Welcome to Whanganui, New Zealand's City of Design

Whanganui is building a reputation as a place with its own vibe, setting its own pace.

It is more than a dot on the map. People living here tackle challenges with a mix of practicality and creativity not found everywhere.

Being New Zealand’s only UNESCO City of Design recognises who Whanganui is, a city that sets its own destiny, bringing together a diversity of ideas to make things happen.

Professional ambition sits comfortably alongside creative freedom. Our design-led businesses thrive, industrial innovators work side by side, and the landscape shapes the work people do.

Throughout this magazine, you will meet people who have come to call Whanganui home and who are actively shaping what this place is becoming. You’ll see design’s diversity through gin distilleries, reusable coffee cups, playgrounds, display units, and, ultimately, Whanganui’s built landscape as a shared project.

The conversations about future possibilities are ongoing, evolving through new perspectives and continued dialogue.

Whether design is seen as a tool for business growth, community building, or just making life better, you’ll find people interested in what you have to say.