Whanganui River

Whanganui River
The Whanganui River. Mount Ruapehu can partly be seen at the top right of the scene.
The Whanganui River system
Native name	Whanganui (Māori)
Location
Country	New Zealand
Region	Manawatū-Whanganui
Towns and cities	Taumarunui, Whanganui
Physical characteristics
Source	Mount Tongariro
Mouth	Tasman Sea
• coordinates	39°56.89′S 174°59.22′E / 39.94817°S 174.98700°E / -39.94817; 174.98700
• elevation	Sea level
Length	290 km (180 mi)
Basin size	7,380 km2 (2,850 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	219 m3/s (7,700 cu ft/s)[1]
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Whakapapa River, Retaruke River, Manganui o te Ao River
• right	Pungapunga River, Ongarue River, Ohura River, Tangarakau River, Whangamōmona River

The Whanganui River is a major river in the North Island of New Zealand. It is the country's third-longest river, and has special status owing to its importance to the region's Māori people. In March 2017 it became the world's second natural resource (after Te Urewera) to be given its own legal identity, with the rights, duties and liabilities of a legal person. The Whanganui Treaty settlement brought the longest-running litigation in New Zealand history to an end.^[2][3]