Story: Nelson region

Land area

• Nelson: 10,231 sq km
• New Zealand: 268,690 sq km

Climate

(National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research data, 1971–2000)

Nelson city

• Mean temperature, January: 17.7°C
• Mean temperature, July: 7.0°C
• Mean annual rainfall: 970 mm
• Mean annual sunshine: 2,405 hours

Total population, 2006

• Nelson: 87,516
• New Zealand: 4,027,947

Ethnic affiliation, 2006

European

• Nelson: 81.5%
• New Zealand: 67.6%

New Zealander¹

• Nelson: 14.4%
• New Zealand:11.1%

Māori

• Nelson: 7.9%
• New Zealand:14.6%

Pacific Island

• Nelson: 1.2%
• New Zealand: 6.9%

Asian incl Indian

• Nelson: 1.9%
• New Zealand: 9.2%

Principal tribes/sub-tribes

Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Rarua, Ngāti Tama. Te Ati Awa

Population of major urban area, 2006

• Nelson: 59,200

Age distribution, 2006

Under 15

• Nelson: 20.0%
• New Zealand: 21.5%

15–64

• Nelson: 66.0%
• New Zealand: 66.2%

65 and over

• Nelson: 14.0%
• New Zealand: 12.3%

Employment by industry, 2006

(Figures are for workers aged 15 and over, in selected industries in which the region’s employment pattern is most distinctive)

Agriculture, forestry and fishing

• Nelson: 11.9%
• New Zealand: 6.8%

Finance and insurance

• Nelson: 1.8%
• New Zealand: 3.2%

Public administration

• Nelson: 2.1%
• New Zealand: 4.1%

Unemployment, 2006

• Nelson: 3.3%
• New Zealand: 5.1%

Livestock numbers, 2007

Sheep

• Nelson: 356,124
• New Zealand: 38,460,477

Dairy cattle

• Nelson: 65,711
• New Zealand: 5,260,850

Beef cattle

• Nelson: 57,726
• New Zealand: 4,393,617