Te Waikoropupū Springs

Te Waikoropupū Springs (known as Pupū Springs), discharge 14,000 litres of water per second.

The qualities of the water from Te Waikoropupū Springs are of considerable scientific interest. In 1993, The National Institute for Water and Atmosphere (NIWA) carried out optical measurements under water and found that the visibility was 63 metres.

This is very close to optically pure water, with clearer water found only beneath Antarctica’s near-frozen Weddell Sea. The water clarity is a result of natural filtering prior to the water’s emergence at Te Waikoropupū Springs.

To local Māori, Te Waikoropupū Springs are a taonga (treasure) and wāhi tapu, a place held in high cultural and spiritual regard.

The waters of Te Waikoropupū Springs, including Fish Creek and Springs River, are closed to all forms of contact (including fishing, swimming, diving, wading, boating and drinking the water) to safeguard water quality and to respect cultural values.

Māori probably first visited this area over 700 years ago as part of a gradual expansion from Nelson through Tasman Bay/Te Tai-o-Aorere and Golden Bay/Mohua to the West Coast.

Te Waikoropupū Springs and Te Waikoropupū Springs Scenic Reserve are located in the Takaka Valley about six kilometres west of Takaka Township.