Nelson (Māori: Whakatū) is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere. Nelson is the oldest city in the South Island and the second-oldest settled city in New Zealand – it was established in 1841 and became a city by royal charter in 1858. Nelson City is bordered to the west and south-west by Tasman District Council and to the north-east, east and south-east by Marlborough District Council. The Nelson urban area has a population of 50,800, making it New Zealand’s 15th most populous urban area. Nelson is well known for its thriving local arts and crafts scene; each year, the city hosts events popular with locals and tourists alike, such as the Nelson Arts Festival. The annual Wearable Art Awards began near Nelson and a local museum, World of WearableArt now showcases winning designs alongside a collection of classic cars.
As the major regional centre, the city offers many lodgings, restaurants, and unique speciality shopping such as at the Jens HansenGoldsmiths where “The One Ring” in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy was designed. Nelson has a vibrant local music and arts scene and is known nationwide for its culturally idiosyncratic craftsmen. These include potters, glass blowers (such as Flamedaisy Glass Design and Höglund Art Glass Studio & Gallery), and dozens of wood carvers using native New Zealand southern beech and exotic macrocarpa. Nelson is a popular visitor destination and year-round attracts both New Zealanders and international tourists. The Nelson Saturday Market is a popular weekly market where one can buy direct from local artists. The Theatre Royal was restored in 2010 and is the oldest wooden functioning theatre in the Southern Hemisphere (built 1878). Art organisations include the Suter Art Gallery and Nelson Arts Festival. The Victory Village community received the 2010 New Zealander of the Year award for Community of the Year.
Several major events take place: Nelson Jazz & Blues Festival – January, Nelson Kite Festival – January, Nelson Yacht Regatta – January, Adam Chamber Music Festival – biennial – January / February, Evolve Festival – February, Marchfest – March, Taste Nelson festival – March, Winter Music Festival – July, and Nelson Arts Festival – October.
The tallest building in Nelson is the 40 m (130 feet) tall Rutherford Hotel located on the west edge of Trafalgar Square. Unlike many towns and cities in New Zealand, Nelson has retained many Victorian buildings in its historic centre and the South Street area has been designated as having heritage value. Surviving historic buildings: Nelson Cathedral, Amber House, Broadgreen House, Cabragh House, Chez Eelco, Fairfield House, Founders Park Windmill, Isel House, Melrose House, Nelson Central School Renwick House, Theatre Royal, Victorian Rose Pub, Redwood College (Founders Park), and Nelson Centre of Musical Arts (formerly Nelson School of Music) Est. 1894.
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 WearableArt houses a collection of collectable cars and a collections of works from the Wearable Art Awards.
Nelson has a large number and variety of public parks and reserves maintained at public expense by Nelson City Council. Major reserves include Grampians Reserve, close to the suburb of Braemar, and the botanical Reserve in the east of Nelson, close to The Wood. Natureland Zoological Park is a small zoological facility close to Tāhunanui Beach. The facility is popular with children, where they can closely approach wallabies, monkeys, meerkats, llamas and alpacas, Kune Kune pigs, otters, and peacocks. There are also turtles, tropical fish and a walk through aviary. Although the zoo nearly closed in 2008, the Orana Wildlife Trust took over its running instead. It looked like a bright future ahead for Natureland and its staff but since the repeated earthquakes in Christchurch in 2011 and the damage to Orana Park, Orana Wildlife Trust are uncertain of the future of Natureland. Orana Wildlife trust have since pulled out of Natureland, which is now run independently.
