Manawatū-Whanganui region

The headwaters of the Manawatū River are situated in the Ruahine Ranges, northwest of Norsewood. The river is unique in that it begins on the eastern side of a main divide and winds its way to the Tasman Sea on the western side of the range at Foxton Beach. This means the river predates the geological formation of the ranges.

The river's name comes from the Māori words manawa (heart, spirit) and tū (stand still, or depressed) and Manawatū translates to heart standing still with sadness. It was named by Haunui who was in pursuit of his wife when he arrived at the river clutching his chest. The river was the key transport route for Rangitaane o Manawatū and continues to have great cultural significance for them and other iwi, including Ngati Raukawa and Ngati Kauwhata.

The major land use in the Manawatū catchment is agricultural (70%), with more than 50% used for sheep and beef farming, while dairy farming accounts for 17%. Native bush, mainly within the Ruahine and Tararua Ranges conservation areas, accounts for a further 17%. Palmerston North is the largest urban area within the catchment, with many smaller communities serving agricultural areas.

The largest uses of water in the Manawatū are town water supplies and takes for irrigation. The water allocation framework manages the impacts of water allocation on water body values, including consumptive uses, by setting minimum flows and allocation limits for each sub-zone.