Tasman in Focus

With hundreds of kilometres of pristine coastline, tempting golden beaches and azure waters, three famous national parks (Abel Tasman, Nelson Lakes and the Kahurangi) - attracting visitors to the region is effortless.   

The Tasman region is condensed in its landscaped diversity; rolling hills and snow capped mountains, coastline to lush native vegetation and beautiful rivers meandering from mountains to seaside.   The autumn colours of the Moutere plains personify hues hard to duplicate on an artists pallet.    

Climate and lifestyle are the main drivers for people choosing to live or visit in the Tasman region.   There is an abundance of wineries, orchardists, cottage industries and craft cafes along the coastal and inland routes.

Between the 1986 and 1996 Censuses, Tasman was the third-fastest growing region in New Zealand up by 11.6%.

The majority of Tasman's urban population resides in the Richmond area, while Tasman's two fastest growing urban areas are Brightwater and Wakefield.    The Tasman region has a low population density with only 3.9 people per square kilometre, due to the lack of large urban areas and because 58% of the area is taken up by national parks.

Key industries in the region are agriculture, forestry, fishing and tourism.  

For more information on Tasman's area's, townships, civil defence, recreational walks, demographic details, history and reserves and natural areas, please click Tasman District Council.  

For visitor information please click Nelson Tasman Tourism.