Halswell River

{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox river

| name = Halswell River

| native_name ={{native name|mi|Huritini}}

| image = Halswell River 2.jpg

| image_size =

| image_caption = Halswell River flowing through Tai Tapu

| source1_location = Port Hills

| mouth_location = Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora

| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = New Zealand

| length =

| source1_elevation =

| mouth_elevation =

| discharge1_avg =

| basin_size =

| pushpin_map = New Zealand

| pushpin_map_caption= Location of the mouth within New Zealand

}}

The Halswell River (Māori: {{lang|mi|Huritini}}) is a river in the Canterbury region of New Zealand.

The Halswell River has a catchment area of {{convert|190|sqkm}}, 85% of which fall into Selwyn District with the balance in Christchurch City. The catchment within Christchurch City, mostly covered by the suburb of Halswell, is urban, and most of the Selwyn District catchment is rural.{{cite web |title=Huritini / Halswell River Catchment |url= https://ccc.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Environment/Water/Halswell-River-Catchment-Vision-Values.pdf |publisher=Christchurch City Council and Opus International Consultants |accessdate=8 July 2020 |date=18 July 2016}} The two main tributaries are Knights Stream (which originates between Prebbleton and the suburb of Oaklands){{LINZ |id=25209 |name=Knights Stream |accessdate=8 July 2020}} and Te Tauawa a Maka / Nottingham Stream (which originates in Oaklands).{{LINZ|id=32890 |name=Nottingham Stream |accessdate=8 July 2020}}

The Halswell River rises north-west of the Port Hills on the periphery of Christchurch and flows south into Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora.{{cite book |title=Reed New Zealand Atlas|year=2004|isbn=0-7900-0952-8|editor=Peter Dowling |publisher=Reed Books|pages=map 83}} Parts of the river originally had the Māori names of Huritini (meaning "many turns"), Te Tau Awa a Maka and Te Heru o Kahukura.{{cite web |url= http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Maori/LibraryNames/Halswell/ |title=Halswell - Library Names|publisher=Christchurch City Libraries|accessdate=12 July 2009}} The river was renamed for Edmund Halswell, who was a member of the management committee of the Canterbury Association and arrived in New Zealand in 1841.{{cite book|title=Discover New Zealand:A Wises Guide|edition=9th|year=1994|page=381}}