand longfin eel
The New Zealand Longfin eel is one of three freshwater eels found in New Zealand. The other two species of eel are the Shortfin eel which is also found in south-eastern Australia and the recently arrived Australian Longfin eel .The easiest method for identification of the New Zealand Longfin eel...
, and upland bully
Upland bully
The upland bully, Gobiomorphus breviceps, is a sleeper of the genus Gobiomorphus, found in most rivers and lakes in the South Island and the southern half of the North Island of New Zealand. Their length is up to 8 cm.-References:*...
.
Crossings
State Highway 82New Zealand State Highway network
The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
crosses Waimate Creek on the southwestern side of Waimate. In Studholme
Studholme
Studholme is a locality in southern Canterbury in New Zealand's South Island. It is named after Michael Studholme, a pioneer European settler who arrived in the area in 1854.- Geography :...
, near its discharge into the Wainono Dead Arm, it is crossed by State Highway 1
State Highway 1 (New Zealand)
State Highway 1 is the longest and most significant road in the New Zealand roading network, running the length of both main islands. It appears on road maps as SH 1 and on road signs as a white number 1 on a red shield, but it has the official designations SH 1N in the North Island, SH 1S in the...
and the Main South Line
Main South Line
The Main South Line, sometimes referred to as part of the South Island Main Trunk Railway, is a railroad line that runs north and south from Lyttelton in New Zealand through Christchurch and along the east coast of the South Island to Invercargill via Dunedin...
railway. It was formerly crossed by the Waimate Gorge Branch
Waimate Branch
The Waimate Branch was a branch line railway built in southern Canterbury, New Zealand to link the Main South Line with the town of Waimate, the centre of the surrounding rural area. It opened in 1877 and operated until 1966; for some of this time, it included an extension to Waihao Downs that was...
railway on the southwestern side of Waimate but this branch line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
closed in 1953 and the bridge has been removed.