Lake Mangakaware is a peat lake in the Waikato, outside of Te Awamutu. It is one of 31 in the region. The lake as a depth of 4.8 metres, and an area of 12.9 hectares.[1] The lake has cultural significance due to a number of archeological finds close to its waters, including a pā site.[2]
Water quality in the lake has declined, with plants in the lake declining significantly between 2005 and 2010.[3] Volunteers have been seeking to fix this through improving the biodiversity of the surrounding area. Planting days have been organised to establish native plants such as mānuka and kahikatea, and stop the spread of invasive species such as gorse.[4]