New River EstuaryThe common shallow estuary of the Oreti River and the smaller stream, the Waihopai River, on the south coast of the Southalnd District, lying between Otatara on the west side and Invercargill to the east. The entrance to the estuary is at the south end of Oreti Beach. A port for the Invercargill settlement was established here in the 1850s by pioneer settler John Kelly, and flourished until about 1864 when it was eclipsed by Bluff. Some coasters continued to use the wharf foe a time but the port was finally closed in 1962. Takes its name from the former European name of the Oreti River, the New River.
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“OSCAR 1861. * (picture)
