Manawatu-Wanganui is a region situated in the extreme north of New Zealand and around the city of Palmerston North and Wanganui City. The city of Manawatu-Wanganui covers all or part of the ten districts. Part of the five covered by the five other regions of New Zealand, most of any region. In descending order of the square in the Ruapehu, Tararua (part), Rangitikei (part), Manawatu, Wanganui, Horowhenua, Stratford (part), Palmerston North, Waitomo (part) and Taupo (part).

Manawatu-Wanganui is the city of New Zealnd and is dominated and defined by two major river basins in the Whanganui and Manawatu. In the Whanganui River is the longest navigable river in New Zealand. The river is extremely important for early Maori as it was in the south link in the chain of waterways that cover nearly two-thirds of the North Island. She was one of the main areas of Maori settlement, with its easily fortified cliffs and enough food. Legends stress the importance of the river and remains sacred to Wanganui iwi. Maori along the coast and lowland plains grew Kumar and other crops.