| Waipawa River | |
| Source1 Location: | Ruahine Range |
| Mouth Location: | Tukituki River |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | New Zealand |
| Length: | 570NaN0 |
| Source1 Elevation: | 1687m (5,535feet) |
| Mouth Elevation: | 120m (390feet) |
| Tributaries Left: | Makaroro River Mangaonuku Stream |
The Waipawa River is a braided river of southern Hawke's Bay, in New Zealand's eastern North Island.[1] It flows southeast from the slopes of 1687m (5,535feet) Te Atuaoparapara (once known as 'Sixty-six')[2] in the Ruahine Range, past the town of Waipawa, before joining the Tukituki River.[3] The river rises at the 1326m (4,350feet) Waipawa Saddle, which is also the source of the Waikamaka River.[4] The Mangaonuku Stream is a tributary on the northern bank, west of Waipawa, near Ruataniwha.[5] The Waipawa's flow is generally greater than that of the Tukituki River, into which it flows.[6]
The Old Bed of Waipawa River flows roughly parallel with and north of the present Waipawa River to join the Tukituki through the Papanui Stream, south west of Lake Poukawa.[7] The Waipawa changed its course during a flood in 1868.[8] It reverted to its old course during Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023, until the Coronation Park stop bank in Waipawa was repaired on 16 February, returning the Waipawa to its post-1868 course.[9]
River quality is sampled at the SH50 bridge. At that site its Macroinvertebrate Community Index is C (of grades A to D) and likely degrading, but it is in the best 25% of rivers for most samples, except clarity. In warm weather cyanobacteria sometimes develop.[10] Other main routes crossing the river are SH2 and the Palmerston North–Gisborne railway at Waipawa.[11]
There are hundreds of banded dotterel (pohowera) and pied stilt around the river.
Waipawa Forks Hut provides accommodation close to the headwaters of the river.[12] On the ridge to the north, above the headwaters, is Sunrise Hut. It is the most popular hut in the Ruahine Park and was renovated in 2020.[13] A day walk is possible, via Sunrise and the Saddle.[14]