Wheao River


The Wheao River is a river of the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island. An upper tributary of the Rangitaiki River, it flows predominantly north from its origins at Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park through the Kaingaroa Forest to reach the Rangitaiki River at Ngahuinga Crossing, south of Murupara.

History

The river is a part of the Wheao and Flaxy Hydro Power Scheme. During construction in 1982, a breach of the canal bank led to significant flooding of the power plant.