The Matiri River is a river located in the northwest of New Zealand's South Island. The river is in the Tasman Region.

Quick Facts Location, Country ...

Matiri River
Matiri Project intake weir
Route of the Matiri River
Mouth of the Matiri River Show map of New Zealand Matiri River (South Island) Show map of South Island
Location
Country	New Zealand
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Matiri Range
• coordinates	41°29′29″S 172°23′34″E
Mouth
• location	Buller River
• coordinates	41°46′39″S 172°18′40″E
Length	30 km (19 mi)
Basin features
Progression	Matiri River → Buller River → Tasman Sea
Tributaries
• left	Trent Stream, Matiri River East Branch, Sandstone Creek, Valley Creek
• right	Bull Creek, Bay Creek, Matiri River West Branch

Close

It runs south for 30 kilometres from its headwaters west of Mount Owen in Kahurangi National Park to its confluence with the Buller River just below the town of Murchison. Halfway along its length, it passes through Lake Matiri.^[1] Downstream from Lake Matiri the banks of the river has mixed livestock farming and some small scale forestry. Downstream from Lake Matiri, the Matiri River East Branch and the Matiri River West Branch flow into the Matiri River.^[2][3]

The river is used for whitewater recreation. It has a tight grade III rapid in a narrow cleft of a gorge a short distance upstream of the road end. There are also two bouldery drops that can only be run in high flows when it may reach grade IV. The river is considered to be best run when the Buller River is too high and dangerous.^[4]

A tramping track that starts at the road end runs along the western side of the river.

New Zealand Energy Limited have proposed the Matiri Project hydroelectric power scheme on the river.