The Kawhātau River is a river of about  in the southwestern North Island of New Zealand. Its source is in the Ruahine Range and its outflow is into the larger Rangitīkei River, which it meets close to Mangaweka.
The Kawhātau River is situated in the southwestern region of New Zealand's North Island, similar to the location of the Ruahine Range and the confluence with the larger Rangitīkei River near Mangaweka.