Levin

Levin is an agricultural town in the Manawatū-Whanganui Region situated about 95 kilometers north of Wellington along State Highway 1. The town spreads across residential and commercial areas near Lake Horowhenua.

The town emerged in 1889 when European settlers acquired land parcels and named the settlement after William Hort Levin, director of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company. This early railway connection shaped the town as a transport hub.

The Kawiu Marae and Te Huia o Raukura meeting house north of town serve as gathering spaces for the Muaūpoko community. These places show how Māori culture remains part of daily life in the region.

The town connects to Wellington and Palmerston North through the Capital Connection train service and daily InterCity buses. Visitors can easily explore the flat landscape on foot or by bicycle, especially around the lake and nearby gardens.

Lake Horowhenua beside the town formed from a natural collapse of the ground and was traditionally used by the Muaūpoko as a food source. Today it provides a quiet natural setting within the surrounding farmland.

Location: Manawatū-Whanganui Region

Elevation above the sea: 38 m

GPS coordinates: -40.62500,175.28333

Latest update: December 20, 2025 12:05