Motueka

Motueka
Town
An aerial view of Motueka looking east
Nickname(s):  "Mot"
Coordinates: 41°07′24″S 173°00′53″E / 41.12333°S 173.01472°E / -41.12333; 173.01472Coordinates: 41°07′24″S 173°00′53″E / 41.12333°S 173.01472°E / -41.12333; 173.01472
Country	New Zealand
Region	Tasman District
Ward	Motueka Ward
Area [1]
• Total	13.66 km2 (5.27 sq mi)
Population  (June 2020)[2]
• Total	8,420
• Density	620/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+12 (NZST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postal codes	7120, 7196, 7197, 7198
Area code	03
Website	www.lovemotueka.com

Motueka is a town in the South Island of New Zealand, close to the mouth of the Motueka River on the western shore of Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere. It is the second largest in the Tasman Region, with a population of 8,420 as of June 2020.^[2]

The surrounding district has a number of apple, pear and kiwifruit orchards, as well as growing a variety of specialised crops such as hops. The area formerly served as the main centre of tobacco growing in New Zealand. A number of small vineyards have also been developed.

Nearby beaches (such as Kaiteriteri and Marahau) are very popular with holidaymakers, and the area around Motueka has one of the country's highest annual sunshine-hour indices.^[3]

Motueka, as one of the nearest towns to the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks, has become the base of many tourism ventures, as well as in Nelson Lakes National Park, and in other recreational areas. Extensive limestone cave systems (including Harwoods Hole in the Takaka Hill area north of Motueka) attract cavers and rock climbers. Sea kayaking, tramping and canyoning now attract many thousands of visitors each year.

Many artists live in the area around Motueka, especially potters and reggae musicians. The Riverside Community, in nearby Lower Moutere, is a pacifist intentional community. Founded in the 1940s, it is New Zealand's oldest cooperative living community.^[4]

Name[]

The name Motueka, or more correctly Motuweka, comes from the Māori language, and means weka island, the weka being a bird of the rail family. The town is colloquially called "Mot" by some residents.

History[]

The first known European visitor to the coast near Motueka in 1827 was French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville, of the French corvette Astrolabe. He explored and described much of the Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere shore line. Three ships carrying the New Zealand Company's Nelson expedition, led by Captain Arthur Wakefield, anchored at Astrolabe Roads, north of Kaiteriteri Beach—about 16 kilometres (10 mi) due north of Motueka—in October 1841. Kaiteriteri was selected as a site for the first settlement but was later abandoned in favour of Nelson Haven. The exceptional fertility of the soil and the suitability of the surrounding land for small farm settlement were the main reasons for the establishment of the second town of the Nelson settlement at Motueka in 1842. Motueka was created as a borough in 1900. During the period, 1853 to 1876, Motueka was administrated as part of the Nelson Province.

Geography and climate[]

Motueka is situated on the small Motueka Plain near the Motueka River which enters Tasman Bay about 4 km north of the town. To the west of the valley the land rises steeply to the and , and to the south the flat is broken by the gently rolling Moutere Hills.

The source of the Pearse River near Motueka is the deepest known cold-water cave in the world.^[5]

Demographics[]

Motueka, comprising the statistical areas of Motueka North, Motueka West and Motueka East, covers 13.66 km² (5.27 sq mi).^[1] It had an estimated population of 8,420 as of June 2020,^[2] with a population density of 616 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	6,624	—
2013	7,110	+1.02%
2018	8,007	+2.40%
Source: [6]

Motueka had a population of 8,007 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 897 people (12.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 1,383 people (20.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 2,976 households. There were 3,885 males and 4,128 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.94 males per female, with 1,323 people (16.5%) aged under 15 years, 1,314 (16.4%) aged 15 to 29, 3,189 (39.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 2,181 (27.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 85.8% European/Pākehā, 14.6% Māori, 2.5% Pacific peoples, 5.7% Asian, and 2.3% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 18.3%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 53.8% had no religion, 33.3% were Christian, 0.5% were Hindu, 0.1% were Muslim, 1.7% were Buddhist and 3.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 786 (11.8%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 1,659 (24.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,835 (42.4%) people were employed full-time, 1,008 (15.1%) were part-time, and 174 (2.6%) were unemployed.^[6]

Individual statistical areas

Name	Population	Households	Median age	Median income
Motueka North	2,478	987	46.3 years	$24,600[7]
Motueka West	2,523	783	39.7 years	$25,600[8]
Motueka East	3,006	1,206	53.3 years	$24,300[9]
New Zealand			37.4 years	$31,800

Religion[]

Motueka once served as a centre for the Plymouth Brethren:^[10] their New Zealand patriarch James George Deck (1807–1884) lies buried in Motueka cemetery.

Economy[]

Horticulture is the main industry in the area surrounding Motueka, and the town benefits directly from this. Some of the main crops are apples, beer hops and kiwifruit. Due to the seasonal growth of many crops, the town's population increases greatly with seasonal workers, especially during late summer and early autumn for the apple 'pick'.

At the height of tobacco production, Motueka was home to two tobacco factories. One owned by Australian company WD & HO Wills Holdings and the other by Rothmans International. The tobacco industry has ceased to exist in the area.

