Get your business off to a great start

Our district’s strategic advantages have led to the development of a rich and diverse economy, known for innovative and niche businesses. We welcome new businesses to our community and invite you to discover what Whanganui can do for you and your business.

There are big opportunities outside the big cities

Businesses thrive in Whanganui, due to our accessible location, comprehensive infrastructure, a proactive council and low operational overhead. Our district’s population is large enough to support a market for almost any business, while remaining small enough to facilitate  connections with customers, clients and collaborators.

New ventures benefit from enthusiastic community backing and established businesses discover opportunities for expansion and innovation through relationships with like-minded businesses.

Getting Started

If you’re starting a business, working through this 10-Step Guide to Starting a Business is a great first step.

Support for your Start-up

Whanganui & Partners, the regional economic development agency for Whanganui, is here to support new businesses.  Every start-up has different needs, and we know exactly who to connect you with to help guide you through the process of getting your vision off the ground.

Once you’ve worked through the 10 Step Start-up guide, set up an appointment with the Whanganui & Partners team through info@whanganuiandpartners.nz.

We have Business Growth Advisors dedicated to helping you succeed

Based on your specific needs, we can connect you with the right resources, people, training and funding – through the Regional Business Partners network – to help move your business forward

Become a part of the Regional Business Partners network:

1. Register your business online
2. Talk with one of our growth advisors
3. Set your key goals and action plan

This might include:

• Specific support and guidance to help your business
• Connecting you with key organisations
• Support through Business Mentors NZ
• Trade and Export support through NZ Trade and Enterprise
• Research and Development support through Callaghan Innovation
• Co-funding for specific advice and training to benefit your business

Any business can get a NZBN, including sole traders, and it’s free.

Who is eligible?

Any New Zealand business is welcome to join the network. The only criteria is that you will need a New Zealand Business Number (NZBN).

The RBP network connects with Callaghan Innovation, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Business Mentors New Zealand to provide services, tools, and connections to training and development to support the growth of businesses in our region.

If you identify as a Māori business, we can connect you with specific support, organisations and training and development programmes designed to establish, support and grow Māori businesses and the economy.

This free service is delivered in partnership with CEDA, Business Mentors New Zealand, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Callaghan Innovation.

Get help to grow your business, enquire now.

Invest, move or start your business in Whanganui – we make it easy for you.

Working with Whanganui District Council, we will streamline processes and remove obstacles that get in the way of business growth. We are able to do this through the Business Friendly Group, a cohort of relevant Council and Whanganui & Partners staff who work directly with business owners to provide assistance and support.

How does it work?

If your business is looking to expand or relocate to Whanganui, we will connect you to the Whanganui & Partners Business Friendly facilitator.

Your facilitator will identify which Council team members need to be involved in the project and will facilitate a meeting with the right people. This includes staff from Property, Infrastructure, Building Control, Regulatory, Planning and Communications teams.

Your facilitator will provide you with the assistance you need and maintain the relationship between you and the Council. The facilitator will remain involved until you have all you need to move forward with your project.

Invest in this growing city

Now is a great time to invest in Whanganui. The local economy is resilient and businesses are forming and growing at pace.

Consumer demand is strong and, as net migration amounts to 91% of population growth, opportunities for investment and development abound.

Whanganui has excellent infrastructure and economic diversity and the business leaders at Whanganui & Partners are ready to help you realise this city’s investment potential.

‍Find out how to move your business to Whanganui, enquire now.

Creative industries support

Our creative sector brings colour and life to our city, supporting artists and creatives ensures they can keep on producing.

Making It

Making It offers free one-to-one consultation between creatives and specialists, to build financial literacy and grow professional and commercial knowledge. Making It helps artists know where they want to go and how to get there. Read our Making It page.

Email Emma.Bugden@whanganuiandpartners.nz to apply

Public Art Fund

The Public Art Fund is designed to support the delivery of innovative and exciting public art in Whanganui. It is distributed by Whanganui District Council.

Learn more and apply

Whanganui Creative Communities

The Creative Communities Scheme is a partnership between Whanganui District Council and Creative New Zealand to promote local arts projects. Check out the Creative Communities Scheme

Amplify

Amplify is a one-off grant of up to $4,000 to help you realise a particular goal.

Amplify supports what you need behind the scenes to make your work resilient. While other arts grants typically support exhibitions or performances, Amplify strengthens the infrastructure that enables creativity to flourish. Read our Amplify page for more details.

Find out more about our arts support, enquire now.

Film Whanganui

Whanganui is a place of stories. The tradition of story-telling here is hundreds of years old and Whanganui continues to inspire storytellers and the creation of narratives.

We want your experience to be as easy and productive as possible, as well as ensuring your shoot doesn’t impact negatively on our community and environment.

Film Whanganui is part of the New Zealand Film Commission’s Regional Film Office network. Whanganui’s Regional Film Office is based at economic development agency Whanganui & Partners.

Film Whanganui works closely with the New Zealand Film Commission and the Regional Film Office network. Film Whanganui is the first point of contact for screen production enquiries to Whanganui.

We can help with:

• Our Film Directory connects you with industry professionals, locations and crew
• Detailed information on sourcing and accessing Whanganui locations
• Connecting you with local authorities for the river and region
• Assistance securing local crew, assets and logistics including accommodation and catering
• Facilitation of permits

Film Whanganui was established in 2020 and has since been involved in the production of two international feature-length film projects, we have a goal of attracting new screen productions to the city as well as supporting and promoting our local creative industries.

Whanganui offers:

• A regional city of 48,100 people
• Two and a half hour drive from Wellington
• Easy one-hour flight from Auckland
• Experienced local labour force including regular contractors to Weta Workshop, Weta Productions and other production companies (crew, model-making, wardrobe)
• Easy access to spectacular landscape and heritage architecture
• Preserved historic Victorian streetscapes

To find out more about filming in Whanganui, check our guide on Media productions and Whanganui River