Journey · The Longest Journey

Journey Waikato River

Ruapehu

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Kilometre

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Ruapehu

Nitrogen

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Phosphorus

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Clarity

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Nitrogen Phosphorus Clarity

Reach by reach

Upper Waikato nitrogen ×7.5 · phosphorus ×6.8 clarity 7.5 → 1.95 m
Cambridge and Hamilton nitrogen ×1.0 · phosphorus ×1.4 clarity 1.95 → 1.41 m
Lower Waikato nitrogen ×1.4 · phosphorus ×1.5 clarity 1.41 → 0.65 m

Upper Waikato · Taupō to Karāpiro

Down to Ngāruawāhia, algae fed by the nutrients take about half the lost clarity; below it, silt about twice as much. WRC TR 2015/13. 61% of the river’s nitrogen comes from land use, mainly pastoral farming; 6% from towns and industry. WRC, via RNZ.

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