The Kaihoata River, formerly known as the Kaiwhata River, is a river of the southern North Island of New Zealand. It rises in rough hill country to the southeast of Masterton, flowing southeast to reach the Pacific Ocean south of Riversdale Beach. On 7 March 2023, the name of the river was officially altered from Kaiwhata to Kaihoata, following the enactment of the NgÃÂti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa TÃÂmaki nui-a-Rua Claims Settlement Act 2022.