Pass close to Awatere Fault (6)
I believe the answer is:
elapse
'pass' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'close to awatere fault' is the wordplay.
'close to' suggests the final letters (the 'close' to the word).
'fault' becomes 'lapse' (lapse is a kind of fault).
The last letter of 'awatere' is 'e'.
'e'+'lapse'='ELAPSE'
(Other definitions for elapse that I've seen before include "'Pass by, as time (6)'" , "run by" , "Tick by" , "Glide by" , "Pass away - asleep (anag)" .)