The Rangitikei District is a territorial authority district located primarily in the Manawatū-Whanganui region in the North Island of New Zealand, although a small part, the town of Ngamahanga (13.63% by land area), lies in the Hawke's Bay Region.

The Rangitikei District was established in 1989 as part of the 1989 local government reforms.

[6] Rangitikei District Council is served by eleven councillors elected across five wards.

[12] Located north of Wellington, the district stretches from the South Taranaki Bight toward the North Island Volcanic Plateau, forming a trapezium-shaped block that includes the towns of Taihape, Bulls, Marton, Hunterville, and Mangaweka.

Winters are mild near the coast and on the plains; it is colder inland and in the hill country, but often frosty, clear and calm.

The results were 79.6% European (Pākehā); 28.2% Māori; 5.5% Pasifika; 2.9% Asian; 0.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander".

The North Island portion of this national state highway, one of only eight in New Zealand, begins at Cape Reinga / Te Rerenga Wairua and ends at Wellington International Airport—passing through Bulls at 925 km.

This highway connects Woodville (25 km east of Palmerston North) and Hamilton via New Plymouth.

State Highway 54 connects Palmerston North and SH 1 at Vinegar Hill via Feilding.

InterCity runs five daily and three non-daily bus services in Marton and Bulls.

[25] Marton used to be serviced by the North Island Main Trunk (or Overlander), a railway line connecting Auckland and Wellington.