Rakaia River

It rises in the Southern Alps, travelling 150 kilometres (93 mi) in a generally easterly or southeasterly direction before entering the Pacific Ocean 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of Christchurch. It forms a lagoon as it reaches the ocean.

For much of its journey, the river is braided, running through a wide shingle bed. Close to Mount Hutt, however, it is briefly confined to a narrow canyon known as the Rakaia Gorge.

The Rakaia River is bridged in two places. The busiest crossing is at the small town of Rakaia, 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the river mouth, where State Highway 1 using Rakaia Bridge and the South Island Main Trunk Railway cross the river using separate bridges. These two bridges are New Zealand's longest road and rail bridges respectively, approximately 1.75 kilometres (1.09 mi) long.^[7] A second bridge, much shorter and less used, spans the Rakaia Gorge.

The Central Plains Water Trust is proposing to take up to 40 m³/s (1,400 cu ft/s) of water from the Rakaia River as part of the Central Plains Water enhancement scheme.^[8]

The Rakaia River is a celebrated Chinook salmon fishery.^[9] It has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International because it supports breeding colonies of the endangered black-billed gull.^[10] The river is also known for its large wrybill population which represents 73 percent of the total population. Other important bird species using the riverbed are black-fronted tern and banded dotterel.^[11]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rakaia River.

• Selwyn District Council page for the Rakaia River
• Te Ara website page for the Rakaia River
• Salmon fishing on the Rakaia River

43°56′S 172°13′E / 43.933°S 172.217°E / -43.933; 172.217