The Mangawhero River – Buy
Leaving Parikino, I headed for the town of Raetihi which is close to the Tongariro National Park. That morning the rain had been heavy and while it was starting to ease it had left the nearby rivers high and fast flowing. I had been following the path of the Mangawhero River and I stopped near a bridge now to view it as it made its way through the valley.
Later on, I read that the name Mangawhero comes from the Maori word manga meaning “stream” and whero meaning “red”. Looking at the photos I had taken earlier in the day, that seemed to make sense.
Born and raised on the Mangawhero River near its confluence with the Whangaehu River I can vouch for the river’s clarity. When not in flood it was clear to see eels and the occasional trout and flounder. We often swam in the summer.
As the Mangawhero rises from the north western slopes of Ruapehu it is fed by by springs and rainfall. In comparison the Whangaehu River rises from Ruapehu’s crater lake. It is acidic, normally jade green in colour, not clear and supports little to no eel or other fish life.
Both rivers when flooding carry a heavy silt loading eroded from steep hill country.
When clean the difference between these two awa is nowhere more defined than at the confluence. There is a clearly visible line between the sulphurous, green and the brownish clear waters as they mix.
Looks like flooded murky water to me