Tributary details

Map of waterways

A map of the information shown here can be found on the Christchurch City Council Spatial Open Data Portal.

Explanation of information in table of tributaries

Side: The side of the river on which the tributary joins.  True left is the left side when looking downstream.
Name: The name for this waterway generally used in official documents. If this name is hyperlinked, the link will open a page dedicated to this waterway with more detailed information and images. This page will be updated from time to time as new information comes to hand.
Source: If the waterway has a continual flow from a spring, this will be shown as “Spring” otherwise “Surface”.  All spring-fed waterways also take stormwater during g rain events.
Description: A brief description of the type of waterway, its function or any other significant information.
Junction location and form: Where this waterway joins the river with a description of the junction’s characteristics.
Fish passage: “Yes” indicates that the junction is fish migration friendly. “No” indicates that it is not. “Not appropriate” indicates that the waterway is not suitable for fish for some reason – the form of the waterway and/or its source.  While the entrance to the waterway may be fish-friendly, piped waterways may not be suitable for fish habitat unless naturalised for some part of the waterway.

Tributary waterways of the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River

This list is ordered starting with the most inland tributaries and moving downstream to the coast. Waterways listed here are still or were once natural waterways, have taken over the function of what would otherwise have been a natural overland flow waterway or are sufficiently large stormwater assets to make a impact on the river.  Most small stormwater pipes from local roading assets are not listed.

