Geomorphological mapping and analysis conducted as an initial step towards a future sediment budget study of the middle Waimakariri River (Southern Alps, New Zealand) reveals that the traditional concept of the temporary palaeolake glacial Lake Speight is conflicting with our conclusions of realistic chronosequences and timescales of para- and postglacial landform development. Especially the temporal and causal relation to the last deglaciation needs to be questioned and will be discussed.