# List of rivers of New Zealand by length

This is a list of the longest rivers in New Zealand, and some other prominent rivers, ordered by length.
South Island rivers are marked "SI", and North Island rivers "NI".

## The 20 longest rivers

| Rank | Name | Island | Length (km) | Length (mi) |
| 1 | Waikato | North | 425 | 264 |
| 2 | Clutha / Mata-Au | South | 322 | 200 |
| 3 | Whanganui | North | 290 | 180 |
| 4 | Taieri | South | 288 | 179 |
| 5 | Rangitīkei | North | 241 | 150 |
| 6 | Mataura | South | 240 | 149 |
| 7 | Waiau (Southland) | South | 217 | 135 |
| 8= | Waiau Toa / Clarence | South | 209 | 130 |
| 8= | Waitaki | South | 209 | 130 |
| 10 | Ōreti | South | 203 | 126 |
| 11 | Rangitaiki | North | 193 | 120 |
| 12 | Manawatū | North | 182 | 113 |
| 13 | Buller / Kawatiri | South | 177 | 110 |
| 14 | Waihou | North | 175 | 109 |
| 15 | Mohaka | North | 172 | 107 |
| 16= | Waiau Uwha | South | 169 | 105 |
| 16= | Wairau | South | 169 | 105 |
| 18= | Whangaehu | North | 161 | 100 |
| 18= | Waimakariri | South | 161 | 100 |
| 20 | Mōkau | North | 158 | 98 |

## Other prominent rivers
### Over 100 kilometres

* Ngaruroro River (NI) - 154 km (96 mi)
* Mōtū River (NI) - 147 km (91 mi)
* Rakaia River (SI) - 145 km (90 mi)
* Pātea River (NI) - 143 km (89 mi)
* Hurunui River (SI) - 138 km (86 mi)
* Turakina River (NI) - 137 km (85 mi)
* Wairoa River (Bay of Plenty) (NI) - 137 km (85 mi)
* Wairoa River (Northland) (NI) - 132 km (82 mi)
* Awatere River (SI) - 126 km (78 mi)
* Ruamahanga River (NI) - 124 km (77 mi)
* Grey River or Mawhera River (SI) - 121 km (75 mi)
* Rangitata River (SI) - 120 km (74 mi)
* Tukituki River (NI) - 119 km (74 mi)
* Motueka River (SI) - 116 km (72 mi)
* Waitaki River (SI) - 111 km (69 mi)
* Aparima River (SI) - 102 km (63 mi)

### 50 to 100 kilometres

* Tutaekuri River (NI) - 100 km (62 mi)
* Whakatāne River (NI) - 95 km (59 mi)
* Pomahaka River (SI) - 81 km (50 mi)
* Waipaoa River (NI) 80 km (50 mi)
* Selwyn River (SI) 80 km (50 mi)
* Taramakau River (SI) 75 km (46 mi)
* Ōpihi River (SI) - 75 km (46 mi)
* Orari River (SI) - 74 km (46 mi)
* Karamea River (SI) - 73 km (45 mi)
* Ongarue River (NI) - 73 km (45 mi)
* Ahuriri River (SI) - 70 km (43 mi)
* Inangahua River (SI) - 65 km (40 mi)
* Moawhango River (NI) - 62 km (38 mi)
* Waitoa River (NI) - 62 km (38 mi)
* Shotover River (SI) - 60 km (37 mi)
* Hutt River (NI) - 56 km (35 mi)
* Ruakituri River (NI) - 55 km (34 mi)
* Manganui River (Northland) (NI) - 53 km (33 mi)
* Whenuakura River (NI) -53 km (33 mi)
* Eglinton River (SI) - 51 km (32 mi)
* Kaituna River (NI) - 50 km (31 mi) (approx)
* Tokomairaro River (SI) - 50 km (31 mi) (approx)

### Under 50 kilometres

* Waingawa River, (Wairarapa), a tributary of the Ruamahanga River - 48 km (13 mi)
* Tauherenikau River, (Wairarapa), draining into Lake Wairarapa - 41 km (13 mi)
* Waiohine River, (Wairarapa), a tributary of the Ruamahanga River - 35 km (13 mi)
* Freshwater River (Stewart Island) - 25 km (15 mi) (longest New Zealand river not in the North or South Island)
* Waiwawa River - 21 km (13 mi) (longest river on the Coromandel Peninsula)
* Waimata River (NI) - 20 km (16 mi)
* Makara River (Chatham Island) - 16 km (10 mi) (longest New Zealand river not in New Zealand's main island chain)
* Avon River / Ōtākaro (SI) - 15 km (9.5 mi)
* Water of Leith (SI) - 14 km (9 mi)

## Shortest rivers

* Awaroa River (Far North) (Northland) – 12 km (7.5 mi)
* Awaroa River (Waikato River tributary) – 12 km (7.5 mi)
* Tawatahi River (Waikato) – 2 km (1.2 mi)
* Tūranganui River (Gisborne) – 0.9 km (0.56 mi)