Awakino is a settlement in the south of Waitomo District, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 3 at the mouth of the Awakino River, five kilometres north of Mōkau. It is 79 km southwest of Te Kūiti, and 98 km northeast of New Plymouth.

North of Awakino, State Highway 3 turns inland, and the coast is largely unpopulated. Beyond Awakino there are no settlements of any size on the coast south of the Kawhia Harbour.

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "bad creek" for Awakino.

The local Maniaroa Marae and meeting house are affiliated with the Ngāti Maniapoto hapū of Ngāti Rākei, Rungaterangi and Waiora.

Awakino is in meshblocks 1016500 and 1016900, which had a population of 51 people in the 2018 census.

In 1903 Awakino County was formed by splitting the former Kawhia County, but no council was formed for Awakino for another decade. Awakino County extended along the coast from Awakino to Marokopa and was bounded to the north by Kawhia County, to the east by Waitomo County and to the south by Clifton County. In 1919 the county population was estimated to be 801. At least the first five meetings, from its formation at Awakino on Saturday 22 March 1913, were held on a Saturday close to full moon. In 1915 the County changed its meeting place from Waitanguru to Piopio, where its last meeting was held on Saturday 20 May 1922, after which Awakino merged into Waitomo County Council, though Marokopa became a new riding of Kawhia County, under the Waikato and King Country Counties Act 1922.

• The best of the west: a heritage trail offering a unique experience of the King Country coast. Te Kuiti, [N.Z.]: Te Kuiti Visitor Information Centre. 1996.
• Coulson, John (1995). King Country sketchbook. Taumarunui, [N.Z.]: Ruapehu Marketing. ISBN 0-9583446-0-4.
• de Jardine, Margaret (1992). The little ports of Taranaki: being Awakino, Mokau, Tongaporutu, Urenui, Waitara, Opunake, Patea, together with some historical background to each. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Margaret de Jardine.

• Records for the Awakino Co-operative Dairy Company Ltd. (active 1911–1925; liquidated 1935) are held by the "Dairy Records Archive, Massey University Library". Archived from the original on 29 December 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2008. in Palmerston North. For a summary of that archive's holding, see "Awakino Co-operative Dairy Company Ltd. (Y71)". Retrieved 10 January 2008.

• "Puke Ariki". Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. in New Plymouth contains the letter book of the Waitara-based shipping agent, Lewis Clare (died 1960). This book records coastal shipping from and into small North Taranaki ports (including those mentioned in de Jardine's book) between 1910 and 1920. See "Clare, Lewis (ARC2002-255)". Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2008.

• "Puke Ariki". Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. in New Plymouth contains the business records of Gibson Coach Lines, who ran services from New Plymouth to Awakino. See "Gibson Coach Lines (ARC2002-992)". Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2008.

• de Jardine, Margaret (1992). The little ports of Taranaki: being Awakino, Mokau, Tongaporutu, Urenui, Waitara, Opunake, Patea, together with some historical background to each. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: M. de Jardine. ISBN 0-473-01455-6.

• Gummer, R. Graeme (1997). A man from Te Riu o Puanga: Riu Batley. Auckland, [N.Z.]: R. Graeme Gummer.

• "Puke Ariki". Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. in New Plymouth contains an essay on Riu Batley (1887–1960) (see above) and his family: researched and written by his nephew, Graeme Gummer. See "A Man from Te Riu O Puanga, Riu Batley (ARC2001-256)". Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 8 February 2008.

• Gummer, R. Graeme (2000). Memories of Ted Batley and some of his whanau. Auckland, [N.Z.]: R. Graeme Gummer.

• "Puke Ariki". Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. in New Plymouth contains a series of essays on Maori leadership: as practiced in the Mōkau, Awakino, and Mahoenui areas, and on the Chatham Islands. It also covers the development of the Maori religious movement called Hauhau (or Pai Marire). This material was compiled by Graeme Gummer. See "Gummer, Graeme (ARC2002-771)". Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 8 February 2008.

• "Puke Ariki". Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. in New Plymouth contains research notes and an obituary of Bella Mataroa (died 1925) who lived in Nukuhakere/Nukuhakari, half way between Marokopa and Awakino. See "Mataroa, Bella (ARC2001-241)". Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 8 February 2008.

• Gummer, R. Graeme (1997). A man from Te Riu o Puanga: Riu Batley. Auckland, [N.Z.]: R. Graeme Gummer.

• "Puke Ariki". Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. in New Plymouth contains an essay on Riu Batley (1887–1960) (see above) and his family: researched and written by his nephew, Graeme Gummer. See "A Man from Te Riu O Puanga, Riu Batley (ARC2001-256)". Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 8 February 2008.

• Gummer, R. Graeme (2000). Memories of Ted Batley and some of his whanau. Auckland, [N.Z.]: R. Graeme Gummer.

• "Puke Ariki". Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. in New Plymouth contains research notes and an obituary of Bella Mataroa (died 1925) who lived in Nukuhakere/Nukuhakari, half way between Marokopa and Awakino. See "Mataroa, Bella (ARC2001-241)". Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 8 February 2008.

• Awakino School 90th jubilee, 1906–1996: souvenir booklet. Awakino, [N.Z.]: Jubilee Committee. 1996.
• Hall, Cyril, ed. (1956). Awakino School golden jubilee, 1906–1956: souvenir booklet. Awakino, [N.Z.] ; New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Jubilee Committee ; Taranaki Daily News.
• Hammond, Brian (1981). Awakino School 75th jubilee, 1906–1981. Awakino, [N.Z.] ; New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Jubilee Committee ; Dorset Printing Service.