Ashburton River (New Zealand)

Ashburton River / Hakatere
This view of Ashburton, New Zealand shows the confluence of south (on left) and north branches
Country	New Zealand
Physical characteristics
River mouth	Pacific Ocean 0 metres (0 ft)

The Ashburton River / Hakatere is a river in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand. The official name of the river was amended to become a dual name by the Ngai Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998. It has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International because it supports breeding colonies of the endangered black-billed gull.

The river has two branches which meet 21 kilometres (13 mi) from the coast, just inland of the town of Ashburton. The branches remain parallel and no more than 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) apart for a further 20 kilometres (12 mi) upstream of their confluence, finally diverging near the small settlement of Ashburton Forks. The rivers' path southeast across the Canterbury Plains lies in a shallow depression between the higher shingle fans created by the much larger Rakaia and Rangitata rivers. Both branches are crossed via siphons by the Rangitata Diversion Race, part of an irrigation scheme.

The river separates Ashburton from its southern suburb, Tinwald. Both river and town are named for Bingham Baring, 2nd Baron Ashburton, who was a leading member of the Canterbury Association.

The Ashburton River North Branch / Hakatere flows from the slopes of Godley Peak (2,087 metres (6,847 ft)) in the Palmer Range. The uppermost reach of the river is known as Petticoat lane. The river flows south then southwest through narrow scree-sided valleys with almost no areas of river flats. The Black Hills Range and Pudding Hill Range lie to the northeast and the Alford Range to the southwest. The river emerges from the hills adjacent to Pudding Hill airfield.