Today, the 25th of September 2022 is World Rivers Day. Celebrated around the world on the 4th Sunday of September.

This is the Mataura River mouth at Fortrose - Toetoe, Southland - Murihiku. The Mataura River flows south from the northern boundary of Southland - from Piano Flat & the Old Man Range to the east, and Nokomai & the Erye Mountains to the west. It flows South through the townships of Gore and Mataura, before flowing into Foveaux Strait - Te Ara-a-Kiwa (the pathway of Kiwa - the whale who cut the ropes between the upturned waka of Te Waipounamu to the sinking anchor of Raikiura / Stewart Island) at Toetoes Estuary in

Toetoes Bay.

 

The Mata Ura was a significant kāinga mahinga kai (food-gathering place) for local Kāi Tahu, and was tribally renowned for its abundance of kanakana (lamprey, Geotria australis). Commonly known in the North Island as piharau, kanakana is a primitive species of fish. Instead of gills, kanakana have six holes down each side of the head and a sucker-type mouth. Kanakana are normally caught when climbing natural waterfalls, such as Te Au-nui-pihapiha-kanakana (Mataura Falls) which was a renowned spot for gathering kanakana. The Mataura was an important ara tawhito (traditional travel route) that provides direct access from Murihiku to Whakatipu Waimāori (Lake Wakatipu). [Kā Huru Manu - the Ngāi Tahu Atlas] 

Photo description: [Mataura River Mouth - Fortrose; image taken by palmanfr Jan 2012].