Whanganui District

Whanganui is the river town that made history when its awa became the first in the world to be granted the legal status of a person. It’s a place that takes its heritage seriously, from the grand old buildings to the curious little Durie Hill elevator tunnelled into the cliff.

The arts scene punches well above its weight, the river runs through the heart of everything, and the cost of living has made it a quiet refuge for creative types priced out elsewhere. It’s handsome, characterful and a fair bit more affordable than its looks suggest.

There are 30 suburbs and localities across the district. This page lays them out so you can compare without guessing: who lives where, what you’ll pay, how the schools rate, and which streets sit close to the river, the hill or the centre.

A river with rights and a town with character. Have a browse and see where you’d fit.