Nelson Region

For the former Nelson Provincial Council, see Nelson Province

For the current top-level subdivision of Nelson in New Zealand, see Nelson, New Zealand

Nelson
Location of Nelson (red) in New Zealand
Composition	Nelson City Tasman District
Largest city	Nelson City
Demonym(s)	Nelsonian

Nelson is a geographical region of New Zealand which comprises Nelson City and Tasman District.

History

Main article: History of the Nelson Region, New Zealand

Geography

The Nelson region comprises two unitary authorities – Nelson City, administered by the Nelson City Council, and Tasman District, administered by the Tasman District Council, based in Richmond 15 kilometres (9 miles) to the southwest. It is between Marlborough, another unitary authority, to the east, and the West Coast Regional Council to the west.

Demographics

Population density of the Nelson Region at the 2006 census

Economy

The sub-national GDP of the Nelson region (Nelson City and Tasman District) was estimated at $3.4 billion in 2010, 1.8% of New Zealand's national GDP.

Energy

Cobb Power Station

The Cobb Power Station is a hydroelectric power station on the Cobb River, 112 kilometres (70 mi) northwest of Nelson, New Zealand. Since 2003, it has been owned and operated by TrustPower. Annual generation is approximately 190 gigawatt-hours (680 TJ).

Pupu Hydro Power Scheme

The Pupu Hydro Power Scheme is a small hydroelectric power station near Takaka in Golden Bay of the Nelson region. It opened in 1929 as the first power station in the region and was the first public electricity supply in Golden Bay. After closing in 1980 following damage to the generator, the power scheme was fully restored by the local Pupu Hydro Society and many volunteer groups over the course of seven years and re-opened in 1988, again supplying electricity to the national grid.

Natural resources

The Nelson region is rich in natural resources with varying quantities of argillite, asbestos, chromite, coal, copper, crude oil, dolomite, dunite, gold, granite, iron ore, lead, limestone, marble, molybdenum, natural gas, nickel, soapstone, tungsten, uranium and zinc present.

In 1905, a government geologist forecast that iron deposits of 50 million tons lay in the Onekaka and Parapara areas of the Nelson region. With all the necessary materials – iron ore, limestone, water, and coal – within a few miles of each other and ownership of a nearby wharf, the Onekaka Iron and Steel Company Ltd seemed virtually self-contained. With the Nelson Evening Mail predicting that "Nelson was on the eve of a future industrial center on the shores of Golden Bay". The first iron flowed from the blast furnace at the Onekaka ironworks at 8 pm on 27 April 1922 but by 1931, the Onekaka Iron and Steel Company Ltd had gone into liquidation due to falling prices and an increase in tariffs by the Australian government. Several attempts between 1951 and 1956, by the New Zealand Government, which had nationalised the steel industry in 1938 proved unsuccessful.

Culture

Ceramics

Nelson's pottery industry has been commercially viable from the earliest days. Cheap pottery imports have had an impact, but the Nelson region remains renowned for its pottery and ceramics, and pottery continues to grow as a vital and innovative, creative industry.

Family Structure

Nelsonian family life is usually understood to be centered on the nuclear family, rather than the extended family. There are usually one or two children in a family. Traditionally, men were the wage-earners and women remained in the home and cared for children. However, since the Second World War, gender roles have changed. Today, both men and women are dual wage-earners. Cohabitation is also common.

Holidays

Nelson Anniversary Day

Nelson Anniversary Day is a public holiday observed in the northern half of the South Island of New Zealand, being the area's provincial anniversary day. It is observed throughout the historic Nelson Province, even though the provinces of New Zealand were abolished in 1876. The modern area of observation includes all of Nelson City and included all of the present-day Buller, Kaikoura, Marlborough, Tasman as well as the Grey District north of the Grey River and the Hurunui District north of the Hurunui River. The holiday usually falls on the Monday closest to 1 February, the anniversary of the arrival of the first New Zealand Company boat, the Fifeshire on 1 February 1842.

Anniversary celebrations in the early years featured a sailing regatta, horse racing, running races, shooting and ploughing matches. In 1892, the Nelson Jubilee Celebration featured an official week-long programme with church services, sports, concerts, a ball and a grand display of fireworks.

Museums

The Nelson region houses several museums.

• The Founders Heritage Park houses a number of groups with historical themes, including transport.
• The Nelson Provincial Museum houses a collection of locally significant artefacts.
• The World of Wearable Art houses a collection of collectable cars and a collections of works from the Wearable Art Awards.

Outdoor and vacation culture

Nelson is a popular visitor destination and year-round attracts both New Zealanders and international tourists.

Radio

The Nelson Region is served by all major national radio stations. Local radio stations include The Hits (formerly Radio Nelson), More FM (formerly Fifeshire FM),The Breeze, ZM (formerly The Planet 97FM) and community station Fresh FM.

Symbols, Flags and Emblems

See also: Flag of the City of Nelson

Television

The Nelson Region is served by the major national terrestrial television station, Freeview and has one local television station, Mainland Television.

Theatre

The Theatre Royal in Nelson City, built 1878, is the oldest wooden functioning theatre in the Southern Hemisphere and was restored in 2010.

References

This article "Nelson Region" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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