Whanganui Inlet, commonly known by its former name Westhaven Inlet or West Haven, is a large natural indentation in the northwest coast of the South Island of New Zealand.
The inlet is a drowned river valley running parallel to the west coast. It is some 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) in length and on average is about 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) wide. A narrow channel halfway along the valley connects the inlet to the Tasman Sea.[1] This channel is located 19 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of Farewell Spit.[2]
It is still in a largely unspoilt natural state, with seagrass and salt marsh providing an environment friendly to sea life. It is a popular site for fishing and boating, and much of the inlet is protected by a wildlife management area and by the Westhaven Marine Reserve.[3] 42 species of water bird have been seen in the Inlet, including South Island oyster catcher, bar-tailed godwit, knot, banded dotterel and banded rail.[4]
In 1846 it was reported that ships of up to 80 tons could cross the bar and that one had taken a cargo of coal away from outcrops on islands at the south end of the harbour.[5] Logging continued until at least 1952,[6] there was a flax mill[7] and gold was mined. In 1908 the town of Rakopi was established opposite the entrance, with a telegraph office, sawmill, wharf, school and houses. Declining resources, an economic downturn and the dangerous passage for ships through the entrance caused its decline.[4] The Benara Timber Co and Westhaven Coal Co were still operating at the south end of the Inlet in 1941.[8]
^Freeman, Leonie. "Westhaven (Whanganui Inlet) marine and wildlife reserve". AA New Zealand. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
^Walrond, Carl (22 April 2015). "Whanganui Inlet". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
^"Whanganui Inlet". Tasman District Council. Archived from the original on 14 September 2018.
^ ab"Ecological investigation of Whanganui Inlet" (PDF). DoC. 1989.
^"NOTES of an EXPEDITION to Kawatiri and Araura, on the WESTERN COAST of the MIDDLE ISLAND, performed by Messrs. Heaphy and Brunner. NELSON EXAMINER AND NEW ZEALAND CHRONICLE". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 5 September 1846. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
^"ACCIDENTS. PRESS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 11 October 1952. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
^"Scrimegeour's Flax Mill, Whanganui Inlet". Nelson Provincial Museum. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
^"ROYALTY ON TIMBER AND COAL. NELSON EVENING MAIL". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 12 August 1941. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
WhanganuiInlet, commonly known by its former name Westhaven Inlet or West Haven, is a large natural indentation in the northwest coast of the South Island...
District in the South Island of New Zealand. Situated south of the WhanganuiInlet and adjacent to the former settlement of Mangarakau, it is the largest...
Ngāi Tahu from the south, losing a decisive battle to the latter near WhanganuiInlet.: 31 Mana whenua status in the area was contested for much of the...
native to the North Island from south of 35°S and from Cape Farewell to WhanganuiInlet area and locally at the north end of the South Island, near Nelson...
M. umbellata ‘Firecracker’ 1995 Deep red Jeff Elliott Sourced from WhanganuiInlet, North-West Nelson. M. umbellata ‘Gold Beacon’ - Sulphur Yellow Les...
Restoration project has been launched with the aim of eradicating pests from WhanganuiInlet on the West Coast, all the way to Farewell Spit, covering an area of...
the Taranaki Region. The following lakes are located in the Manawatū-Whanganui region. The following lakes are located in the Wellington Region. The...
Wellington and Te Paki and in the South Island from Farewell Spit to West WhanganuiInlet. Rawiritoa is most easily propagated from fresh seed and is fast-growing...
College Estate Whanganui East-Williams Domain Gonville West Gonville North Cornmarket Whanganui East-Riverlands Kaitoke-Fordell Whanganui Central Gonville...
the basement rocks to the west of the Anatoki Fault (roughly from WhanganuiInlet to Springs Junction), and throughout the West Coast, west of the Alpine...
Te Whanganui / Port Underwood is a sheltered harbour which forms the north-east extension of Te Koko-o-Kupe / Cloudy Bay at the northeast of New Zealand's...
The 22-ton ketch became wrecked after stranding at the entrance of WhanganuiInlet. Valparaiso United Kingdom The steamship was driven ashore and wrecked...
cutter broke up on a sandspit at the mouth of West Wanganui Inlet (possibly WhanganuiInlet on the South Island's West Coast). Sir R. Abercrombie United...
reported seeing a floating derelict brig drifting near the mouth of the WhanganuiInlet, which was thought to be the Magnet. Maria Eugenia Chile The schooner...
Students for Environmental Action Surfbreak Protection Society Sustainable Whanganui Trust Te Aroha Earthwatch Thames Coast Preservation and Protection Society...
Wera; died 1875), tohunga of Ngapuhi Ngāti Te Wera, a hapū of Whanganui Māori Paterson Inlet / Whaka a Te Wera, Stewart Island/Rakiura, New Zealand Wera...
New Zealand The 25-ton ketch caught fire and was destroyed in the WhanganuiInlet in New Zealand's South Island. Orion United Kingdom The schooner was...
northwards to Whanganui. The reinforcements were reported to have been summoned by Te Rauparaha in a letter that had been sighted by a Whanganui settler. Grey...
are both on State Highway 38. There is a motor camp at Home Bay (Whanganui o parua Inlet), near the Āniwaniwa Visitor Centre. All the huts/campsites are...
at Auckland Point by Pohea, who travelled there around 1450 from the Whanganui area. From the mid-1500s Muaūpoko (formerly known as Ngāi Tara) occupied...
Stream and an overland route at Tahuna. A portage also existed between the Whanganui River and the Waikato River, via Lake Rotoaira, Tongariro River and Lake...
Auckland to the north, Bay of Plenty to the east, and Taranaki, Manawatū-Whanganui and Hawke's Bay to the south. The Thames-Coromandel District is located...
Cercle Athlétique de Paris-Charenton India Atlético de Kolkata New Zealand Whanganui Athletic Northern Ireland Cliftonville Football & Athletic Club, Clough...