The Morda Brook

Last November we explored the upper Wakamarina river in Marlborough, paddling from Doom Creek to Butchers Flat. I related the low water level, the beauty, the complacency, the upside down experience. Unfortunately, this particular batch of complacency has had a much longer lasting effect than a little wounded pride. I knew something wasn't right in my shoulder but I thought like most things it would recover in a few days time. A few weeks later I paddled on the Waiohine river in the Wairarapa - I had full range of motion but my shoulder felt weak, sore and clunky. At first I instituted a self-developed rehab plan. This plan involved some randomly chosen band and free-weight exercises. I worked reasonably hard and went to the Tongariro a month later to test. No dice. Finally, in March I booked an appointment with a physio. An x-ray and an ultrasound later the verdict was a large tear in the subscapularis caused by a blunt force impact. With the right exercises and dedicatio...

Nothing, absolutely nothing. The whitebaiter sat on a drainpipe, the dull grey concrete in contrast with the surrounding spring green grass. He must have been an optimistic chap as the drainpipe in question was located about 3.5km up the Waiwhetū Stream. The Waiwhetū winds through the Eastern suburbs of Lower Hutt - Naenae, Epuni, Waterloo, Waiwhetū, Gracefield. It empties into the Hutt River just before Te Awa Kairangi greets Te Whanganui A Tara. While the catchment is small, the tidal nature of the lower stream allows almost 4km of paddleable waterway. The key factor to a successful trip is ensuring the paddling coincides with high tide. The Waiwhetū experience begins on the wide tidal reaches of the Hutt, where wind often drives fledgling waves up or down the river. Slipping under an unlikely looking low bridge on the true left gives access to the Waiwhetū itself. Here the Waiwhetū is penned with uniform concrete walls topped by steel fences. The stream is soon released...