Paul Whatuira (pronounced /fætuːwɪərə/, born 31 July 1981) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who last played for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL in 2011.

As 2003 NRL premiers, the Panthers travelled to England to face Super League VIII champions, the Bradford Bulls in the 2004 World Club Challenge.

Whatuira had a forgettable 2006, he was sin-binned in the Tigers' loss to the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville just before half-time with Matt Sing scoring in his absence.

In the return match, he suffered a hamstring injury which was aggravated during the warm-up versus Brisbane Broncos meaning he would not play for the rest of the campaign.

After considering a switch to rugby union with the New South Wales Waratahs,[6] Whatuira instead moved to England and joined the Huddersfield Giants in 2008 where he is contracted until the end of the 2010 season.

Whatuira is expected to fill the void left in the backline by departing senior players of Eric Grothe Jr and Timana Tahu.

During 2006, Whatuira posed for the Naked Rugby League 2007-08 charity calendar, which was produced to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation of Australia.

Paul also posed alongside former Wests Tigers teammates Robbie Farah and Dene Halatau for the Naked for a Cause 2008-09 calendar for the McGrath Foundation charity.

[18][19] Whatuira was not charged over the incident as under section two of the British Crimes Act, he is exempt from potential prosecution as he was deemed "mentally ill".