The Oroua River is a tributary of the Manawatu River, it flows generally southwestward from its source in the Ruahine Range. In its upper reaches, near the small town of Āpiti, the river passes through a deep gorge before emerging onto plains south of Kimbolton.
Near Feilding, the Oroua River is fed by the Makino and Kiwitea streams, which are both significant tributaries. The river passes along the eastern edge of Feilding, through Timona Park, where it is a popular local swimming spot.[3] Beyond Feilding, the river feeds into the Manawatu River just to the west of Opiki (between Palmerston North and Shannon).
Oroua River is in the bottom 25% of New Zealand's most polluted waterways. Some significant causes include run-off from local agriculture and issues relating to the Feilding Wastewater Treatment Plant.[4] A 2011 report concluded that the quality fell from fair to poor at the AFFCO meat works effluent discharge point, but a 2015 resource consent application claimed an 87% improvement in that effluent quality.[5]
In spite of this, Oroua was awarded the New Zealand River award from Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA) for significant improvements in dissolved reactive phosphorus, nitrogen, e. coli, and turbidity.[6]
Near the top of the Oroua River is one of the most significant whio populations. It is the southernmost wild population of the bird in the north island.[7]
The river, and surrounding areas, have been the site of many floods over the years. Major flooding has been recorded in the area in 1880, 1897, 1902, and 1953.[8]
In February 2004, significant rainfall in the surrounding streams caused a once-in-a-hundred-years flood.[9][10] The flooding forced over 500 people from their homes and over $100 million in damage.[11]
The plains near Opiki have also faced flooding where the river meets the Manawatu River.[12]
^McLintock, Alexander Hare; Thomas Ludovic Grant-Taylor, M. SC. "MANAWATU RIVER". An encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, 1966. New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
^Wilson, Zaryd (13 February 2014). "Memories Flood Back". Manawatu Standard. Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
