| Awatere River | |
| Name Etymology: | "Swift river" in Māori |
| Pushpin Map: | North Island |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location on North Island |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | New Zealand |
| Subdivision Type2: | Island |
| Subdivision Name2: | North Island |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | Gisborne |
| Source1: | Confluence of the Kopuapounamu and Taurangakautuku Rivers |
| Source1 Location: | Near Whakaangiangi |
| Mouth: | Pacific Ocean |
| Mouth Location: | Near Te Araroa |
| Mouth Coordinates: | -37.6397°N 178.3748°W |
The Awatere River is a river in the Gisborne region of the North island of New Zealand. The Awatere is formed by the confluence of the Kopuapounamu River and the Taurangakautuku River and enters the Pacific Ocean just east of Te Araroa.
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "swift river" for Awatere.[1]
State Highway 35 runs down the valley of the Awatere for much of the river's length.