Waterways

Waterways

Halswell is an interesting place for water. Both the Heathcote and the Halswell Rivers drain from this area, with one draining out to the Avon/ Heathcote Estuary/ Ihutai (North of Banks Peninsula) whilst the other drains into Lake Ellesmere/Te Waihora (South of Banks Peninsula).

A series of springs near Aidanfield feed into the Heathcote/Ōpāwaho River which runs out through Hoon Hay and Spreydon, Cashmere and on to the Avon-Heathcote Estuary (Ihutai). The area of new storage ponds off Halswell Road opposite Aidanfield also drains into the Heathcote eventually (via Cashmere Stream), as do many of the small drains around the place between Aidanfield and across to Sparks Rd.

Nottingham Stream (Te Tauawa a Maka) starts in Westlake and runs through parts of Oaklands, down between Halswell and Halswell Junction Roads before heading south, parallel with Halswell Rd past the School. Somewhere in farmland around the end of Sabys Rd, Nottingham Stream meets Knights Stream and becomes the Halswell River or the Hurutini (translated as meaning many turns). This then runs out past Tai Tapu and on to Lake Ellesmere/Te Waihora.

Both rivers drain into very important wetland areas that are important for a wide range of bird and fish species. The Halswell River is also listed as a waterway of national significance.