• We are an independent Charitable Trust dedicated to the preservation and protection of historic places, and to the telling of our stories in Whanganui, Rangitikei and Waimarino.
• We are associate members of the national body of independent heritage societies - Historic Places Aotearoa. We also hold membership of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga but act independently.
• We advocate for all heritage across the region.

We welcome the public and organisations to join our Membership to help support our aims. Donations and bequests are administered wisely and provide real impetus to protect our heritage for future generations.

Our basic objectives are to:

• promote the identification, protection and conservation of our local heritage;
• inform, advise and educate people, including decision-makers, of the importance of our heritage and historic places, and
• involve the local community in learning about and caring for places of heritage significance and our local history.

We are actively involved locally in:

• We run an event in the annual Whanganui Summer Programme of bus trips, guided walks and talks
• Town Centre Regeneration Committee hosted by Whanganui District Council.
• We actively participated in the Earthquake Prone Buildings Community Taskforce hosted by Whanganui District Council.
• Advocating for heritage buildings retention.
• We actively manage the preservation of several sites, incluidng Cameron Blockhouse and Kawana Flour Mill.
• We initiated the design and fundraising of the new Anzac Parade entranceway for the Durie Hill Elevator, to celebrate its Centenary in 2019.
• We manage the Whanganui Heritage Awards, launched in 2020 and also support the establishment of Naitonal Heritage Awards.
• We manage and coordinate Whanganui Heritage Month, which celebrate our European and Maori heritage and architecture our history and cultures.
• We support signage to identify heritage buildings and sites. We are managing the "Blue Plaques" project on commercial heritage buildings - see www.blueplaques.nz.