Murchison, New Zealand

Murchison
Aerial view of Murchison in 1978
Aerial view of Murchison in 1978
Map
Coordinates: 41°48′S 172°20′E / 41.800°S 172.333°E / -41.800; 172.333
CountryNew Zealand
Territorial authorityTasman
WardLakes-Murchison Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityTasman District Council
 • Mayor of TasmanTim King
 • West Coast-Tasman MPMaureen Pugh
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris
Area
 • Total4.34 km2 (1.68 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2024)[2]
 • Total480
 • Density110/km2 (290/sq mi)
Postcode(s)
7007
Area code03

Murchison is a town in the Tasman Region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is near the western end of the "Four Rivers Plain", at the confluence of the Buller River and the Mātakitaki River. The other two rivers are the Mangles River, and the Matiri River. It is a rural service town for the surrounding mixed farming district, approximately halfway between Westport and Nelson. Murchison was named after the Scottish geologist Roderick Murchison, one of the founders of the Royal Geographical Society.[3]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Area was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Murchison". NZHistory.net.nz. Retrieved 8 February 2016.