The Wairarapa Coastal Current

A new name is proposed for the relatively cool, fresh, northwards-directed flow along the Wairarapa coast of New Zealand. Data from two research cruis es plus historical hydrocast data are used to show that the water within th is current is modified subtropical water with sources likely to be the Sout hland and D'Urville currents. This current has previously been known as the Canterbury Current or as an extension of the Southland Current, but becaus e of its source and location, a better name is the Wairarapa Coastal Curren t. One-month-long current meter records made off the Wairarapa coast show f low continuously to the north during February 1998. Volume transports withi n the Wairarapa Coastal Current in February 1998 were c. 1.6 Sv off Cape Pa lliser, diminishing northwards as the current becomes entrained into the Ea st Cape Current.