List of rivers of New Zealand by length

This is a list of the longest rivers in New Zealand, and some other prominent rivers, ordered by length.

South Island rivers are marked "SI", and North Island rivers "NI".

Main article: Rivers of New Zealand

The 20 longest rivers

Rank	Name	Island	Length (km)	Length (mi)
1	Waikato	North	425	264
2	Clutha / Mata-Au	South	322	200
3	Whanganui	North	290	180
4	Taieri	South	288	179
5	Rangitīkei	North	241	150
6	Mataura	South	240	149
7	Waiau (Southland)	South	217	135
8=	Waiau Toa / Clarence	South	209	130
8=	Waitaki	South	209	130
10	Ōreti	South	203	126
11	Rangitaiki	North	193	120
12	Manawatū	North	182	113
13	Buller / Kawatiri	South	177	110
14	Waihou	North	175	109
15	Mohaka	North	172	107
16=	Waiau Uwha	South	169	105
16=	Wairau	South	169	105
18=	Whangaehu	North	161	100
18=	Waimakariri	South	161	100
20	Mōkau	North	158	98

Other prominent rivers

Over 100 kilometres

• Ngaruroro River (NI) – 154 km (96 mi)
• Mōtū River (NI) – 147 km (91 mi)
• Rakaia River (SI) – 145 km (90 mi)
• Pātea River (NI) – 143 km (89 mi)
• Hurunui River (SI) – 138 km (86 mi)
• Turakina River (NI) – 137 km (85 mi)
• Wairoa River (Bay of Plenty) (NI) – 137 km (85 mi)
• Wairoa River (Northland) (NI) – 132 km (82 mi)
• Awatere River (SI) – 126 km (78 mi)
• Ruamahanga River (NI) – 124 km (77 mi)
• Grey River or Mawhera River (SI) – 121 km (75 mi)
• Rangitata River (SI) – 120 km (74 mi)
• Tukituki River (NI) – 119 km (74 mi)
• Motueka River (SI) – 116 km (72 mi)
• Waitaki River (SI) – 111 km (69 mi)
• Aparima River (SI) – 102 km (63 mi)

50 to 100 kilometres

• Tutaekuri River (NI) - 100 km (62 mi)
• Whakatāne River (NI) – 95 km (59 mi)
• Pomahaka River (SI) – 81 km (50 mi)
• Waipaoa River (NI) 80 km (50 mi)
• Selwyn River (SI) 80 km (50 mi)
• Taramakau River (SI) 75 km (46 mi)
• Ōpihi River (SI) – 75 km (46 mi)
• Orari River (SI) – 74 km (46 mi)
• Karamea River (SI) – 73 km (45 mi)
• Ongarue River (NI) – 73 km (45 mi)
• Ahuriri River (SI) – 70 km (43 mi)
• Inangahua River (SI) – 65 km (40 mi)
• Moawhango River (NI) – 62 km (38 mi)
• Waitoa River (NI) – 62 km (38 mi)
• Shotover River (SI) – 60 km (37 mi)
• Hutt River (NI) – 56 km (35 mi)
• Ruakituri River (NI) – 55 km (34 mi)
• Manganui River (Northland) (NI) – 53 km (33 mi)
• Whenuakura River (NI) -53 km (33 mi)
• Eglinton River (SI) – 51 km (32 mi)
• Kaituna River (NI) – 50 km (31 mi) (approx)
• Tokomairaro River (SI) – 50 km (31 mi) (approx)

Under 50 kilometres

• Waingawa River (Wairarapa), a tributary of the Ruamahanga River – 48 km (13 mi)
• Tauherenikau River (Wairarapa), draining into Lake Wairarapa – 41 km (13 mi)
• Waiohine River (Wairarapa), a tributary of the Ruamahanga River – 35 km (13 mi)
• Freshwater River (Stewart Island) – 25 km (15 mi) (longest New Zealand river not in the North or South Island)
• Waiwawa River – 21 km (13 mi) (longest river on the Coromandel Peninsula)
• Waimata River (NI) – 20 km (16 mi)
• Makara River (Chatham Island) – 16 km (10 mi) (longest New Zealand river not in New Zealand's main island chain)
• Avon River / Ōtākaro (SI) – 15 km (9.5 mi)
• Water of Leith (SI) – 14 km (9 mi)

Shortest rivers

• Awaroa River (Far North) (Northland) – 12 km (7.5 mi)
• Awaroa River (Waikato River tributary) – 12 km (7.5 mi)
• Tawatahi River (Waikato) – 2 km (1.2 mi)
• Tūranganui River (Gisborne) – 0.9 km (0.56 mi)

See also

• List of rivers of New Zealand
• List of rivers
• List of rivers of Oceania
• List of islands of New Zealand#In rivers and lakes
• List of lakes in New Zealand

References

• The Air New Zealand Almanac 1989. Wellington: New Zealand Press Association.

External links

• Booker, D.J.; Whitehead, A.L. (2017). "NZ River Maps: An interactive online tool for mapping predicted freshwater variables across New Zealand". niwa.co.nz. Christchurch: National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA).
• Young, David. "Rivers – Types of river. New Zealand's longest rivers". Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.