OceanaGold | Waihi North Project | Recreation and tourism assessment 38 The national angler surveys (NAS) carried out for the New Zealand Fish & Game Council by NIWA (Unwin 2016, 2009, 2003 and 1996) indicate the levels of angling activity on the Ohinemuri River compared with other significant angling waters in the Auckland/Waikato Fish & Game region (Figure 23)23. The NAS represent a significant research programme with a good level of reliability, indicating levels of fishing activity per waterbody in angler days. A ‘day’ could be a ten-minute or full-day fishing experience. The Ohinemuri River compares well with other waterways in the Fish & Game region and was the sixth most popular river fishery in the region in the 2014/15 season, after the Whanganui, Waikato, Whakapapa, Waipa and Waihou Rivers. 5.1.2 Kayaking and boating Charles (2013) references kayaking on the Ohinemuri River at the Karangahake Gorge: Proximity to Auckland is one of the best (or worst) features about K' Gorge. Whatever the case this stretch of water has won the hearts of many, and despite its short length and limited whitewater, it remains immensely popular. The Ohinemuri runs through the spectacular Karangahake Gorge beside SH2 between Waihi and Paeroa. The Gorge has been popular for decades with adventure seekers from the city as they have a river to paddle and some spectacular rock climbing on the cliffs above. With its huge boulders mid river, K' Gorge is unlike many waterways in the north, providing not only interesting whitewater, but also a playground for practising eddy turns and other stuff. This run is worth a visit if you're passing and there's been plenty of rain in the last 48 hours. From the Owharoa put in, the first few kilometres are easy Class 1-11 water. The action begins just above the township of Karangahake with a drop into Class IV-IV+ (only in flood) bouldery rapids. This is the start of a kilometre of fun whitewater down to the take out. 23 There were no NAS data for the Whanganui River for the 1994/95 season. Figure 23: Angler days on four Auckland/Waikato Fish & Game Region rivers. NAS data
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