Welcoming Week 2026 – Together We Belong
Welcoming Week brings communities across Aotearoa New Zealand together to celebrate inclusion, connection and belonging and is a chance to celebrate the people, cultures and connections that make Whanganui a welcoming place to live. This year's theme, Together We Belong, recognises that welcoming is more than a first impression – it's about creating communities where everyone feels valued, connected and able to participate.
Download the Welcoming Week programme(PDF, 3MB)
This programme brings together events and activities led by Whanganui community groups, organisations, cultural groups, businesses and council teams. From sharing food and culture to creating opportunities to meet, learn and connect, there are lots of ways to get involved.
Whanganui District Council's Welcoming Communities programme coordinates Welcoming Week and supports local organisations to create opportunities for newcomers and long-term residents to connect and participate. This work sits within our Welcoming Communities Plan, which sets out how we can work together to build a community where everyone feels welcome, included and able to belong.
Come along, get involved and help us celebrate what makes Whanganui home.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to making Welcoming Week 2026 possible. We hope you'll find something to enjoy, discover and connect with.
Download the MBIE toolkit collateral