- Aropaoanui River
The Aropaoanui (Awapawanui) river flows from the
Lake Tutira to thePacific Ocean in the NorthernHawkes Bay . It has been described as one of the cleanest rivers in New Zealand by the Department of Conservation, and is fished for many species includingtrout andwhitebait . The valley and bay into which the river flows are also known as Aropaoanui, as is the metal road which meets the Napier-Wairoa highway.Aropaoanui is a Māori word which roughly translates to 'big smoke'. In local myth, the area was named when the local tribe were roasting their captives on a fire after a victory in battle. The fatty pulp around the kidneys of their victims began to bubble, giving the impression that the victims were still alive, which terrified the tribespeople. Later, the McKinnon family purchased much of the valley, forming one of the area's largest stations.
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