About Riverable New Zealand
Riverable New Zealand was created to empower paddlers, whitewater kayakers, rafters, packrafters, wild trout anglers, and river swimmers across the North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) and South Island (Te Waipounamu). We provide the essential outdoor answer: "Is the river safe to paddle, fish, or swim today, or is it in flood?"
Our Open Hydrology Data Stack
We ingest and synthesize observational data from authoritative open scientific and governmental bodies:
- 16 Regional & Unitary Councils: Telemetry systems operated by Environment Canterbury (ECan), Greater Wellington (GWRC), Waikato Regional Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Otago Regional Council, and others.
- LAWA & NIWA Benchmark Hydrology: Land Air Water Aotearoa (LAWA) and National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) open environmental monitoring data.
- Open-Meteo Global Flood & Weather API: Continuous discharge rate modeling (cumecs, m³/s), 7-day flow forecast curves, and high-resolution atmospheric models.
- LINZ Topographic & OpenStreetMap Data: Public boat ramps, kayak put-ins, take-outs, and riverside reserve access points.
- RainViewer Doppler Radar: Real-time high-resolution radar precipitation overlays for tracking incoming Southern Alps weather fronts.
Provisional Telemetry & Alpine River Safety
Real-time telemetry published by regional monitoring networks is provisional and subject to continuous quality control. New Zealand rivers feature steep alpine catchments where water levels can rise several metres in a matter of hours during heavy rainfall or warm snowmelt freshets.
Always check official council flood warnings, scout difficult gorge rapids, inspect for river strainers (willow trees and fallen beech trunks), dress for cold alpine water temperatures, and carry appropriate safety gear (certified lifejackets/PFDs, throw bags, and emergency locator beacons).
Riverable New Zealand is an independent open hydrology project built for the outdoor recreation community. For questions, station corrections, or API partnership inquiries, reach us at: