Welcome to the river city of Wanganui, and the Whanganui Region.
Immerse yourself in the Art and Culture of our region, plan
yourBusiness Conference or Sports Event, or just lay back and
relax.Whether you are travelling alone or bringing the whole family,
whether you plan a short break or a longer holiday, you will find
thereis so much to see and do in Wanganui!
A Brief History
The Wanganui District was first settled by Maori, who were attracted by
the Whanganui River in its sheltered fertile valley with an abundant
food supply. Flowing 290 kilometres, the river starts high up on Mt
Tongariro in the centre of the North
Island, moving down towards Wanganui via Taumarunui before it reaches
the beautiful Tasman Sea on the west coast.
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Climate of Wanganui
The main township of Wanganui is famous for having one of the most
temperate climates in the world. Due to its rather unique physical
location it is sheltered from the worst weather conditions.
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Location of Wanganui
Wanganui is located close to the mouth of the Whanganui River on the
west coast of New Zealand's North Island. It isapproximately 200
kilometres north of Wellington and 75 kilometres northwest of
Palmerston North, at the junction of State Highways 3 and 4. Most of
the town lies on the river's northwestern bank, although some suburbs
are located on the opposite side of the river.
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Te Awa O Whanganui
Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au [I
am the river and the river is me]. These words embody the
spiritual, cultural and historical
relationship of Whanganui
Maori with the river which holds
their ancestry. This important
saying traditionally used by local
Maori has become increasingly
relevant to locals of European
descent whose lives and history
have also become interwoven by
the river.
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The Whanganui River Road
From its intersection with
SH4 north of Wanganui, the
Whanganui River Road runs for
80 km through the lower river
valley to Pipiriki amid some
of the most rugged, majestic
scenery in New Zealand. The
River Road follows native
forest clad hills and farmland,
and beautiful valleys of the
Whanganui National Park. From
Pipiriki, the road continues for
a further 40 km to emerge at
Raetihi and rejoin SH4.
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Wanganui or Whanganui?
In the local accent, Maori say
wh as
w
followed by a glottal stop, and the name as something like "W'anganui",
hard to reproduce by non-locals. Until recently it was generally
written as "Wanganui" and pronounced with a
w by non-speakers of Maori and a
wh by those Māori speakers from other areas who knew its derivation.
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What does Whanganui mean?
The first name of the European settlement was
Petre (pronounced Peter), after Lord Petre, an important officer of the New Zealand Company. It was changed to Wanganui in 1852.
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Within City Limits
Wanganui offers people of all ages and abilities the opportunity to
succeed. Located on the North Island's sweeping west coast, less than
an hour by road to Palmerston North and only 2.5 hours to the nation's
capital of Wellington, Wanganui has business opportunities and a
lifestyle for everyone.
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