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Story: Ecoregions

Rakaia River

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Rakaia River

The Rakaia River flows through the Canterbury Plains – part of the leeward ecoregion (east of the Southern Alps). Annual rainfall is around one-third of that on the windward side. The plains were once covered in lowland forest, tussock and swamps, but are now farmed.

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GNS Science

Reference: CN24034/27

by Lloyd Homer

Permission of GNS Science must be obtained before any use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Matt McGlone, Ecoregions – Leeward districts: to the east, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/12583/rakaia-river (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Matt McGlone, published 1 March 2009.