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Whanganui & Partners

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Whanganui & Partners

We are the economic development agency for Whanganui and Ruapehu. Whanganui & Partners is Whanganui's economic development department.

Our role is to support growth by enabling investment, strengthening local capability and connecting people to opportunity. Its areas of focus are Business, Manufacturing, Education and Capability, Creative Industries, Māori Economy, Primary Industries, Visitor Industries, and Marketing. Our mission is to drive opportunity through business, education and lifestyle. We work to promote Whanganui as a

destination to visit, work, study, and invest. We support new and existing businesses, bringing events to Whanganui and providing up-to-date economic data, analysis and commentary on the Whanganui District.

22/04/2026

Did you know Whanganui has 6.6 TWh of potential energy generation per year?

To put that in perspective: that’s enough to power 900,000 homes for a year.

Whanganui sits in the heart of a major wind and solar resource, and unlocking this potential is exactly what our Future Energy investment portfolio is designed to do: https://whanganuiandpartners.nz/investment-opportunities/future-energy

This week, we spent the day with the Energy Estate team visiting potential sites, connecting dots, and sharing a vision for what the future of energy looks like in our region.

A huge thank you to Energy Estate for their time and expertise. The future is looking bright (pun intended) for Whanganui. 💨☀️

07/04/2026

By now you may have seen the news - Whanganui is bringing New Zealand's first Festival of Design to life this October. 🎉

We're proud to share that the Festival of Design Aotearoa launches on 16 October 2026, right here in Whanganui - New Zealand's only UNESCO City of Design - with events spanning the wider Whanganui-Manawatū region over 10 days.

Read more in the comments.

The coverage has hopefully been enough to entice you, but here's what we really want you to know: **submissions are open until Monday 20 April**

Whether you're a designer, maker, artist, business, educator, student, iwi partner or simply someone who believes in the power of design to shape better futures- this festival is being built for and with people like you.

We're looking for partners, presenters and event hosts from across the motu and abroad to help create a programme that's exciting, diverse and truly international in its reach.

👉 Find out more and submit at festivalofdesign.co.nz

We are already working in collaboration with some very talented people in partnership with Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, CEDA - Central Economic Development Agency, Whanganui District Council, Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery and Palmerston North City Council - and we'd love to hear from more of you. Let's make something remarkable together. 🌿

11/03/2026

It’s only Wednesday and it has already been a big week!

We’ve been at NZ Design Week in Auckland, sharing the story of why Whanganui is New Zealand's only UNESCO City of Design - the people, the ideas, and the creative practice that make the city what it is - and connecting with designers from across Aotearoa.

And while Tyrone Ohia and Whitney Nicholls-Potts were on stage talking about Whanganui’s place in a global network of 49 other UNESCO Cities of Design, something special was in motion back in Whanganui.

On Saturday, as the New Zealand Design Week flight departed the city, Hannah Sabapathy landed in Whanganui to begin the first international design residency with City of Design Dundee, a fellow UNESCO City of Design.

It was also wonderful to have Natasha Beckman from the British Council New Zealand visit Whanganui’s stand in Auckland, whose support helped make the residency possible.

A week of seeing the intersection of local conversations, national connections and international collaboration come to life shows what being a UNESCO City of Design means.

08/03/2026

This year’s NZ Design Week theme - People & Place - felt particularly fitting for Whanganui.

So we were incredibly proud to host the first ever Satellite Event outside of Auckland, welcoming more than 35 design professionals to experience our UNESCO City of Design first-hand.

The group spent the day exploring the people, businesses and places that shape design in Whanganui - from the Durie Hill Elevator and Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery to local design-led manufacturers.

For us, this was about more than a visit. It was about building relationships, showcasing the depth of design across the city, and creating new opportunities for collaboration and investment.

A huge thank you to the many Whanganui businesses and partners who helped bring the day to life: Air Chathams, Havoc Coffee Roasting, Būllet Cup, Kaputī Studio, Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery, GDM Good Design Matters, Playground Centre, Soren Liv, MDesign, New Zealand Glassworks, Moabell Design, CO-STAR, Ivan Vostinar, Papaiti Gin

Read more in the comments.

15/01/2026

Is our whenua working hard enough for our mokopuna?

It's the question that keeps Māori land trustees and governors up at night.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand and Te Manu Atatū - Whanganui Māori Business Network are bringing this conversation to Whanganui, Ruapehu, and Rangitīkei - and it won't be your typical governance hui.

Traci Houpapa will take us through her experience in Māori governance and agribusiness.

Then Lisa Chase will facilitate a couch session with Hazel Cairns-Willemsen, Anthony Thompson, Toni Kerr and Suzanne Hepi.

Because Māori land governance isn't just about today's returns. It's about the generations yet to come.

If you're a trustee, committee member, or governor navigating these decisions, this is your chance to connect with others who understand the weight of that responsibility - and walk away with practical insights you can actually use.

