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Definition of wairau
wairau
/ˈwaɪ.raʊ/
wairau Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
New Zealand A major river in the Marlborough region of the South Island of New Zealand, flowing from the Spenser Mountains into the Cook Strait at Cloudy Bay.
Example
"The gravelly soils deposited by the Wairau River are highly sought after by viticulturists."
2
New Zealand A prominent geographic valley in the Marlborough region of New Zealand, globally renowned for its extensive vineyards and production of Sauvignon Blanc.
Example
"We spent the afternoon touring the esteemed wine estates scattered across the Wairau Valley."
Word Origin & Etymology
From the Māori proper noun 'Wairau', literally meaning 'many waters', derived from 'wai' (water) and 'rau' (many or hundred).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Wairau. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/wairau