Who we are
A great big melting pot Quietly and steadily, NelsonMarlborough has become one of the most cosmopolitan areas in the country, with a rich blend of cultures supplementing our Maori and European heritage. Sadie Beckman backgrounds this smorgasbord and meets some of the newer arrivals.
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ibrant, sunny, artistic and renowned for stunning natural beauty, the Top of the South is considered by many to be New Zealand’s sweet spot. Thousands of visitors arrive year-round to experience a little dose of the good life. Many stay, enriching our culture with new outlooks – not to mention fine wine and dining. ”More than one in five, or 21.2 per cent, of the Nelson region’s population were born overseas, up from 18.6 per cent in 2006,” says Government Statistician Liz MacPherson. Nelson has become the third most multicultural city in New Zealand, with growth surging across many ethnic groups. That diversity itself draws migrants, who feel more settled in a place where their communities already exist. But why did they choose to come to the region in the first place?