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Story: Rivers

New Zealand’s longest rivers

River Length (km)
North Island
Waikato 425
Whanganui 290
Rangitīkei 241
Rangitāiki 193
Manawatū 182
Waihou 175
Mōhaka 172
Whangaehu 161
Mōkau 158
Ngaruroro 154
South Island
Clutha 322
Taieri 288
Mataura 240
Waiau (Southland) 217
Clarence 209
Waitaki 209
Ōreti 203
Buller 177
Waiau (Canterbury) 169
Wairau 169
Waimakariri 161

This table shows the length in kilometres of New Zealand’s longest rivers. The Waikato River in the North Island is the longest by far; the South Island’s Clutha River comes second.

Using this item

Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: New Zealand official yearbook 2006

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

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How to cite this page

David Young, Rivers – Types of river, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/table/14687/new-zealands-longest-rivers (accessed 21 June 2026).

Story by David Young, published 1 March 2009.