The Pāpakanui River is a tidal creek of the Kaipara Harbour in the northern Auckland Region of New Zealand's North Island. This short wide river forms part of the lower Kaipara Harbour system, adding its waters to another tidal creek, the Tauhoa River, close to the settlement of Tauhoa.

• List of rivers of New Zealand

"Place name detail: Papakanui River". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 12 July 2009.