Kauwhata is a rural locality and a statistical area in Manawatū District, in the Manawatū-Whanganui region in New Zealand's central North Island.

The locality is named after a Māori chief who originally owned the land.

[3] Kauwhata statistical area covers 154.43 km2 (59.63 sq mi)[4] and had an estimated population of 2,200 as of June 2024,[5] with a population density of 14 people per km2.

The percentage of people born overseas was 8.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 50.2% had no religion, 39.6% were Christian, 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.2% were Buddhist and 0.9% had other religions.