Bioregional Organizer
Whanganui River
📍 Whanganui, Manawatu Whanganui, New Zealand
In New Zealand, the Whanganui River catchment forms the basis for both ecological governance and cultural identity for local Māori iwi (tribes). The recognition of the river as a legal person (Te Awa Tupua) in 2017 acknowledged both its ecological significance and its central place in Māori cultural identity and governance traditions.
Bioregional Context
The Whanganui River catchment lies in the central-western North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand and encompasses the country's third-longest river. The catchment includes rugged native forests, volcanic highlands, and remote rural communities, stretching from the central plateau near Mount Tongariro to the Tasman Sea.