The Punakitere River is a river of the Northland Region of New Zealand's North Island. It is a tributary of the Taheke River, which forms the WaimÃÂ River, though it is longer than the WaimÃÂ itself. The Punakitere is polluted, especially with e-coli and phosphorus, and has its origins in several streams which flow through and to the south of Kaikohe, as well as from Mount Hikurangi. The rivers flow predominantly westward to reach the WaimÃÂ close to the small settlement of Moehau.