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Definition of waiau

waiau

/ˈwaɪ.aʊ/
wai · au
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waiau Lexical Profile

• noun

1

New Zealand A major river in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island, serving as the region's largest river and a crucial source for hydroelectric power.

2

New Zealand A rural township situated in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island, located on the northern bank of the Canterbury Waiau River.

Word Nuance & Usage

Waiau is a common geographical name in New Zealand, which can cause confusion as it refers to at least three distinct major rivers across the North and South Islands, as well as a township.

• Nearby Words

wahkeena
wahlenbergia
wahoo
waiau
waif
waifish
waihilau

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Waiau. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/waiau
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