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Land Area and Usage
Marlborough, with a total land area of 12,484 square kilometers, is located
at the north-eastern extremity of the South Island. It adjoins the Tasman Sea
and Pacific Ocean on its sea borders and the Nelson, Tasman, West Coast and
Canterbury regions around its land borders. Three distinct areas dominate the
region - the Marlborough Sounds, the fertile Wairau Plains and the Awatere Valley.
The region is characterised by its geographic diversity. The drowned river valleys
of the Marlborough Sounds are the region's most distinguishing features.
Land Use in Marlborough
Governance
The Marlborough Region is serviced by one of only four Unitary Authorities
in New Zealand. Both territorial local government and regional government responsibilities
are encompassed in the one organisation. This provides for an efficient and
progressive approach to governance and implementation of Resource Management
Act administration
At a national level Marlborough is included in the Kaikoura Electorate which
covers all of the region, as well as Kaikoura District and extends into North
Canterbury to just north of Christchurch.
Population
The census based estimate of usually resident population for the Marlborough
Region totalled 41,700 as at March 2003. That represented 1.1% of the census
usually resident population of New Zealand.
According to the medium projection series [2001(base) - 2016], the resident
population of Marlborough District is projected to increase to 45,100 by 2016.
In 2004 the population growth is tracking above the medium projection. The Marlborough
Regional Development Trust and associated organisations are actively pursuing
strategies to enhance the region's rate of growth.
As at March 2001, there were an estimated 3.8 people per square kilometer compared
to the New Zealand average of 14.1 people per square kilometer.
Business Units
Marlborough District contains 1.1 percent of all businesses in New Zealand.
A total of 3,759 businesses were located in the region as at February 2003,
an increase of 203 from the previous year and 341 from February 2001.
Marlborough's most significant industries, which collectively provide for a
very diversified and balanced economy, are:
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