Renwick, New Zealand

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Renwick
Renwick Post Office
Renwick Post Office
Interactive map of Renwick
Coordinates: 41°30′34″S 173°49′48″E / 41.50944°S 173.83000°E / -41.50944; 173.83000
CountryNew Zealand
RegionMarlborough
Ward
  • Wairau-Awatere General Ward
  • Marlborough Māori Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityMarlborough District Council
 • Marlborough District MayorNadine Taylor[1]
 • Kaikōura MPStuart Smith[2]
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris[3]
Area
[4]
 • Total
2.32 km2 (0.90 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2025)[5]
 • Total
2,470
 • Density1,060/km2 (2,760/sq mi)

Renwick is a small town in Marlborough, New Zealand, close to the south bank of the Wairau River. It is located on State Highway 6, 12 kilometres (7 mi) west of Blenheim. Havelock is 31 km (19 mi) north. State Highway 63 runs southwest from Renwick through the Wairau River valley.[6][7]

The town was initially known as "Upper Wairau", and then as "Renwicktown" after an early landowner, Dr. Thomas Renwick.[8][9]

Renwick is located in the centre of Marlborough's grape growing region. Sauvignon blanc is the variety usually associated with the area, and famous wineries such as Isabel Estate and Forrest Estate are in close proximity. Pinot Gris (Grey Pinot) is also exported.

Demographics

Renwick is described by Stats NZ as a small urban area and covers 2.32 km2 (0.90 sq mi).[4] It had an estimated population of 2,470 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 1,065 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,962—    
20132,253+2.00%
20182,418+1.42%
20232,448+0.25%
Source: [10][11]

Renwick had a population of 2,448 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 30 people (1.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 195 people (8.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,236 males, 1,200 females, and 12 people of other genders in 933 dwellings.[12] 2.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 40.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 492 people (20.1%) aged under 15 years, 366 (15.0%) aged 15 to 29, 1,131 (46.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 462 (18.9%) aged 65 or older.[10]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 93.1% European (Pākehā); 13.2% Māori; 2.8% Pasifika; 2.0% Asian; 0.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.8%, Māori by 2.1%, Samoan by 0.4%, and other languages by 6.2%. No language could be spoken by 1.6% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.1%. The percentage of people born overseas was 15.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.[10]

Religious affiliations were 23.4% Christian, 0.1% Islam, 0.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, 0.2% Jewish, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 66.5%, and 7.1% of people did not answer the census question.[10]

Of those at least 15 years old, 282 (14.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,179 (60.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 495 (25.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $44,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 171 people (8.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,080 (55.2%) full-time, 273 (14.0%) part-time, and 33 (1.7%) unemployed.[10]

Education

Renwick School is a coeducational full primary school (years 1–8),[13] with a decile rating of 8 with a role of 409 students (as of March 2026).[14]

The first school in Renwick opened at the beginning of 1861,[15] using the Presbyterian Church as a schoolroom. It was the second school in Marlborough. The present school opened in 1864.[16]

Notes

  1. "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  2. "Kaikōura - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  3. "Te Tai Tonga – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  4. "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  5. "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  6. Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. map 60. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
  7. Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. map 138. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  8. McIntosh, Alister; Redman, William Edward; Allen, William Raymond, eds. (1940). Marlborough: A Provincial History. Blenheim: Marlborough Provincial Historical Committee. p. 339.
  9. Marlborough Historical Society (2005). Click – A Captured Moment – Marlborough's Early Heritage. p. 68. ISBN 0-473-10475-X.
  10. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Renwick (2035). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  11. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Renwick (307100). 2018 Census place summary: Renwick
  12. "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  13. "Renwick School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
  14. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  15. "New Zealand Provinces". Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle. 4 May 1861. p. 3.
  16. A. D. McIntosh, pp 339–340. The school claims to have been established in 1862.