ABOUT MANAWATU AND HOROWHENUA
The Manawatu – Horowhenua region lies between the North Island’s main mountain range and the west coast. It stretches south from the Rangitikei River to the Kapiti district. Manawatu is the northern part and Horowhenua the southern part. Manawatu’s main centres are Palmerston North and Feilding. Horowhenua’s main centres are Levin and Foxton.
Manawatu and Horowhenua offer locals and visitors alike stunning landscapes from the rugged Ruahine and Tararua Ranges and out to the Tasman Sea, with an abundance of cycling, mountain biking and walking tracks. Bungy jumping, white water rafting, horse trekking, kite surfing, swimming and fishing are popular activities in the region. Te Apiti – Manawatu Gorge is a national taonga, with a unique geography and rich cultural history.
From quaint country towns and rural villages like Fielding and Marton, to Foxton and Himatangi beaches and the 200km of fishable waters within Pahiatua, Manawatu and Horowhenua offer something for everyone.
The region is home to world class education, including Massey University, Universal College of Learning (UCOL), and IPU New Zealand. Palmerston North and Manawatu are known as the epicentre for agrifood and innovation and are one of the top three global agrihubs in the world.
Median house prices for the region in December 2022 were $625,000 for Manawatu, $520,000 for Horowhenua and $625,000 for Palmerston North, making the area very affordable compared with the national median house price of $810,000.
TOP SIX THINGS TO DO IN MANAWATU AND HOROWHENUA
1. Visit Manawatu Gorge – one of the few places in the world where a river passes through a dividing range. The reserve straddles both sides of the Manawatu River and State Highway 3. There are three popular walks, and reserves at both ends of the Gorge offer camping and safe swimming spots.
2. Spend an afternoon at Levin Aquatic Centre – situated in the beautiful Gladys Taylor Park surrounded by palm trees, just opposite Levin’s skate park. The Centre includes four indoor pools: Main Pool, Play Pool, Teach Pool and Hydrotherapy Pool and a 70m enclosed hydro slide.
3. Spend a few hours walking the art trail in Palmerston North’s city centre – host to a multitude of artistic features including sculptures, murals, mosaics and galleries, all clustered within the city centre, within walking distance to the Visitor Information Centre in The Square.
4. Discover one of New Zealand’s largest collections of steam engines and early industrial heritage at the Tokomaru Steam Engine Museum.
5. Visit the New Zealand Rugby Museum in Palmerston North and explore the rich history and folklore of New Zealand’s national game, discovering the stories, legends and myths.
6. Spend a few hours at the Te Manawa Museum of Art, Science and Heritage in Palmerston North. The museum hosts a range of exhibitions and events, as well as an extensive collection of taonga (treasures). Children can get hands-on in one of the learning discovery spaces, meet the mysterious cave weta, or view native fish in Te Awa – The River.
Edgar Caballero and Catherine Geraghty
Born and bred in Manawatu, Catherine Geraghty and her builder-qualified partner Edgar Caballero are the proud owners of Stonewood Homes Manawatu and Horowhenua. They pride themselves on quality workmanship, turning their client’s needs and dreams into reality and delivering on target. Regular and open communication with their clients is key for the couple, as they understand they are delivering what is usually the biggest asset their clients will have throughout their lives.
“We would rather under-promise rather than under-deliver, so we are upfront with our clients about the building process and timelines.”
– Catherine Geraghty
The couple believe that one of the strongest points of difference between Stonewood Homes and their competitors is the sheer number of house designs they are able to offer their clients. Their clients can have an architecturally designed home at an affordable price, from a small home for a retired couple, right through to a six-bedroom house for a large family.
Catherine and Edgar advise people looking to have a new home built to determine their budget and consider the top three non-negotiables for their new house – for some people this will be high-end finishes like granite benchtops, while for others it may be the inclusion of a fourth bedroom. They understand that everyone is different and unique, with their own requirements and wish list for their new home.
The couple live in Rongotea and are heavily involved in the local community, with Catherine the Treasurer of a local play centre and Edgar a member of the local Lions Club.