| Waiotauru River | |
| Pushpin Map: | New Zealand#New Zealand North Island |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 270px |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Mouth of the Waiotauru River |
| Source1: | Eastern Waiotauru / Snowy River |
| Source1 Location: | Mount Hector, Tararua Range |
| Source1 Coordinates: | -40.9525°N 175.2803°W |
| Source2: | Southern Waiotauru River |
| Source2 Location: | Renata, Renata Ridge, Tararua Range |
| Source2 Coordinates: | -40.9746°N 175.1958°W |
| Mouth Location: | Ōtaki River |
| Mouth Coordinates: | -40.8688°N 175.235°W |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | New Zealand |
| Length: | 15abbr=onNaNabbr=on |
| Progression: | Waiotauru River → Ōtaki River → South Taranaki Bight → Tasman Sea |
| Tributaries Right: | Tregear Creek, Sheridan Creek |
| Basin Landmarks: | Tararua Forest Park |
The Waiotauru River is a river of the Wellington Region of New Zealand's North Island. It flows generally north from two branches, the Southern Waiotauru River and the Eastern Waiotauru (or Snowy) River. Both of these branches have their origins in the southwestern Tararua Range, with the Eastern branch having its origin on the slopes of Mount Hector, and the Southern on Renata. The Waiotauru meets the Ōtaki River at Ōtaki Forks, 15km (09miles) southeast of Ōtaki.[1]