Pukawa or Pukawa Bay (Māori: Pūkawa) is a bay and a small township on the southern shores of Lake Taupō on New Zealand's North Island.

It is off State Highway 41 between Turangi and Taumarunui, in the Taupō District and Waikato region.

[4][5] The opening ceremony was attended by Tūheitia Paki, the Māori King.

[6] Pōtatau Te Wherowhero was formally selected as king by a conference of chiefs of the Māori tribes held at Pukawa in April 1857 and was crowned during elaborate ceremonies held at his marae in Ngāruawāhia in April 1858.

[8] Statistics New Zealand describes Pukawa as a rural settlement, which includes Oreti and covers 0.78 km2 (0.30 sq mi).

The settlement is part of the larger Lake Taupo Bays statistical area.

Before the 2023 census, the settlement had a larger boundary, covering 6.09 km2 (2.35 sq mi) and included Ōmori.