Do business  in Whanganui

In Whanganui, businesses grow through a connected, collegiate ecosystem - one that values collaboration, shared knowledge, and long-term capability building.

Growth rarely happens in isolation

From early-stage founders to established firms, there are clear pathways to advice, space, funding, and sector-led networks designed to support businesses as they scale.

See below for support to existing networks, programmes, and spaces, and get in touch with them to see how they can help you grow.

Whanganui ranks in the top third nationally for exports. In 2017, its river became the first in the world to receive legal personhood – a decision co-designed with iwi that challenged convention and reshaped what's possible. In 2021, Whanganui became Aotearoa's only UNESCO City of Design.

Three distinct achievements.
One common thread: how we think.

Here, design thinking isn't reserved for architects or agencies. It is how we approach opportunity: listening deeply, testing ideas together, and creating solutions that work for the diverse community.

From our productive heartland to our creative sector, businesses thrive because collaboration isn't a buzzword – it's how we operate.

Discover more about design thinking

Centrally located, globally connected

Whanganui sits at the heart of New Zealand's lower North Island, at the intersection of two main state highways and connected by freight rail to major ports.

Regular flights to Auckland and proximity to Palmerston North Airport round out its national and international reach.

As a UNESCO City of Design, Whanganui is part of a global network of 49 cities connected through design-led development. This designation provides international visibility, credibility, and access to global relationships that support collaboration, innovation, and export capability - extending Whanganui’s reach well beyond New Zealand.

Complementing this global network are long-standing sister city relationships that provide depth and continuity to Whanganui’s international connections. Partnerships with Toowoomba (Australia), Nagaizumi (Japan) and Lijiang (China) support ongoing exchange across business, education, and civic collaboration, strengthening ties within the Asia–Pacific region and beyond.

UNESCO City of Design

In 2021, Whanganui was announced as New Zealand’s only UNESCO City of Design, one of 49 such cities worldwide, in recognition of exceptional creativity, innovative spirit, cultural integrity and strength of artistic tradition.

Whanganui’s City of Design status is not only a recognition of the creative heritage, it also reflects the unique significance of its indigenous cultural identity and the direction the city is taking.

Design innovation spans Whanganui Iwi remarkable history of engineering, including the unique construction of pā auroa - a style of pā tuna (eel weir) designed to withstand the challenges of strong waters and driftwood.

The contribution of Māori creatives is significant and contemporary Māori designers continue to share and evolve a unique visual language for this place.

Being part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network now means we can share our design with the world, celebrate the indigenous design of our peers, and grow stronger in our processes.

Learn more about the designation

Discover our  industry sectors

Whanganui is home to one of New Zealand’s most diverse economies, powered by the sectors that drive growth and opportunity.

Explore our sectors

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

Learn more

Sector

Creative Industries

Whanganui has a well-deserved reputation as a centre of creativity, recognised internationally as New Zealand’s only UNESCO City of Design.

$16.7m

Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery delivered an estimated $16.7m economic boost in its first year

$75.9m

Creative industries contribution to Whanganui GDP

Learn more

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

Learn more

Sector

Food, Fibre & Beverage

Food, fibre and beverage production sits at the heart of Whanganui’s productive economy and is a major contributor to the district’s export strength.

$188k

Annual Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing productivity

20.9%

More productive than the New Zealand average

Learn more

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

Learn more

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

Learn more

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.

Learn more

In Whanganui, design doesn't decorate growth. It drives it.

If you're looking for a place where collaboration drives results, diversity creates strength and doing business means doing it together – Whanganui might be exactly what you're looking for.

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.

Get in touch

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.

Colleen Ervine

Agribusiness

Colleen works with agribusiness stakeholders to develop strategies and initiatives that will develop our region into a food and fibre powerhouse.

Suz Hepi

Regional Growth

Suz works with iwi, business, and industry partners to deliver projects that support regional growth across Ruapehu.

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.