Kaituna River
Kaituna River near State Highway 75
Kaituna River (Canterbury) is located in Banks Peninsula
Kaituna River (Canterbury)
Location of the Kaituna River
Kaituna River (Canterbury) is located in New Zealand
Kaituna River (Canterbury)
Kaituna River (Canterbury) (New Zealand)
EtymologyFrom Māori: Kai (meaning food) and tuna (meaning eel)
Location
CountryNew Zealand
RegionCanterbury
Territorial areaChristchurch City
Physical characteristics
SourceMount Herbert / Te Ahu Pātiki
  coordinates43°42′06″S 172°45′31″E / 43.701745°S 172.758679°E / -43.701745; 172.758679
  elevation670 metres (2,200 ft)
MouthLake Ellesmere / Te Waihora
  coordinates
43°46′42″S 172°39′04″E / 43.77836°S 172.651005°E / -43.77836; 172.651005
  elevation
2 metres (6 ft 7 in)
Length18 kilometres (11 mi)
Basin features
Tributaries 
  leftOkana Stream

The Kaituna River is a small watercourse[1] which drains the high ground on the Banks Peninsula before discharging into Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora.[2] It gives its name to a steep sheep grazed valley which provides access to the walking tracks and mountain tops of Mount Bradley and Mount Herbert / Te Ahu Pātiki.

The river and its valley were a traditional ara tawhito (travel route) for Māori living on Banks Peninsula, providing a relatively easy route to connect mahinga kai (food gathering sites) at Te Waihora with the more established settlements around Whakaraupō and Koukourarata to the north.[3]

References

  1. "River flow data - Kaituna". Environment Canterbury. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  2. "Kaituna River at Kaituna Valley Road". LAWA.
  3. "Cultural Atlas - Kaituna". Kā Huru Manu. Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Retrieved 12 August 2023.


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