The Tasman area covers a small peninsula on the southern and eastern side of the Moutere Inlet. It includes Kina Beach, a Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere beach with rock pools which is only fully accessible during low tide.[3]
The population of Tasman Village and Kina Beach is approximately 400. There is a general store, a medieval cafe, a vineyard, and a nine-hole golf course with views of Mt Arthur and Abel Tasman National Park. The area also has a cycling track, and is also a base from kayaking, fishing and hiking.[3]
The Aporo Sculpture, a 9 metres (30 ft) high stainless steel sculpture, sits at the Tasman Village turnoff from State Highway 60.[3] It was unveiled in October 2015, cost $60,000, and took local artists, community groups, Tasman District Council staff and volunteers six years to complete.[4]
Country singer-songwriter Aly Cook and four-time adventure racing world champion Nathan Fa'avae were both raised in Tasman. A Harley Davidson motorbike group, Sons of Tasman, also originates from Tasman.[3]
At the annual Muddy Buddy event, attendees in fancy dress get caked in mud from the inlet and are then cleaned off with fire hoses.[3]
History
Tasman was originally named Aporo (the Māori word for apple), but was renamed in 1906 after Dutch explorer Abel Tasman.[3]
The economy was originally based around orchards, but is increasingly based on arts, crafts, vineyards and tourism.[3]
In March 2018, work began on a new 96-lot housing development south of the main village.[5] Landowner Alan Trent, an American businessman, had originally proposed a development with 130 resident sections, 55 apartments, shops, a village plaza, open space, and lifestyle farmland.[6] The plans were scaled back due to community opposition.[7] Trent had put his nearby home on the market for $8.9 million in January 2016.[8]
In December 2018, a local landowner sought planning approval for a small industrial development next to the village. Some residents opposed it, arguing it would affect the village's "rural charm".[9]
Demographics
Tasman settlement
Tasman is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 7.48 km2 (2.89 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 730 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 98 people per km2. It is part of the larger Moutere Hills statistical area.
Before the 2023 census, the settlement had a smaller boundary, covering 6.54 km2 (2.53 sq mi).[1] Using that boundary, Tasman had a population of 498 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 87 people (21.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 153 people (44.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 186 households, comprising 243 males and 249 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female, with 105 people (21.1%) aged under 15 years, 48 (9.6%) aged 15 to 29, 261 (52.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 84 (16.9%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 93.4% European/Pākehā, 6.0% Māori, 0.6% Pasifika, 3.0% Asian, and 3.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 64.5% had no religion, 24.1% were Christian, 0.6% were Hindu, 0.6% were Buddhist and 1.8% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 108 (27.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 45 (11.5%) people had no formal qualifications. 69 people (17.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 180 (45.8%) people were employed full-time, 84 (21.4%) were part-time, and 9 (2.3%) were unemployed.[10]
Moutere Hills statistical area
Moutere Hills covers 86.54 km2 (33.41 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 2,840 as of June 2024,[11] with a population density of 33 people per km2.
Before the 2023 census, the statistical area had a larger boundary, covering 98.43 km2 (38.00 sq mi).[1] Using that boundary, Moutere Hills had a population of 3,177 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 564 people (21.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 951 people (42.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,182 households, comprising 1,596 males and 1,581 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.01 males per female. The median age was 48.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 579 people (18.2%) aged under 15 years, 339 (10.7%) aged 15 to 29, 1,677 (52.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 585 (18.4%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 95.9% European/Pākehā, 5.4% Māori, 0.6% Pasifika, 1.7% Asian, and 1.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 24.2, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 60.3% had no religion, 27.8% were Christian, 0.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Hindu, 1.1% were Buddhist and 1.6% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 729 (28.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 303 (11.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $33,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 492 people (18.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,296 (49.9%) people were employed full-time, 522 (20.1%) were part-time, and 57 (2.2%) were unemployed.[12]
Education
Tasman School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[13][14] with a roll of 114 as of November 2024.[15] Every two years, the school holds a fundraising food and wine market called Taste Tasman.[3]
Tasman Bay Christian School is a co-educational state-integrated Christian primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[16] with a roll of 74.[17]
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