Rai Valley

Rai Valley
Map
Coordinates: 41°13′39″S 173°34′59″E / 41.22750°S 173.58306°E / -41.22750; 173.58306
CountryNew Zealand
DistrictMarlborough
Ward
  • Marlborough Sounds General Ward
  • Marlborough Māori Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityMarlborough District Council
 • Marlborough District MayorNadine Taylor
 • Kaikōura MPStuart Smith
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris
Area
[1]
 • Total27.96 km2 (10.80 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total190
 • Density6.8/km2 (18/sq mi)

Rai Valley is a rural settlement in Marlborough, New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 6, 68 km (42 mi) northwest of Blenheim and 46 km (29 mi) east of Nelson. The Rai River runs past the locality to join the Pelorus River at the locality of Pelorus Bridge to the south.[3][4] At the 2018 census, the settlement had a population of 177.[5]

The area may have been named for the Rangitāne chief, Rai kau moana.[6]

The locality supports dairy farming in the area,[7] with a dairy and cheese factory established in about 1909.[8]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Area was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
  3. ^ Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 59. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
  4. ^ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 131. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  5. ^ "Age and sex by ethnic group (grouped total response), for census usually resident population counts, 2006, 2013, and 2018 Censuses (urban rural areas)". nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  6. ^ Marlborough Historical Society (2005). Click – A Captured Moment – Marlborough's Early Heritage. Blenheim: Marlborough Historical Society. p. 64. ISBN 0-473-10475-X.
  7. ^ "Marlborough Region – Landscape Pattern". Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966).
  8. ^ Marlborough Historical Society, pp 84–85