Manakau is a settlement situated in the Horowhenua District, located at the boundary of the Manawatū-Whanganui and Wellington regions of New Zealand's North Island.

The name Manakau comes from the Māori words mana (prestige, authority) and kau (alone, sole).

The name refers to an invasion of the district by notable tribal leader Te Rauparaha, who subdued the area on the strength of his prestige alone, with the local residents putting up no resistance.

[4] Manakau has two marae, affiliated with local hapū from the Ngāti Raukawa iwi.

[8] Manakau is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers 5.66 km2 (2.19 sq mi).