Motueka

For the island off the coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, see Motueka Island (Pigeon Island).

Motueka
Town
An aerial view of Motueka looking east
An aerial view of Motueka looking east
Nickname: 
"Mot"
Map
Coordinates: 41°07′24″S 173°00′53″E / 41.12333°S 173.01472°E / -41.12333; 173.01472
CountryNew Zealand
Territorial authorityTasman
WardMotueka Ward
CommunityMotueka Community[1]
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityTasman District Council
 • Mayor of TasmanTim King
 • West Coast-Tasman MPMaureen Pugh
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris
Area
[2]
 • Total12.68 km2 (4.90 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2024)[3]
 • Total8,300
 • Density650/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postal codes
7120, 7196, 7197, 7198
Area code03
Websitewww.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. It is the second largest in the Tasman Region, with a population of 8,300 as of June 2024.[3]

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 until the early 1980s.[4] A number of small vineyards have also been developed.

Nearby beaches (such as Kaiteriteri and Mārahau) are very popular with holidaymakers, and the area around Motueka has one of the country's highest annual sunshine-hour indices.[5] Riwaka lies 4.8 km north of Motueka via State Highway 60 and Nelson is 41.7 km to the east of Motueka via State Highway 60 and State Highway 6.

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 Tākaka 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.[6]

  1. ^ "Motueka community board". www.tasman.govt.nz. Tasman District Council. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Area was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Motueka | NZHistory, New Zealand history online". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Total sunshine hours across selected New Zealand locations". Figure.NZ. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Riverside Community | Cooperative Living for Peace and Sustainability". Riverside.org.nz. Retrieved 14 July 2015.