| Punakitere River | |
| Source1 Location: | Mount Hikurangi |
| Mouth Location: | Waima River |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | New Zealand |
| Length: | 43km (27miles) |
| Source1 Elevation: | 631m (2,070feet) |
| Basin Size: | 325km2 |
The Punakitere River is a river of the Northland Region of New Zealand's North Island. It is a tributary of the Taheke River, which forms the Waimā River, though it is longer than the Waimā itself.[1] The Punakitere is polluted, especially with e-coli and phosphorus, and has its origins in several streams which flow through and to the south of Kaikohe,[2] as well as from Mount Hikurangi.[3] The rivers flow predominantly westward to reach the Waimā close to the small settlement of Moehau.