Flowing through the southern North Island, Te Awa Kairangi or Hutt River is more than just a waterway. It is a lifeline. The official name since 2011 is Te Awa Kairangi or Hutt River.
Imagine for a moment stepping back in time. Picture the early 19th century. The Hutt River was deeper then. Large canoes and boats navigated its waters easily. Maori people transported produce from the Hutt Valley to Wellington city. Thick bush lined the water’s edge.
But things changed. European settlers cleared the bush. The riverbanks started to disintegrate. Soil washed into the river causing more flooding and altering the river’s course.
James Coutts Crawford described the Hutt River in 1840. He spoke of dense forests with gigantic trees. White clematis hung gracefully from lofty branches. The river was narrower. Forest held back floodwaters.
Then came the earthquake of 1855. The riverbed rose. This further transformed the Hutt River.
Today, the 56 kilometer long Hutt River begins in the Tararua Ranges. It ends its journey in Wellington Harbour at Petone. The river has a history of flooding. Heavy rain can turn into floodwaters at the river mouth in just seven hours.
Greater Wellington provides flood protection along the Hutt River. This protects 200000 residents and their livelihoods. Workers shift gravel and plant willows. They rebuild rock structures.
The Hutt River has several names. Early Maori residents called it Te Awa Kairangi. Later settlers named it Te Wai o Orutu. By the time Europeans arrived Maori called it Heretaunga. The river was named after Sir William Hutt. Captain Edward Main Chaffers and Colonel William Wakefield charted Port Nicholson in 1839. They gave it this name.
The Hutt River has many bridges. The Akatarawa Road Bridge opened in 1981. It replaced an older bridge from 1915. The Moonshine Bridge opened in 1987. The Melling Bridge opened in 1957. The new Ewen Bridge opened in 1996.
For most of its length the Hutt River is shallow. It flows in a wide rocky bed. Near Petone the river becomes narrower. Its banks become steeper. Stopbanks and willow trees protect populated areas from flooding.
The Hutt River has a good stock of brown trout. The Hutt River Trail is a 29 kilometer cycling and walking route. It runs from Petone to Kaitoke Regional Park.
Below Kaitoke is the Kaitoke Gorge. It is a popular destination for rafting. Below the gorge is Te Marua. The Mangaroa River joins the Hutt here.
Further down at Birchville, the Akatarawa River joins the Hutt. Here the Hutt River flows in a deep channel. It turns to flow across the Wellington Fault to Maoribank. You can see the fault’s movement from displaced river terraces in Harcourt Park.
The Waiwhetu artesian aquifer lies beneath the Hutt Valley. It provides about 40% of the fresh water for Lower Hutt and Wellington City. Water flows into the aquifer from the Hutt River south of Taita Gorge.