Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson
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City and unitary region | |
View of Nelson from the "Centre of New Zealand" in November 2006 | |
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| Nickname: Sunny Nelson | |
| Motto(s): Latin: Palmam qui meruit ferat (Let him who has earned it bear the palm) | |
Nelson region within New Zealand | |
| Coordinates: 41°16′15″S 173°17′2″E / 41.27083°S 173.28389°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Island | South Island |
| Unitary authority | Nelson City |
| Settled by Europeans | 1841 |
| Founded by | Arthur Wakefield |
| Named after | Horatio Nelson |
| Electorates | Nelson Te Tai Tonga |
| Suburbs | |
| Government | |
| • Body | Nelson City Council |
| • Mayor | Nick Smith |
| • Deputy mayor | Rohan O'Neill-Stevens |
| • MPs | Rachel Boyack (Labour) Tākuta Ferris (Te Pāti Māori) |
| Area | |
• Territorial | 422.19 km2 (163.01 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 54.69 km2 (21.12 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2024) | |
• Territorial | 54,400 |
| • Density | 130/km2 (330/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 50,800 |
| • Urban density | 930/km2 (2,400/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode | 7010, 7011, 7020 |
| Area code | 03 |
| HDI (2022) | 0.933 very high · 7th |
Nelson (Māori: Whakatū) is a city and unitary authority on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay at the top of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the oldest city in the South Island and the second-oldest settled city in the country; it was established in 1841 and became a city by British royal charter in 1858.
Nelson City is bordered to the west and south-west by the Tasman District and to the north-east, east and south-east by the Marlborough District. The Nelson urban area has a population of 50,800, making it New Zealand's 15th most populous urban area.
Nelson is well known for its thriving local arts and crafts scene; each year, the city hosts events popular with locals and tourists alike, such as the Nelson Arts Festival.