New Zealand, according to the gazetteer maintained by Land Information New Zealand has "249 named waterfalls and 31 named rapids". There are perhaps seven named "Bridal Veil", and 17 whose names include "Rere" meaning "to leap or descend". In the North Island only 18 of 130 have non-Māori names (including 5 clustered around Mount Taranaki), but in the South Island only 15 of the 150 named waterfalls (or rapids) have retained their Māori name.Kirkpatrick, p. 114.
There are disagreements on what constitutes a waterfall. For example, the Browne Falls is claimed by some to be a waterfall with a drop of 800 metres. Other sources describe it as a steep stream with numerous small cataracts.Kirkpatrick, pp. 128 and 130. __NOTOC__ List of waterfalls
This is a list of notable waterfalls in New Zealand. Many of the highest waterfalls are in Fiordland. Name Height Location Ananui Falls South Auckland Āniwaniwa Falls Hawke's Bay Region Bowen Falls Fiordland National Park, Southland Region Bridal Veil Falls Waikato Region Browne Falls Fiordland National Park, Southland Region Chamberlain Falls Fiordland National Park, Southland Region Fairy Falls Auckland Region Fantail Falls Mount Aspiring National Park, West Coast Region Grainger Falls Fiordland National Park, Southland Region Haruru Falls Northland Region Helena Falls Fiordland National Park, Southland Region Huka Falls Waikato River, Waikato Region Humboldt Falls Fiordland National Park, Southland Region Hunua Falls Auckland Region Karekare Falls Auckland Region Kitekite Falls Auckland Region Lady Alice Falls - Fiordland National Park, Southland Region Lake Unknown Falls Fiordland National Park, Southland Region Madonna Falls Waikato Region Maraetotara Falls Hawke's Bay Region Marokopa Falls Waikato Region Maruia Falls West Coast Region Mauku Falls Auckland Region McLean Falls The Catlins, Otago Region Mōkau Falls Te Urewera National Park, Hawke's Bay Region Mount Damper Falls Taranaki Region Okere Falls Bay of Plenty Region Omaru Falls Waikato Region Owharoa Falls Waikato Region Palisade Falls Fiordland, Southland Region Purakaunui Falls The Catlins, Otago Region Rainbow Falls (Waianiwaniwa) Northland Region Roaring Billy Falls Mount Aspiring National Park, West Coast Region School Creek Falls (Ross Creek Falls) Dunedin, Otago Region Stirling Falls Fiordland National Park, Southland Region Sutherland Falls Fiordland National Park, Southland Region Tarawera Falls Bay of Plenty Region Te Rere I Oturu Falls Kaimai Ranges, Bay of Plenty Region Te Rere o Kapuni Taranaki Region Terror Falls Fiordland National Park, Southland Region Thunder Creek Falls Mount Aspiring National Park, West Coast Region Wainui Falls Wainui Bay, Tasman Region Wairere Falls Kaimai Ranges, Waikato Region Waitakere Falls Auckland Region Whangārei Falls Northland Region
Fiordland
Many of the highest New Zealand waterfalls are in Fiordland National Park in the Southland region of the South Island, and are geographically on the west coast; an area with very high rainfall. Several of the waterfalls empty into fiords off the Tasman Sea: falls into Doubtful Sound - Chamberlain Falls, Helena Falls, Lady Alice Falls. falls into Milford Sound - Bowen Falls, Stirling Falls.
See also Water in New Zealand List of waterfalls
References Notes
Bibliography
Further reading
External links Waterfalls in New Zealand at Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand New Zealand Waterfalls Web Site