Major employers in Motueka include:

• Motueka Lumber Company now known and recognised globally as the MLC Group. Operates a timber processing facility that specialises in cut-to-length componentry, small end section and specialised timber mouldings.
• Nelson Aviation College trains pilots for the aviation industry.
• Prolam has manufacturing facilities in Lower Moutere and Riwaka (previously Prime Pine) that produce glulam beams, i beams, LVL timber, posts, wood flooring, timber retaining walls and mid floors.
• Talley's Group was established in 1936 by Ivan Peter Talijancich. One of the town's largest employers, the company's Port Motueka site incorporates the Group Head Office, the Seafood Division and the Dairy Division. The Vegetable Division began operations in 1978 at Motueka, but has since been relocated to Blenheim and Ashburton.^[11]
• CJ Industries is a construction and landscaping company.

New Zealand Energy Limited is a Motueka-based company that operates small hydroelectric power stations in Haast, Fox, Opunake and Raetihi.

Government[]

Local[]

From 1853 to 1876, Motueka was administered as part of the Nelson Province.

The Motueka Borough Council was formed in 1900 and existed until 1989, when local government reforms saw it merged into the Tasman District Council. Today the Motueka Ward is represented by three councillors and includes the nearby settlements of Kaiteriteri, Marahau, Ngātīmoti and Riwaka.^[12]

National[]

The electorate of Motueka and Massacre Bay was created for the 1853 New Zealand general election and was succeeded by the electorate of Motueka in the 1860–1861 general election which lasted until 1890. In 1896 the Motueka electorate was recreated, and lasted until 1946. Today Motueka is part of the West Coast-Tasman electorate.

Education[]

Motueka High School is a co-educational state secondary school for Year 9 to 13 students,^[13][14] with a roll of 743 as of March 2021.^[15]

There are two co-educational state primary schools in the township for Year 1 to 8 students: Parklands School,^[16][17] with a roll of 181,^[18] and Motueka South School,^[19][20] with a roll of 230.^[21]

There are two private primary schools in the township for Year 1 to 8 students: Motueka Steiner School,^[22][23] with a roll of 89,^[24] and St Peter Chanel School,^[25][26] with a roll of 56.^[27]

There are also five other primary schools in the area surrounding Motueka.^[28]

Media[]

There are two local newspapers in Motueka: The Guardian Motueka, out every Wednesday and The Motueka Golden Bay News, out every Thursday. The area has a local radio station, Fresh FM, which also broadcasts to Blenheim, Nelson, Takaka and Tasman.

Transport[]

Motueka is served by State Highway 60 which runs 114.5 kilometres (71.1 mi) from Collingwood in Golden Bay / Mohua to State Highway 6 near Richmond.

The former State Highway 61, now known as the Motueka Valley Highway connects State Highway 60 at Motueka to State Highway 6 at Kohatu Junction near Tapawera.

Port Motueka, 3 kilometres (2 mi) south-east of Motueka, on a tidal lagoon of some 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres), provides sheltered berthage for coastal vessels and is the Gateway to the Abel Tasman National Park.^{[citation needed]}

The Motueka Aerodrome is 3 kilometres (2 mi) west of the town centre and serves as a base for the Motueka Aero Club and the Nelson Aviation College. In 1984, Motueka Air started scheduled passenger flights from Motueka to Wellington, New Zealand using a Piper Aztec aircraft. Within a couple of years the Motueka Air network had grown to include Nelson, Wellington and Palmerston North using additional Piper Chieftains. In 1988, Motueka Air was renamed Air Nelson and relocated to Nelson Airport.^[29]

Culture and arts[]

Marae[]

Te Āwhina Marae is located in Motueka. It is a marae (meeting ground) for Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu and Te Atiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui, and includes the Turangāpeke wharenui (meeting house).^[30][31]

Festivals[]

Motueka hosts the Kaiteriteri Carnival and Motueka Festival of Lights.

Sport[]

Teams[]

• Golden Bay-Motueka Rugby Union
• Tasman Rugby Union

Sister cities[]

Motueka is twinned with:

• Kiyosato, Hokkaido, Japan^[32]

Notable people[]

• Denis Aberhart, cricketer
• Michael Bennett, film director, screenwriter
• George Black, politician
• Tony Blain, cricketer
• Ann Boyce, New Zealand pioneer and herbalist.^[33]
• Edward Chaytor, military commander
• Bevan Congdon, cricketer
• Josh Coppins, professional motocross racer
• Herbert Curtis, politician
• James George Deck, evangelist
• Shannon Francois, netballer
• Owen Franks, Rugby Player, Crusaders, All Black
• David Havili, Rugby Player, Crusaders, All Black
• Ruth Gilbert, poet
• Toni Hodgkinson, middle distance runner
• Keith Holyoake, Prime Minister of New Zealand
• Denny Hulme, 1967 Formula One world champion
• Richmond Hursthouse, politician
• Simon Mannering, rugby league player
• Roderick McKenzie, politician
• Glenn Milnes, cricketer
• Walter Moffatt, Mayor of Nelson
• Michael Myers, Chief Justice of New Zealand
• Charles Parker, politician
• Richard Hudson, politician
• Alfred Christopher Picard, politician
• Bill Rowling, politician
• Jerry Skinner, politician
• Shelton Woolright, musician, best known as the drummer for Blindspott
• Florence Young, missionary

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Motueka.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Motueka.

• Motueka Community Board
• Motueka Online
• Motueka Photo Gallery