Rivers of New Zealand Rivers of New Zealand The rivers of New Zealand are used for a variety of purposes and face a number of environmental issues. Many of the rivers in the South Island are braided rivers. The longest river in New Zealand is the Waikato River with a length of . The largest river by volume is the Clutha River with a mean discharge of . Some of the rivers, especially those with wide flood plains and stop banks, have long road bridges spanning them. The Rakaia River is crossed by the longest bridge in New Zealand at . The third longest
Haast River owned and administered by the Department of Conservation. It is set within the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site. State Highway 6 follows virtually the complete length of the river, with a bridge near the coast, just after the turnoff to the Haast township. At it is the longest one-lane road bridge in New Zealand, and the 7th longest New Zealand bridge overall. The river is named after Julius von Haast. Haast River The Haast River has its terminus on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. The Haast River drains the western watershed of the Haast Pass.