Haere mai ki Whanganui
Where design doesn't decorate growth.
It drives it.
Our sectors: chosen for impact
Sector
Advanced Manufacturing
One of Whanganui’s defining economic strengths and a key driver of the district’s export economy. Combining deep engineering capability with practical innovation, enabling businesses to design, manufacture, and deliver high-value products to national and international markets.
2,673
Local manufacturing filled jobs
$261.2m
Annual contribution to GDP
Sector
Creative Industries
Sector
Design Tech
Design Tech is Whanganui's newest sector, coined to reflect the way of thinking the district's growing tech sector is adopting. As New Zealand’s only UNESCO City of Design, this is about applying design thinking frameworks and human-centred methodologies to the development and deployment of technology.
1 in 20
1 in 20 jobs in Whanganui is now a digital, technical, or high-value professional role
1,000+
1000+ specialists contribute ~$149 million in high-value services each year
Sector
International Education
Whanganui offers a compelling proposition for overseas education experiences - with five high-quality secondary schools, tertiary offerings, a safe and compact city layout, and an authentic Kiwi environment where English language skills can be developed.
$4.7m
2025 international education contributed over $4.7 million to the local economy
129
Equivalent fulltime students across 6 Whanganui educational institutions
Sector
Screen
Whanganui’s screen industry is a growing sector, fuelled by the passion and experience of local talent. With just a two-hour drive to the world’s best studios in Wellington, a broad range of experienced crew call the region home.
$3.5b
The screen sector contributes to the New Zealand economy
24,000
24,000 people directly employed by the screen sector
Sector
Tourism
Tourism is a vital part of Whanganui’s economy, contributing $64.7 million annually and supporting a broad network of businesses across the district.
$64.7m
The total GDP contribution from tourism in 2024
$191.8m
Total 2025 visitor spend in Whanganui - an increase of 4.8% on the previous year - while visitor spending across New Zealand remained flat.
Opportunities to invest in Whanganui
Whanganui & Partner's role is to support long-term prosperity by enabling investment, strengthening local capability, and connecting people to opportunity.
We recognise that strong economies are built through relationships, collaboration, and an understanding of how people, sectors, and places interact.
our team
Collaboration is our operating system
Opportunities grow with discovery and an understanding of how to shape them, this is where we come in.
We can support businesses, investors and communities by giving direction for opportunities and relationships that form a path of growth.
Tim Easton
Team Lead
Tim heads up the team at Whanganui & Partners helping deliver a coordinated programme of work across all sectors and stakeholders.
Emma Bugden
Creative Industries
Emma works directly with artists and creative workers to make Whanganui a place where creatives thrive.
Eilish Horrocks
Market Development
Eilish works to position Whanganui as a compelling investment destination, developing targeted strategies to attract the right investment and drive sustainable growth across the district.
Rach Hoskin
Education & Technology
Rach works closely with education providers and industry to make sure that the right training and educational opportunities are available to build the skills that our economy needs.
Suz Hepi
Regional Growth
Suz works with iwi, business, and industry partners to deliver projects that support regional growth across Ruapehu.
Colleen Ervine
Agribusiness
Colleen works with agribusiness stakeholders to develop strategies and initiatives that will develop our region into a food and fibre powerhouse.
Tim Easton
Team Lead
Tim heads up the team at Whanganui & Partners helping deliver a coordinated programme of work across all sectors and stakeholders.
Emma Bugden
Creative Industries
Emma works directly with artists and creative workers to make Whanganui a place where creatives thrive.
Eilish Horrocks
Market Development
Eilish works to position Whanganui as a compelling investment destination, developing targeted strategies to attract the right investment and drive sustainable growth across the district.
Rach Hoskin
Education & Technology
Rach works closely with education providers and industry to make sure that the right training and educational opportunities are available to build the skills that our economy needs.
Suz Hepi
Regional Growth
Suz works with iwi, business, and industry partners to deliver projects that support regional growth across Ruapehu.
Colleen Ervine
Agribusiness
Colleen works with agribusiness stakeholders to develop strategies and initiatives that will develop our region into a food and fibre powerhouse.
Join the conversation
Whanganui's economic development department growing opportunity and prosperity in the Whanganui District. Whanganui's economic development department growing opportunity and prosperity in the Whanganui District.