Patea River

Patea Patea River and the valley of the

Underflow and Patea

The Patea River is a river in Stratford district in the Taranaki region on the North Island of New Zealand. It rises at East Egmont on the eastern slopes of Mount Taranaki to the west of the country cottage Stratford Mountain House.

It flows in an easterly direction Stratford, then turns south, passes north-east of Patea and opens soon in the South Taranaki Bight to the Tasman Sea.

The river was both for Māori, and the early European settlers as the gateway to South Taranaki. The river is the only navigable river with boats in South Taranaki, and is now also used for canoeing.

During the existence of the provinces of New Zealand during the colonial period was the Patea River from 1841 to 1853, the border between the provinces of New Ulster and New Munster.

The Lake Rotorangi on the middle reaches of the river is 46 km, the longest dam in New Zealand, he was dammed by the construction of 1979-1984 through the establishing of the Egmont Electric Power Board to generate electricity Patea Dam.

On the east bank of the river on the southern outskirts of Patea in 1910 to 2010 were the Patea Freezing Works, a large meat-processing operation.

The SH3 crossed the river in Patea. The railway line Marton- New Plymouth line follows the lower course of the river on the west bank and crossed it at Patea, then it follows the east bank, it passes the former site of the Patea Freezing Works and turns to the east.

The river is fished on rainbow trout that can reach the upper reaches trophy size.

In the region of the headwaters at the confluence with the Ngaere Stream natural gas is recovered.