Ngaruroro River

Not many rivers have weave through three Forest Parks, but the Ngaruroro does.
It is one of the three main rivers flowing east through the Kaweka Forest Park. However, it's source is actually in the Kaimanawa Forest Park, where it flows gently through the popular hunting area around Boyd Lodge.

The Ngaruroro then runs down through passable gorges forming the boundary with the Kaweka FP on the true left and private Maori-owned land on the true right, although the Park extends across the river at various points. It has no less than five tramping huts on its banks.

At Kuripapango, the Gentle Annie road (Napier to Taihape) crosses it, and the river then heads through the northern Ruahine Forest Park, with major tributary the Taruarau joining there. Just above Whanawhana it leaves the mountains and conservation land and becomes a braided river system through agricultural and horticultural land to exit to the sea between Napier and Hastings.

The Ministry of Economic Development report on potential hydro identified 134MW across six sites on the Ngaruroro and they ranked highly (5th nationally) for potential in one catchment.

The Threat to the Ngaruroro River

The identified threat is hydro-electric and, less likely, irrigation water storage. The Ministry of Economic Development report on potential hydro identified 134MW across six sites on the Ngaruroro and they ranked highly (5th nationally) for potential in one catchment. It has not cost-effective to develop to date, but may be now. The river has no existing modification apart from landuse change, with mostly low intensity sheep farming and some plantation forest. It is a nationally-unique river for trampers, hunters, angler and whitewater enthusiasts that should not be dammed.

Organisations Supporting the Ngaruroro River