Piriaka

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

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

File:Piriaka Township.jpg

Piriaka is a small rural settlement beside the Whanganui River, about {{convert|10|km}} southeast of Taumarunui on State Highway 4 (SH4), in New Zealand's King Country. Its name is Māori, from piri (to cling close) and aka (bush climbers of various kinds, such as rata).{{cite web|url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Gov10_09Rail-t1-body-d18.html|title=The wisdom of the Maori – Railway station Maori names along the Main Trunk Line.}}

The Piriaka Power Station is about {{convert|1|km}} north of the settlement.

The Piriaka springs can be found just to the south of Piriaka (beside SH4 just at it starts to climb up to a higher altitude) at {{Coord|38|55|33|S|175|20|27|E|display=inline|name=Piriaka Springs}}. These springs are well known in the local area, and also provide the main water supply for the settlement.{{cite web|url=https://www.esr.cri.nz/assets/Uploads/RegisterOfSuppliers-PartOne-NetSupplies-2018-b-Lynne.pdf|title=Register of Drinking Water Suppliers for New Zealand (2018)}}{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/ruapehu-press/94066885/water-collectors-protected-from-rock-fall|title=Stuff article: Water collectors protected from rock fall}}

About {{convert|1|km}} further south along SH4, at {{Coord|38|55|56|S|175|20|37|E|display=inline|name=Piriaka lookout}}, there is a lookout providing an excellent view of the Whanganui River. This spot is known as the Piriaka lookout.