| Waikari River | |
| Name Etymology: | Māori meaning "dig for water" |
| Pushpin Map: | New Zealand |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300px |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | New Zealand |
| Subdivision Type2: | Region |
| Subdivision Name2: | Hawkes Bay |
| Subdivision Type3: | Settlements |
| Subdivision Name3: | Putorino |
| Length: | 49km (30miles) |
| Source1: | Maungaharuru Range |
| Source1 Coordinates: | -39.0972°N 176.8058°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 780m (2,560feet) |
| Mouth: | Hawke Bay |
| Mouth Coordinates: | -39.1689°N 177.0897°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 0m (00feet) |
| Tributaries Right: | Matahorua Stream |
| Waterfalls: | Shine Falls |
The Waikari River is a river in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand's North Island. It flows generally east from its source at the northern end of the Maungaharuru Range passing the settlement of Putorino to reach Hawke Bay 25 kilometres southwest of Wairoa. The name Waikari comes from the Māori words wai meaning "water" and kari meaning "dig".[1] The river was called Waikare until given an official name in 1941.[2]
In the 1931 earthquake a tsunami hit the river mouth, leaving fish up to 15 metres above the high tide level.[3]
Flooding of the river on 14 February 2023 during Cyclone Gabrielle destroyed the State Highway 2 bridge over the river at Putorino[4] and facilities at a Department of Conservation campsite beside the river about 200 metres from the river mouth. A temporary Bailey bridge was erected to replace the highway bridge, opening on 14 May.[5] A huge amount of logs and forest debris swept down by the cyclone still covered the river mouth and adjacent coastline in October 2023.[6]