Cave Creek / Kotihotiho

Cave Creek / Kotihotiho (Māori: Kotihotiho)[1] is a small river within Paparoa National Park, on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island.

Cave Creek / Kotihotiho
Location of Cave Creek / Kotihotiho
Native name	Kotihotiho  (Māori)
Location
Country	New Zealand
Region	West Coast
Physical characteristics
Source	Cave Creek Resurgence
Mouth	Pororari River
• coordinates	42.1173°S 171.3956°E / -42.1173; 171.3956

The creek takes a portion of its name from the limestone cave from which it emerges, flowing through Paparoa National Park's karst landscape for roughly 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) before joining the larger Pororari River. In 1998, the creek became one of approximately 90 places to be given a dual place name, composed of the former name and the Māori name separated by a slash, through the passage of the landmark Treaty of Waitangi settlement with Ngāi Tahu.[2]

Cave Creek / Kotihotiho is most known for the 1995 Cave Creek disaster, in which 14 people died following the collapse of a viewing platform. The rough and difficult landscape which the creek flows through hindered rescue efforts, while the disaster itself led to health and safety reforms in New Zealand and upgrades to Department of Conservation facilities across the country.[3]