# Waimakariri River, a waterway of Christchurch

A river, 160.8 km as OpenStreetMap draws it, crossing 5 suburbs. Also recorded as “Waimakariri”.

## Can you swim here

[Waimakariri River Between Highway Bridges](https://www.lawa.org.nz/explore-data/canterbury-region/swimming/waimakariri-river-above-old-highway-bridge/swimsite), the LAWA monitor that sits on its reach, LAWA keeps it on special status, graded unsuitable for swimming. 2 more monitored spots sit on its reach.

*A water-quality risk grade, not a live verdict, after heavy rain any spot can turn. LAWA's page is the one to check on the day.*

## The suburbs on its banks

- [Belfast](https://www.chch.live/belfast)
- [Brooklands](https://www.chch.live/brooklands)
- [Coutts Island](https://www.chch.live/coutts-island)
- [Kainga](https://www.chch.live/kainga)
- [McLeans Island](https://www.chch.live/mcleans-island)


## The reports along it
121 reports pinned within 150 m of the line, a pin is where a reporter stood, not a claim about the place.
- [Facility - General Request](https://www.chch.live/report/8873410), [32A Riverlea Estate Drive, Brooklands, Christchurch 8083, New Zealand](https://www.chch.live/brooklands/32a-riverlea-estate-drive)
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/report/8597744), [10 Seddon Street, Kainga, Christchurch 8083, New Zealand](https://www.chch.live/kainga/10-seddon-street)
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/report/8578891), [10 Seddon Street, Kainga, Christchurch 8083, New Zealand](https://www.chch.live/kainga/10-seddon-street)
- [Park - General Request](https://www.chch.live/report/8555947), Arbor Gr, Canterbury, Christchurch 8083, New Zealand
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/report/8434630), [1380 Main North Road, Kainga, Christchurch 8083, New Zealand](https://www.chch.live/kainga/1380-main-north-road)
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/report/8403393), [1380 Main North Road, Kainga, Christchurch 8083, New Zealand](https://www.chch.live/kainga/1380-main-north-road)
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/report/7936768), [14 Cawood Terrace, Kainga, Christchurch 8083, New Zealand](https://www.chch.live/kainga/14-cawood-terrace)
- [Pothole](https://www.chch.live/report/7769003), [12F Empire Road, Belfast, Christchurch 8083, New Zealand](https://www.chch.live/belfast/12f-empire-road)
- [Roads - General](https://www.chch.live/report/7537306), State Highway 1, Canterbury Region, New Zealand
- [Pavement - General](https://www.chch.live/report/7498267), Highway 1, Canterbury, Christchurch 8083, New Zealand
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/report/7403791), State Highway 1, Canterbury Region, New Zealand
- [Park - General Request](https://www.chch.live/report/7068974), [32A Riverlea Estate Drive, Brooklands, Christchurch 8083, New Zealand](https://www.chch.live/brooklands/32a-riverlea-estate-drive)

## Questions, answered briefly

**How long is Waimakariri River?**

160.8 km as mapped, 2 ways in the open map, crossing 5 suburbs.

**Which suburbs does Waimakariri River pass through?**

Belfast, Brooklands, Coutts Island, Kainga, and 1 more.

**What else is Waimakariri River called?**

The map also records “Waimakariri”, the page answers to all of them.

**Is the line on the map the whole waterway?**

It’s the centreline, the middle of the water as mapped on OpenStreetMap, not its banks. A line says where it runs, not how wide it is or whether it carries water today.


---
The line is OpenStreetMap’s, named ways tagged river, stream, drain or canal inside the city boundary, merged by name (ODbL). Centrelines, not banks; the live gauges are instruments, kept at https://www.chch.live/rivers.
The page: https://www.chch.live/river/waimakariri-river
Every waterway as data: https://www.chch.live/waterways.geojson
The whole roll: https://www.chch.live/river