In 1846, Brunner and Heaphy sketched[2] and described a Māori settlement they called Araura [sic] (Arahura).

When the region was sold to the British Crown in 1860 by the chiefs of Poutini Ngāi Tahu the rights to pounamu on the Arahura River were meant to be retained, these rights were ignored in the deed (Arahura Deed).

[5][6][7] The lower reaches of the Arahura River were a major producer of gold in the past – and extensively mined, but are now worked out.

Sections of the old bridge were reused elsewhere on the rail network and one complete span was retained for a local heritage park.

This article about a river in the West Coast Region of New Zealand is a stub.