Skip to main content Skip to navigation within this section

Townships

Find out more about the towns and places of Tasman and the projects planned for them.

Home » My Region » Townships

Pronouncing our place names

Correct spelling and pronunciation helps keep important stories behind place names alive. The posters below cover some commonly mispronounced place names in our District, and shows you how to say them correctly. Master the vowel sounds and the rest will follow.

Something to remember is 'r' is commonly called a ‘rolled’ r - the sound you should aim for is something similar to an English ‘d’ – but softer e.g. judder. The ‘ng’ is said as it sounds in the English word ‘singer', and ‘wh’ is usually pronounced as an English ‘ f’ sound.

Check out this website for more pronunciation tips and sounds(external link).

About Tasman

Learn more about the make-up of our region

Appleby

Appleby is the country district around the lower Waimea River about five kilometres outside Richmond.

Belgrove

Belgrove is the last settlement before heading south on State Highway 6 over Spooner’s Range.

Brightwater

Brightwater has been a popular residential centre in Tasman District ever since it first came to life in the 1840s.

Collingwood

Collingwood is nestled in the peninsula jutting into the Ruataniwha Inlet with the Aorere River on one side and Golden Bay on the other.

Dovedale

The picturesque Dovedale Valley was surveyed in 1863.

Glenhope

The extension of the railway from Tadmor to Glenhope in 1912 brought life to this country district located 41 kilometres from Murchison.

Golden Downs

Golden Downs has been a centre of forestry since the late 1920s.

Gowanbridge

Gowanbridge is farming country dominated by large holdings and is best known as the gateway to Lake Rotoroa.

Kaiteriteri

The golden sand of Kaiteriteri has become synonymous with summer sun, sea and camping. This iconic seaside paradise has been attracting holidaymakers from all over the country since the 1920s.

Mangarākau

Mangarākau is a remote settlement south of the Whanganui Inlet on the northwestern edge of Tasman District.

Māpua / Ruby Bay

Mapua / Ruby Bay started life as the fruit basket of Tasman District, servicing the surrounding apple orchards.

Mārahau

Marahau is a small tourist settlement located close to the southern entrance to the Abel Tasman National Park.

Motueka

Motueka is the second largest town in Tasman District and is the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park, Kaiteriteri Beach, and Golden Bay.

Murchison

Murchison is the District's southern-most settlement.

Onekaka

The rural district of Onekaka is north of Takaka on the Onekaka Road.

Pōhara

Pōhara, Ligar Bay, Tata Beach and Tarakohe are the coastal settlement area at the southernmost end of Golden Bay.

Richmond

Richmond is the district's largest population centre.

Riwaka

Riwaka is famous for its horticulture industry, especially apples, pears, kiwifruit and hops.

St Arnaud

St Arnaud is part of the Lakes-Murchison Ward and gateway to Nelson Lakes National Park.

Tākaka

Tākaka is the largest urban settlement in Golden Bay.

Tapawera

Tapawera is a friendly rural centre nestled in the Motueka River Valley.

Tasman

Tasman village is a scenic, serene spot between on the coast between Motueka and Māpua.

Tōtaranui

Tōtaranui is the northern end of the Abel Tasman National Park coastal track, about an hour’s drive from Tākaka on an unsealed road or two hours by boat from Mārahau at the other end of the track.

Upper Moutere

Upper Moutere is a small rural community with an attractive setting on the rolling Moutere Hills, with views of Mt Arthur from some sites.

Wakefield

Wakefield sits at the southern end of the Waimea Plains.