In 2022 Whanganui was designated a UNESCO City of Design, joining 246 cities around the world in a Creative Cities Network. This new status reflects the city’s historic and contemporary contributions to design in innumerable and varied forms. These range from Māori designers’ artistry and innovation alongside the awa for more than 800 years, to the imaginative architects who created the city’s famed buildings. They include the many designers and artists working here now.

The design showcased here reflects this eclectic and wide-ranging legacy and the promise for the future. Some of these objects and stories are well known and some are remembered only within their communities. Together they highlight the creativity, innovative spirit, cultural integrity, and strength of the tradition of art and design in this region.

Whanganui Mūmū: Curators Talk: Join Eruera Rerekura and Maeve Egan explore the rich history of design and innovation that has shaped Whanganui over centuries. 23 October 2026 12.15-1.15pm.