At least 200 Māori leaders will be welcomed to Whanganui at Pūtiki Marae on Wednesday, Ngā Tangata Tiaki chairman Gerrard Albert says.
His Whanganui River governance group is hosting a meeting of the Iwi Chairs' Forum from May 2-4. After the pōwhiri it moves to the Whanganui Function Centre at the racecourse.
The forum meets four times a year, and the May meeting is generally a quieter one after "the hubbub of Waitangi", Albert said.
Subjects discussed vary, but centre on Māori development and wellbeing.
"[The forum's] main purpose is to share information pertinent to the development of iwi and Māori in general."
Leaders tended to take a global view of issues like child poverty and incarceration rates, he said.
Whanganui kaumatua John Maihi asked for the hui to be held in Whanganui, and Whanganui River Māori Trust Board leader Sir Archie Taiaroa led the way for Whanganui's involvement.
The leaders are not an elite group, Albert said, and any trust can belong.