The Hangatahua River, alternatively known as the Stony River, is a river of the
Taranaki Region
Taranaki is a region in the west of New Zealand's North Island. It is named after its main geographical feature, the stratovolcano of Mount Taranaki, also known as Mount Egmont.
The main centre is the city of New Plymouth. The New Plymouth Dist ...
of
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
. It is one of the larger of the numerous rivers and streams which drain the slopes of
Mount Taranaki
Mount Taranaki (), also known as Mount Egmont, is a dormant stratovolcano in the Taranaki region on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. It is the second highest point in the North Island, after Mount Ruapehu. The mountain has a secon ...
, receiving water from streams covering most of the northwest sector of the mountain. In addition it drains the southern flank of the
Pouakai complex and the alpine
Ahukawakawa Swamp
The Ahukawakawa Swamp is an area of sphagnum bog in Egmont National Park in the Taranaki Region of New Zealand.
It was formed approximately 3,500 years ago and is of particular interest to botanists. Over 260 species of higher plant have been recor ...
.
The river's upper reaches lie within
Egmont National Park
Egmont National Park () is located south of New Plymouth, close to the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The park covers Mount Taranaki and its slopes. The park was first created in 1881 as a forest reserve and went on to become ...
.
The Hangatahua River forms the boundary between
New Plymouth District
The New Plymouth District is one of the districts of New Zealand within Taranaki. It includes the city of New Plymouth and smaller towns such as Inglewood, Ōakura and Waitara.
In 1989, as a part of New Zealand-wide reorganisation of local gove ...
and
South Taranaki District
South Taranaki is a territorial authority on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island that contains the towns of Hāwera (the seat of the district), Manaia, Ōpunake, Patea, Eltham, and Waverley. The District has a land area of 3,575.46 ...
.
The river was considered Taranaki's best trout fishery until severe erosion and land instability in the river's headwaters since 1997 caused high sediment loads.
References
Rivers of Taranaki
Rivers of New Zealand
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