Hāpuku River
River in New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Hāpuku River begins in the Seaward Kaikōura Range of New Zealand and flows south-east to enter the Pacific Ocean at Hapuku, 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.
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| Hāpuku River | |
|---|---|
The river from the SH1 bridge, August 2015 | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Seaward Kaikōura Range |
| • elevation | Highest tributaries rise at about 2,000m |
| Mouth | |
• location | Pacific Ocean |
• coordinates | 42°19′37″S 173°44′26″E |
• elevation | Sea level |
| Length | About 20km |
The first road bridge across the Hāpuku was completed in 1915,[3] although the approaches were a little later.[4] The foundations were made 26 ft (7.9 m) deeper than originally specified in order to reach a solid footing.[5] The current State Highway 1 bridge was constructed in 1983 and is 11 spans, 227 m (745 ft) long, and 8.6 m (28 ft) wide.[6] The Main North Line railway bridge was constructed in 1940 and is 23 spans of 67 ft (20 m),[7] with a total length of 1,500 ft (460 m).[8]
While 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]
As of March 2025[update], two main options for the Whale Trail cycle path from Picton to Kaikōura to cross the Hāpuku River were under evaluation: either a clip-on addition to the State Highway 1 road bridge, or a new suspension bridge.[14]
Wildlife associated with the area include black-eyed geckos, found near the headwaters of the north branch Hāpuku River,[15] and bluff wetas.[16] Banded dotterels breed in the Hāpuku.[17] Introduced species include red deer, goats (kept at low levels by culling), pigs and chamois.[18]
There were two Department of Conservation huts in the valley; Hapuku Hut and Barratts Bivvy, linked by walking tracks.[19] However, a slip triggered by the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake blocked the river, with water building up behind the slip[20] and destroying Barratts Hut[21] and Bivvy.[22]
Hapuka railway station was open from 13 March 1944 to 29 March 1981. A passing loop and ballast siding remain.[23]