The Whanganui River is New Zealand's third-longest river, stretching 290 kilometers from its source on the northern slopes of Mount Tongariro in the central volcanic plateau to its mouth at the Tasman Sea near the city of Whanganui. It flows through diverse landscapes, from the bush-clad hill country of the King Country to the lower reaches near the coast. The river holds immense cultural significance and was granted legal personhood status in 2017, reflecting its deep importance to local Māori. While the main river is not part of the Whanganui National Park, much of the land flanking its upper sections lies within the park boundaries. The river's average discharge is 219 cubic meters per second, and its catchment area covers 7,380 square kilometers, fed by major tributaries like the Whakapapa, Retaruke, Manganui o te Ao, Pungapunga, Ongarue, Ōhura, Tāngarākau, and Whangamōmona Rivers.