Despite being only 12 km (7.5 mi) long, its Māori name to English translates to 'long river'.[2] It is a name used by 33 other locations, including two in Northland (Awaroa River, the same length, and the other, rather longer, flowing into the Wairoa River), 9 of them in Waikato Region (two other Waikato tributaries not far south of this river,[3] which the Regional Council distinguishes from the others with the appendage 'Waiuku',[4] one flowing into Lake Whangape, the other into Lake Waahi, another stream flowing into the Piako River, Awaroa River flowing into Kawhia Harbour,[5] two Awaroa Streams in Coromandel, one flowing into Kennedy Bay,[3] the other a tributary of the Opitonui River)[6] and a river north of Kaiteriteri.[3]
The river is the Waikato's 11th most polluted out of 26.[7]
In the 1850s the Awaroa was an important link in the trade between Waikato and Auckland. It was navigated by waka and produce and/or canoes portaged to Manukau Harbour, along Te Pai o Kaiwaka portage, near Waiuku.[8] A canal or tramway was considered as early as 1850 for bringing coal from Huntly[9] and again in 1855.[10] A 1921 report also considered a canal or railway, but also rejected them as too expensive for the likely traffic.[11]
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