📍 Frank Bar & Eatery
📅 Friday 23rd Jan, 5.45 - 8.00pm
📝Register: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/beef-lamb-new-zealand-te-manu-atatu-whenua-maori-governance-tickets-1979929444266

18/12/2025

Whanganui strengthening global design connections 🌍

We’re proud to announce a new international residency linking Whanganui and City of Design Dundee - two UNESCO Cities of Design - through textile heritage and contemporary practice.

🔗 cityofdesignwhanganui.nz
🔗 cityofdesigndundee.com

Designers Matthew McIntyre Wilson (Whanganui) and Hannah Sabapathy (Dundee) have been selected for Whanganui x Dundee: Textile Legacies, an exchange exploring how ancestral textile knowledge shapes modern design.

This is UNESCO City of Design in action: place-led, internationally connected, and grounded in cultural exchange.

📍 March–April 2026
🌍 Supported by the British Council New Zealand Connections Through Culture Natasha Beckman

Read the article in the link below.

Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery

11/12/2025

🍅 From tomatoes to Thai chillies 🌶️

In a quiet Whanganui East backyard, Shane McCullogh has transformed his traditional greenhouse operation into something special. Recognising an opportunity to serve the region's migrant communities, he pivoted from tomatoes and cucumbers to specialising in sought-after Asian vegetables.

Today, Shane grows bitter melon, luffas, snake beans, banana capsicums, Fijian eggplants, curry leaf, Chinese marrow, and some of New Zealand's hottest chillies.

His pick-your-own model has created something unique: customers travel from as far as Tauranga and Wellington, waste is minimal, and the high-trust relationship with his community keeps people coming back.

Shane's story reflects what makes Whanganui work:

👉 Responsive entrepreneurship – adapting to meet underserved needs
👉 Central location – drawing customers region-wide
👉 Multicultural demand for culturally relevant food
👉Ideal climate – supporting year-round growing experimentation
👉Word-of-mouth growth – built entirely on trust and community

Whanganui is a place where opportunity grows - literally.

Know other businesses doing remarkable things in the regions? Share them below 👇

09/12/2025

Work in design in Whanganui?

As part of Whanganui's partnership with Auckland Design Week as a UNESCO City of Design, a professional development opportunity is available for local professionals to attend Design Day Pro on 9 March, followed by the Design Conference on 10 March 2025.

Attend the Design Day Pro, then join one of two Whanganui tables and engage with Aotearoa's leading designers and innovators throughout the day.

Read more on Auckland Design Week: https://aucklanddesignweek.com/

This opportunity is for professionals who:

👉 Work in the design sector in Whanganui
👉Are seeking professional development in design thinking and practice
👉Want to connect with national design leaders and bring insights back to our region
👉Can demonstrate how attending will benefit their work and contribute to Whanganui's design community

Apply here: https://survey.hsforms.com/1E246RHYlTKmcFWxynDwKLAe59ci

Applications close: Monday 22nd December

In your application, share your role, why this conference matters to your professional development, and how you'll bring value back to Whanganui's design sector.

03/12/2025

Whanganui's summer 2025 tourism campaign has landed!

A campaign focused on attracting more domestic weekend travellers this summer by showcasing the many moments that make up a trip to Whanganui.

📊 Why this matters (Accommodation & Activities sector, Marketview, Nov 2024 - Oct 2025 vs. previous year) -

⚫ Total spending: $157M (+5.5%)
⚫ Transactions: nearly 3 million (+8.4%)
⚫ Average transaction value: $52.66

This spending flows through local cafes, restaurants, accommodation providers, and attractions - supporting jobs and business growth across the district.

The focus: attracting North Island travellers looking for accessible weekend getaways. With Whanganui's proximity to major centres and range of experiences, we're well-positioned to capture this market.

Weekend tourism helps create more consistent economic activity throughout the year, which benefits businesses and employment across our region.

The numbers show that visitor spending is a meaningful contributor to Whanganui's economic health - and there's opportunity to grow it further.

Here's to a great summer! ☀️

12/11/2025

New Zealand's only UNESCO City of Design just became Auckland Design Week's first regional partner.

March 2026. Over 30 design professionals. One city ready to grow in a sector contributing $17.5 billion to our economy.

A day excursion to 'Aotearoa's Design City', in partnership with Air Chathams, will showcase what happens when heritage meets innovation — from the Durie Hill Elevator to Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery, from GDM Retail to the Playground Centre.

This is about more than one event. It's about networks, investment, and broadening the conversation around design leadership in Aotearoa.

Read more on satellite event: https://aucklanddesignweek.com/event/aotearoas-design-city/

Read more on keynote speech: https://aucklanddesignweek.com/event/aotearoas-design-identity-from-whanganui-to-the-world/

Whanganui's status as the only City of Design speaks to our heritage, our living design culture, and our future ambitions. Now we're taking that story national.

Watch why we're the city where design isn't just practiced - it's lived.

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Whanganui

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

64063493119

Website

http://whanganuiandpartners.nz/

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