Whanganui has a long tradition of delivering a great education to local children and adults. The Friends School, Native Schools along the Whanganui River and Whanganui Girls College all feature.

Education was paramount in traditional Māori society, beginning in the womb. Children’s games honed mental agility and taught important motor skills to suit future vocations chosen by tohunga, scholarly experts of great renown. Whare Wānanga taught those selected as tohunga of tomorrow.

With the arrival of Christian missionaries, English-style schools were set up. Because of the importance the local community placed on learning, Whanganui became the education centre of the central North Island.