Awaroa River (Waikato River tributary)
The Awaroa River is a short river in the Waikato District of New Zealand's North Island. It flows east from its source in the dunes near Karioitahi Beach and Lake Puketi, then south from Waiuku joining with the Aka Aka Stream before reaching the Waikato River in its tidal reaches close to Motutieke Island.
Despite being only long, its name translates to 'long river'. It is a name used by 33 other locations, including two in Northland, 9 of them in Waikato Region and a river north of Kaiteriteri.
The river is the Waikato's 11th most polluted out of 26.
In the 1850s the Awaroa was an important link in the trade between Waikato and Auckland. It was navigated by waka and produce and/or canoes portaged to Manukau Harbour at Waiuku. A canal or tramway was considered as early as 1850 for bringing coal from Huntly and again in 1855. A 1921 report also considered a canal or railway, but also rejected them as too expensive for the likely traffic.
