Balclutha, New Zealand established a ferry service across the Clutha in 1857; as a result the town was initially called Clutha Ferry. The Māori name for the area is Iwikatea, literally "Bleached bones" (a local Māori tribal battle in 1750 left the decomposing bodies of the defeated, their bones whitened in the sun). The Clutha River flows through the town. It is the largest river in New Zealand by volume of water, and the country's second longest after the Waikato. It provides the town with various recreational facilities, including fishing (brown trout), water skiing and power boating. The most prominent structure in the
Missinaibi River from Missinaibi Lake to the Moose River is protected and part of the Missinaibi Provincial Park. The park also includes Missinaibi Lake, Brunswick River, Brunswick Lake, Little Missinaibi River, and Little Missinaibi Lake. Established in 1970 the park is huge and encompasses in total over 991 square kilometres (383 square miles) of wilderness. While rarely visited by travellers it is well known amongst canoeing enthusiasts and is one of their "must visit" destinations. Two main routes are available to paddlers: 1. Missinaibi River Route - stretching for 238 kilometres (144 miles) from the towns of Missinabie to Mattice 2. Mattice