Discover the unique catchments that define Ōtautahi-Christchurch’s natural character and connect its communities.
Ōtākaro-Avon Catchment
The Ōtākaro-Avon River is an iconic feature of Christchurch’s urban landscape, flowing from the city’s northwest, through the city centre, and out to the Ihutai estuary.
Its spring-fed headwaters support a variety of ecological communities, and the waterway contributes to managing the city’s stormwater.
A key feature of this catchment is the Ōtākaro-Avon River Corridor, a large area of residential red-zoned land that is being transformed into green space for ecological restoration and recreation.
Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū-Banks Peninsula Catchment
Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū-Banks Peninsula is home to a diverse network of small catchments that drain into harbours, bays and coastal wetlands, including Whakaraupō-Lyttelton Harbour and Akaroa Harbour.
These waterways are shaped by steep hill country, volcanic soils, native bush remnants, and rural land use, creating unique ecological conditions.
Many streams are short, fast-flowing and ephemeral, and support native fish and invertebrates.
Ihutai-Estuary and Coastal Catchment
The Ihutai-Estuary is where the Ōtākaro-Avon and Ōpāwaho-Heathcote Rivers meet the sea, forming a dynamic coastal ecosystem in eastern Christchurch.
Other notable tributaries include Charlesworth Drain and Linwood Canal.
The shallow estuary supports a variety of aquatic plants and shellfish and is rich in birdlife, including species like Godwits that migrate to the Ihutai-Estuary each September from Alaska.
The waterbody holds significant mahinga kai values.
Huritini-Halswell Catchment
The Huritini-Halswell catchment, located in the city’s southwest, includes both urban and rural landscapes, flowing from the base of the Port Hills through farmland before reaching Te Waihora-Lake Ellesmere.
The river system is influenced by spring-fed tributaries and stormwater inputs.
Urban development has put pressure on water quality and habitat, but ongoing restoration efforts around planting, sediment control and wetland creation are helping to improve ecological health.
Ōpāwaho-Heathcote Catchment
The Ōpāwaho-Heathcote River flows through the southern suburbs of Christchurch, winding along the base of the Port Hills to the Ihutai-Estuary.
The river is spring-fed and plays a vital role in stormwater management in the city.
The catchment includes both residential and industrial areas, and the river is prone to flooding during large rain events, often with visual issues due to turbid hill runoff. Recently, the river has been the focus of significant restoration efforts.
Ōtukaikino Catchment
The Ōtukaikino River is a tributary of the Waimakariri River. It is the city’s smallest catchment and historically had the best water quality.
The river is fed by springs sourced from groundwater flowing from the Waimakariri River.
The catchment is largely rural and includes the popular Groynes recreation area as well as small pockets of urban and industrial areas.
Pūharakekenui-Styx Catchment
The Pūharakekenui-Styx River, to the north of the city, begins as a spring in Harewood and includes significant tributaries such as Kā Pūtahi and Smacks Creeks.
The catchment has undergone significant land-use changes from largely rural to largely urban, with a large industrial area.
It is a distinctive waterway system known for its ecological, cultural and recreational values.
Monitoring water quality
Christchurch City Council regularly monitors water quality across all seven catchments in Ōtautahi, testing for contaminants to track long-term trends. Check recent results and historic data on the Wai map – a waterways assessment index for Christchurch and Banks Peninsula.
