Whanganui Central is the central business district and central suburb of Whanganui, in the Whanganui District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island.

Quick Facts Country, City ...

Whanganui Central
Suburb
Whanganui Chronicle building
Coordinates: 39.930355°S 175.047644°E / -39.930355; 175.047644
Country	New Zealand
City	Whanganui
Local authority	Whanganui District Council
Area [1]
• Land	418 ha (1,033 acres)
Population  (June 2023)[2]
• Total	4,490

Close

St Johns Hill	Aramoho	Whanganui East
College Estate	Whanganui Central	Bastia Hill
Gonville	Putiki	Durie Hill

Whanganui Central covers 4.18 km² (1.61 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 4,490 as of June 2023,^[2] with a population density of 1,074 people per km².

Whanganui Central had a population of 4,203 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 417 people (11.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 72 people (1.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,878 households, comprising 1,980 males and 2,220 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.89 males per female, with 705 people (16.8%) aged under 15 years, 843 (20.1%) aged 15 to 29, 1,803 (42.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 855 (20.3%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 72.1% European/Pākehā, 28.6% Māori, 5.1% Pacific peoples, 7.3% Asian, and 2.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 15.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 46.1% had no religion, 35.3% were Christian, 3.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.3% were Hindu, 0.4% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 3.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 528 (15.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 840 (24.0%) people had no formal qualifications. 186 people (5.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,266 (36.2%) people were employed full-time, 507 (14.5%) were part-time, and 267 (7.6%) were unemployed.^[3]

Whanganui Regional Museum opened in 1892 and contains a range of displays about Whangaui's Māori and European settlement.^[7][8]

Sarjeant Gallery opened in 1919.^[9][10]

Keith Street School is a co-educational state primary school,^[11] with a roll of 142 as of February 2024.^[12]