Tasman Region

Tasman is a unitary authority (it runs both regional and district council functions), with Richmond as its largest town, about 13km south of neighbouring Nelson city near Tasman Bay, and Motueka and Māpua as the other notable towns. Tasman recorded New Zealand's highest regional population growth between the 2018 and 2023 censuses, at 10.3% -- genuinely faster growth than any other region in the country over that period.

Horticulture and fruit growing is the region's dominant export industry ($375.5 million in 2023), ahead of wood-product manufacturing ($148.4 million) and seafood processing ($138.7 million) -- apples, hops and berries are all significant local crops, and seasonal horticultural work is a real part of the local job market. Tasman is also the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park, which shapes both its tourism economy and its outdoors-oriented lifestyle.

Richmond and Nelson city function as one effective urban area for day-to-day purposes (shopping, services, commuting) even though they're separate councils -- worth checking both when house-hunting, since a Richmond address can mean a very short commute into Nelson itself.