Hāpuku River

Hāpuku River
The river from the SH1 bridge, August 2015
Location of the mouth within New Zealand
Location
Country	New Zealand
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Seaward Kaikōura Range
• elevation	Highest tributaries rise at about 2,000m
Mouth
• location	South Pacific Ocean
• elevation	Sea level
Length	About 20km

The Hāpuku River begins in the Seaward Kaikōura Range of New Zealand and flows south-east to enter the South Pacific at , between Clarence and Kaikōura.^[1] The name comes from the Māori word hāpuku or hāpuka, a deep-water marine fish.^[2] Its main tributary is the Puhi Puhi River.

The Hāpuku is bridged by a 1,500 ft (460 m), 1940 bridge on 23 spans of 67 ft (20 m)^[3] on the Main North Line^[4] and by an 11 span, 227 m (745 ft) long, 8.6 m (28 ft) wide, 1983 SH1 bridge.^[5] The first bridge was completed in 1915,^[6] with foundations over 26 ft (7.9 m) deep,^[7] though the approaches were a little later.^[8]

Whilst other rivers were affected by serious flooding in 1953, the Hāpuku rose only 6.5 ft (2.0 m) at the railway bridge.^[9] Presumably this was due to the short catchment, the tectonic uplift of its headwaters and the width of the braided river bed, which is a source of railway ballast.^[10] However, an 1868 flood had more of an impact upstream, leaving a 30 ft (9.1 m) bank^[11] and a 1941 flood damaged the railway.^[12][13]

Wildlife associated with the area include black-eyed geckos, found near the headwaters of the north branch Hāpuku River,^[14] and bluff wetas.^[15] Banded dotterels breed in the Hāpuku.^[16] Introduced species include red deer, goats (kept at low levels by culling), pigs and chamois.^[17]

There were two DoC huts in the valley; Hapuku Hut and Barratts Bivvy, linked by walking tracks.^[18] However, a slip triggered by the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake blocked the river, with water building up behind the slip^[19] and destroying Barratts Hut^[20] and Bivvy.^[21]

Hapuka railway station was open from 13 March 1944 to 29 March 1981. A passing loop and ballast siding remain.^[22]

See also[]

• List of rivers of New Zealand

References[]

Coordinates: 42°19′38″S 173°44′22″E / 42.327231°S 173.739502°E / -42.327231; 173.739502External links[]

• Google Street View from SH1 bridge
• 1923 flood damage to road bridge
• 1940 views of railway bridge construction [1] [2]
• Aerial view of river mouth
• Map of 2016 earthquake slip and photo of the slip and lake^{[permanent dead link]}