Story: Marlborough region

Wairau River diversion, 1963

Wairau River diversion, 1963

Flood-control efforts in the Wairau River valley culminated with the opening of the Wairau diversion on 30 April 1963. The diversion established a course for the Wairau River which ran from State Highway 1 at Tuamarina directly across country to Cloudy Bay. The usual course of the river meandered for some kilometres south-east before reaching Cloudy Bay at Wairau Bar, and was unsuited to handling surges of water.

Using this item

Marlborough Historical Society, Marlborough Museum & Archives
Reference: 000.900.1003
Photograph by Norman Brayshaw

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How to cite this page:

Malcolm McKinnon, 'Marlborough region - Climate, plants and animals', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/31741/wairau-river-diversion-1963 (accessed 23 April 2024)

Story by Malcolm McKinnon, updated 1 Nov 2016