Mātakitaki / Lower Mātakitaki (Earthquake), III+-IV-

Here;s another quality short run made possible by the 1929 earthquake that sent a huge slip into the river and dammed it. Technical maneuvering through boulder gardens at the start of the run creates a slightly different run than many others in the region. A lot of wood shifts around so always be wary if it’s your first trip in a while. There are often a couple of good play holes right near the put-in visible from the road, and people have been known to park-n-play right there.

When faced with the numerous channel options at the beginning most go for the far right. The tight, technical moves make this a great learning ground for those just mastering the problems of cross current travel in tight spaces.

There is a range of play options down this middle stretch and some good channel convergences to get stern squirts or ends. A little further all the channels join up for the final run down the main rapid – an exciting rollercoaster ride finishing in large standing waves. It’s quicker to get out on river left one hundred metres below the wave chain and walk up the farm track - leave gates as you find them. If you carry on to Murchison it is an easy float with some class I and II riffles.

If you like your action dished up big wait for one of the legendary Buller floods to hit the area. Get yourself to the put-in and run this section a couple of times. I once did five runs in a row when there was about 200 cumecs thundering down. It took twelve minutes to the bridge in Murchison!

To get to the take out: after about four kilometres there is a gate on the left side. Park well off the road. To get to the put in: continue up this road for about one kilometre to where the road returns to the river next to a gate and old flow gauge. Park well of the road and put in at the bottom of the steps to the river.

This section appears in New Zealand Whitewater, 4th edition, 2006 on p145.