The Puniu River flows from within the Pureora Forest, past four Marae: Mangatoatoa, Rawhitiroa, Aotearoa and Whakamarama through to Pirongia where it meets the Waipo River. It is a Waikato River tributory and at 57kms long, is one of the longest secondary tributaries in New Zealand. The Puniu river holds a cultural significance to local marae hapu and iwi. The river gets its name from the Patupaiarehe (Maori mythical being of human form) that travelled down the river from the Pureora Forest seeking knowledge of the future by supernatural means.