Awapuni is a suburb of the New Zealand city of Gisborne, located in the southwest of the city. It is named after the Awapuni lagoon, where the Waipaoa River runs into the ocean. The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "blocked-up river" for Awapuni. The local Awapuni Pā, also known as Te Kuri a Tuatai, is a tribal meeting place of the Rongowhakaata hapū of Ruapani, Ngāi Tāwhiri and Te Whānau a Iwi. It includes the Whareroa meeting house.