The South Branch Ashburton River / Hakatere is a continuous whitewater run in the Canterbury region of New Zealand, rated grade III/IV and considered a strong candidate as an East Coast classic day trip for intermediate to advanced packrafters. The river originates from the outflow of the Ashburton Glacier below Mount Arrowsmith (2,781 metres), flowing southeast down a narrow valley before crossing the flat Hakatere Valley and exiting through the Ashburton Gorge, with the Moorhouse Range to the south and the Clent Hills and Winterslow Range to the north.

The run features continuous whitewater with grade III gorges and an optional grade IV upper section that includes a chockstone. The technical and continuous nature of the whitewater demands a solid, competent team at all flows. A swim in this environment could be long and serious, and breaking a paddle or losing a boat would require scrambling out on the true left to follow a marked walking route. Carrying a personal distress beacon — on your person rather than in your boat — is strongly recommended given the remoteness of the gorge.

Access involves walking in via the Te Araroa Trail heading west from the Hakatere Heron Road bridge, which serves as the take-out. At Paddle Hill Creek, the trail joins a 4WD track that is in fairly poor condition, making sturdy footwear and trekking poles advisable. Bikerafting is not considered well-suited to this run given the technical nature of the paddle. The riverbanks vary considerably — some are open enough to move around on, others are covered in matagouri, and some sections are sheer.

The catchment supports approximately 14 native fish species including the threatened Canterbury mudfish, as well as koura (freshwater crayfish) and around 48 native bird species. Nationally threatened birds present in the broader Ashburton/Hakatere system include wrybill, banded dotterel, pied stilt, and black-billed gull. The river holds cultural and spiritual significance for Ngāi Tahu, for whom all waterways in the zone are considered taonga (treasures) of historical and ancestral importance.