Waikato

is a local government region of New Zealand. It is one of the most northerly regions, adjoining the small but densely populated Auckland Region to the north, the Bay of Plenty Region to the east, Hawke's Bay Region to the south-east, and Manawatu-Wanganui Region and Taranaki Region to the south, with substantial coastlines east and west.

The region is named after and dominated by the Waikato River, which flows from Lake Taupo, the country's largest lake, generally northwards to Port Waikato on the west coast.

The main population centre is Hamilton.