Side Name Source Description Junction location & form Fish migration
Right Awatea Stream Surface Ephemeral/Intermittent. A much-modified stream bed largely linking several stormwater treatment basins When in flow, joins upstream of The Runway culvert Yes
Left Dry Stream Surface Ephemeral/Intermittent Confluence is near the end of Nash Road Yes
Left Haytons Stream Spring Low flow. Flows into the Paparua Stream Continuous with Paparua Stream Yes
Left Paparua Stream Spring Low flow. Flows into the Nga Puna Wai retention ponds Piped with exit near the end of Bidwell Place
Left Curlett Stream Spring Flows into and through the Wigram Retention Basin. Natural confluence immediately downstream of the Curletts Road bridge Yes
Right Cashmere Stream Spring Spring-fed from within and immediately upstream of Te Kuru wetlands.  Bunz and Bowis Streams are significant spring-fed contributors. Natural confluence under Cashmere Road bridge at the end of Ashgrove Terrace Yes
Right Hackthorne Road Drain Surface Gathers stormwater from behind Princess Margaret Hospital Piped under Cashmere Road with exit almost inline with Hackthorne Road Yes
Right Valley Road Drain Spring Low flow. Takes stormwater from entire valley. Piped under Cashmere Road with exit almost inline with Valley Road Yes
Right Purau Terrace Drain Surface Ephemeral/Intermittent. Takes stormwater from Dyers Pass Road that is diverted through Purau Reserve. Piped under Cashmere Road with exit beside Barrington Street bridge No
Left Waimōkihi Stream Spring Also known as Cashmere Brook. High-flow. Also takes flow from Wilderness Creek. Piped under Ashgrove Terrace to exit opposite 261 Ashgrove Terrace Yes
Left Wilderness Drain Spring Large intake including Barrington Park, Somerfield Park and much of suburbs up to Brougham Street. Piped under Ashgrove Terrace to exit opposite 303 Ashgrove Terrace Yes
Right Couling Creek Spring Also known as Thorrington Creek. Spring in private property behind Ernle Clarke Reserve. Feeds into the Lotus Spa pond. Piped under Ernlea Terrace to exit opposite the entrance to Lotus Spa No
Right Rossmore Terrace Drain Spring Spring-fed. Drains the valley behind Hollis Reserve. Paulus Terrace Drain joins this. Piped under Centaurus Road to exit at the corner with Sloane Terrace No
Right Sibleys Drain Surface Ephemeral/Intermittent.  Drains western side of Bowenvale Valley. Concrete sided. Piped under Centaurus Road to exit downstream of Landsdowne Terrace. There are two exits close together. Not appropriate
Right Scotts Drain Spring Low flow, spring-fed but largely a stormwater drain. Drains eastern side of Bowenvale Valley. Occasionally open to view but largely piped. Piped under Centaurus Road to exit upstream of Major Aitken Drive Yes
Right Huntsbury Waterway Surface Ephemeral/Intermittent.  Drains from above Whaka Terrace and through Coronation Reserve where there are several features to slow the passage of stormwater. Piped under Centaurus Road to exit downstream of Major Aitken Drive Yes
Right Beckenham Ponds Spring Ponds are a remnant of the previous wetlands. Overflow piped under Eastern Terrace from the middle of the length of the ponds. No
Left Tennysons Drain Surface Ephemeral/Intermittent.  Fully piped for the length of Tennyson Street but open sections of channel in Somerfield. Drains Tennyson Street and adjoining streets and the area between the Wilderness Creek and Jacksons Creek. Piped under Eastern terrace to exit at the Tennyson Street bridge. Yes
Left Jacksons Creek Upper Spring Much modified. Originates in the middle of what is now Addington Raceway (southern end). Piped from Cameron Reserve to exit underneath the Waltham Road bridge on upsteam side No
Right Waltham Pool outlet Water retriculation An outflow from an aspect of the pool heating/cooling operation. Piped under Fifield Terrace and exits half-way up the embankment. Not appropriate
Right Esher Place Drain Spring Low flow. Natural confluence in Riverlaw Esplanade Reserve Yes
Right Claxton Place Drains Spring Continuous medium flow. Piped under Riverlaw Terrace from roadside stormwater gully traps into which they flow from springs in properties on Claxton Place No
Right Armstrongs Drain Spring Spring-fed. Drains the eastern side of Huntsbury Valley taking stormwater from Lascelles Drain and Centaurus Park Drain Piped under Centaurus Road and the length of Armstrong Avenue to exit at the end of Armstrong Avenue No
Right Victory Drain Spring Spring-fed. Drains the Huntsbry and Hillsborough Valleys. Concrete and plank lined channel. Exits at the end of Riverlaw Terrace Yes
Right Popes Drain Spring Drains Vernon Terrace and the western Hillsborough Valley. Piped under Centaurus Road. Naturalised confluence behind Scout Den Yes
Right Rapaki Road Invert Surface Ephemeral/Intermittent. Drains Glenelg Spur and Rapaki Road. Piped under Aynsley Terrace to exit downstream of the entrance to King George V Reserve Yes
Left Jacksons Creek Lower Spring Originates in Waltham Park. It is the cut-off lower section of Jacksons Creek Upper. Passes through St Martins and Opawa. Natural confluence upstream of the end of Louisson Place Yes
Right Clarendon Terrace Swale Surface Ephemeral/Intermittent. Drains the railway line Piped under Clarendon Terrace to exit beside the Brougham Street bridge.
Left Vincents Drain North Surface Ephemeral/Intermittent. Drains between the railway line and SH73 Piped under Richardson Terrace to exit downstream of the railway bridge.
Left Bells Creek Spring The output of Bells Creek and the Arran Drain pass through the Richardson Terrace filter and pumps station.  Bells Creek spills into Edmonds Park and into Te Oranga Waikura Urban Forest to reduce flooding.  Bells Creek also picks up the Ferry Road stormwater sewer, built in 1879. Piped under Richardson Terrace to exit underneath the Christchurch Quay
Right Curries Drain Surface Ephemeral/Intermittent. Drains Curries Road and Port Hills Road as well as the valleys above the Port Hills Road. Piped beneath industrial land to exit opposite the intersection of Cun=mnor Terrace and Maunsel Street
Right Jardens Drain Surface Ephemeral/Intermittent. Drains the valleys above Port Hills Road. Piped beneath the railway line and Cumnor Terrace to exit a few metres downstream of Curries Drain.
Right Chapmans Road Drain Surface Ephemeral/Intermittent. Drains Chapmans Road and adjoining properties. Piped under Cumnor Terrace to exit opposite the junction of Chapmans Road and Cumnor Terrace
Left Steamwharf Stream Spring Originating in the Thistledown Reserve Piped under Ferry Road to exit a couple of metres downstream of the Tunnel Road bridge No
Right Avoca Valley Stream Spring Takes the flow from a number of named drains including the Horotane Valley and Scruttons Drains, and the Butts Valley Waterway. Flows through Ferrymead Park in a natural form to form a confluence just downstream of Calder Green
Right Truscotts Stream Branch Surface Ephemeral/Intermittent. Takes flow from the Bridle Path Waterway and the Heathcote Valley Drain. Flows through Ferrymead Park in a natural form to form a confluence just downstream of the Avoca Valley Stream
Right Matuku Waterway Spring Drains much of the Heathcote Valley floor and Morgans Valley while taking all the flow from Whites Waterway. Flows through Ferrymead Park in a natural form to form a confluence under the railway bridge Yes
Left Ferrymead Reserve Drain Surface Ephemeral/Intermittent. Drains the hillside around Cannon Hill Crescent. Piped under Bridle Path Road to exit at the site of the historic ferry