Wairua Falls Road, Titoki, Whangarei
Half a million years ago, hot lava flowed here, now cold water does, in spectacular style. But industry has interrupted the display of beauty which was once called the 'Niagra Falls of New Zealand.'
The long-extinct Whangarei Volcanic field's biggest volcano was the Whatitiri Shield, it's basalt lava flows damming the Wairua river above, creating the Hikurangi swamp.
Wairua Falls are only at full throttle after significant rain, because some of the flowing water was diverted in 1915 by the owners of nearby Portland Cement, to provide hydroelectric power. Before that, the power of the water was used to float logs downstream during the Kauri logging days. It is said that the bigger logs would sometimes back up at the top of the falls and then when it rained, all fall at once.
Because the swamp and the falls are dangerous, they are fenced off, but the views from the end of Wairua Falls Road are just fine. The occasional mad kayaker takes on the drop, and one swimmer has been drowned here. The name 'Wairua' means spirit, or spirits, possiblyl given that name because it was the scene of many conflicts during the days of inter-tribal wars. Tangata whenua (local Maori) do not promote the area for swimming.
Image Credit: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection, Wairua Falls, Radcliffe, Frederick George. and A glimpse of Wairua Falls showing visitors on logs hanging over the brink, Auckland Weekly News 1904.
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