Brightwater, New Zealand
Tasman District · New Zealand
Brightwater is a small town in Tasman District, New Zealand with a population of 2,250. Elevation: 115 ft (35 m). Average temperature: 52°F (11°C).
Population source: Wikidata (dated census and official estimates), GeoNames. Climate: WorldClim 2.1 normals (1970-2000), NASA POWER. Updated August 2026
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About Brightwater
Brightwater is a town 20 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of Nelson in Tasman District in the South Island of New Zealand. It stands on the banks of the Wairoa River. Brightwater was first named Spring Grove. Alfred Saunders, the owner of a local flax mill situated on the banks of the Wairoa River and a prominent temperance activist, renamed it Brightwater because of the clarity of the water in Wairoa River. The settlement was officially named in the 1880s, but the area was settled as early as 1843.
People
Climate
| Population | 2,250 |
| Population Density | 335 / sq mi |
| Elevation | 115 ft (35 m) |
| Coordinates | -41.3833°, 173.1167° |
| Timezone | Pacific/Auckland |
| Country | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
| State / Province | Tasman District |
| Average Temperature | 52°F (11°C) |
| January Average | 60°F (15°C) |
| July Average | 44°F (7°C) |
| Annual Precipitation | 59.6 inches (1,514 mm) |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5 inches (9 cm) |
About Brightwater
Brightwater is a small town in New Zealand (Tasman District) with a population of 2,250. The city sits at an elevation of 115 feet (35 meters) above sea level. The average annual temperature is 52°F (11°C). Temperatures range from 60°F in January to 44°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 59.6 inches. The timezone is Pacific/Auckland.
Temperature
| Annual Average | 51.5°F |
| 5% below New Zealand avg | |
| January Average | 60°F (15°C) |
| July Average | 44°F (7°C) |
Geography
| Elevation | 115 ft (35 m) |
| Area | 6.7 sq mi (17.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 335/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 41.3833°S, 173.1167°E |
| Timezone | Pacific/Auckland |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Tsunami History
5 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.0 m (10 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1868 | NEW ZEALAND | Earthquake | 3.0 m | - | 132 km |
| 1913 | TASMAN SEA | Earthquake | 1.5 m | - | 142 km |
| 2013 | WELLINGTON | Earthquake | 0.1 m | - | 95 km |
| 2013 | COOK STRAIT | Earthquake | 0.1 m | - | 108 km |
| 1855 | WHARANUI | Earthquake | - | - | 101 km |
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 60°F (15°C) | 4.0 in | |
| February | 62°F (17°C) | 2.7 in | Warmest, Driest |
| March | 60°F (15°C) | 3.7 in | |
| April | 55°F (13°C) | 4.1 in | |
| May | 49°F (10°C) | 4.2 in | |
| June | 45°F (7°C) | 4.1 in | |
| July | 44°F (7°C) | 4.2 in | Coldest |
| August | 46°F (8°C) | 5.2 in | Wettest |
| September | 49°F (9°C) | 4.1 in | |
| October | 53°F (11°C) | 4.9 in | |
| November | 56°F (13°C) | 4.3 in | |
| December | 60°F (15°C) | 4.2 in |
Brightwater has a seasonal temperature swing of 18°F / from 44°F in July to 62°F in February. Total annual precipitation is 49.6 inches, with August being the wettest month (5.2") and February the driest (2.7").
Schools in Brightwater
1 public schools (OpenStreetMap data).
| School | Level | Enrollment | Teachers | Student/Teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brightwater School | - | - | - | - |
Radio Stations near Brightwater
2 stations within ~55 km.
| Station | Genre | Quality | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian FM 105.6 Nelson NZ | - | AAC 128 kbps | |
| BeachFM 106.3 | 00s, 60s | MP3 192 kbps |
Museums in Brightwater
| Name | Type | Address | Phone | Annual Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founders Heritage Park | ||||
| Maritime museum | ||||
| Nelson Classic Car Museum | ||||
| Nelson Provincial Museum | ||||
| Port Museum |
Libraries in Brightwater
| Name | Address | Staff | Annual Visits | Circulation | Collection | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elma Turner Library | 0.0 | |||||
| Mapua Community Library | 0.0 | |||||
| Mapua Library | 0.0 | |||||
| Nightingale Library Tāhunanui | 0.0 | |||||
| Richmond Library | 0.0 | |||||
| Stoke Library | 0.0 | |||||
| Wakefield Library | 0.0 |
Farmers Markets in Brightwater
| Name | Address | Season | Hours | Organic | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson Farmers Market | |||||
| The Nelson Market |
Hotels in Brightwater
1 hotels within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Restaurants in Brightwater
1 restaurants within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Cafes in Brightwater
1 cafes within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Gas Stations in Brightwater
1 gas stations within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Breweries in Brightwater
| Name | Type | Address | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two Thumbs Brewery |
Stadiums & Teams in Brightwater
| Team | League | Division |
|---|---|---|
Ski Resorts Near Brightwater
1 ski resorts within range.
| Resort | Slopes (km) | Lifts | Peak (m) | Price | Season | Night | Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Ski Area | 0.0 | - | - | $0 | - | - | - |
Airports Near Brightwater
5 airports within the area.
| Airport | IATA | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Nelson Airport | NSN | Medium Airport |
| Lake Station Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Molesworth Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Motueka Airport | MZP | Small Airport |
| Takaka Airport | KTF | Small Airport |
Churches & Religious Organizations in Brightwater
1 religious organizations (IRS tax-exempt data).
| Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Saint Paul's Anglican Church |
Quick Facts
🇳🇿 About New Zealand
Public Holidays in New Zealand
23 public holidays this year
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Get ReportFrequently Asked Questions About Brightwater
What is the population of Brightwater?
Brightwater has a population of 2,250 residents and is located in New Zealand. The population density is 335 people per square mile, spread across 6.7 square miles.
What is the weather like in Brightwater?
Brightwater has a four-season climate with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winter temperatures average 60°F in January, while summers reach an average of 44°F in July. Annual rainfall totals 59.6 inches, with 3.5 inches of snow.
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