New speed limits around schools
Variable speed limits around schools are being updated. From this month, the variable speed limits outside schools will change from 40kmh to 30kmh during school travel times. The following schools will now have a 30kmh speed limit during school travel periods: Nelson Central School, St Joseph’s School, Nelson College for Girls, Hampden Street School, Nelson College, Victory Primary, Nayland Primary, Broadgreen Intermediate, Nayland College, Stoke School, Enner Glynn School and Tāhunanui School.
Upgrade for Saxton indoor courts
The Saxton indoor courts closed on Monday 26 January and will remain closed until 2 February for a refresh. During the closure, the courts will be re-sealed and top-coated repaired to fix scuffs, dents and cracks. They will also be remarked with brand new court lines to support even more sports including Fast5 netball, KiwiVolley (Year 3–6) and pickleball, plus updated markings for netball, volleyball and basketball.
New manager for Age Concern
The Age Concern Nelson Tasman (ACNT) board has announced the appointment of Nicola Woodward as the new manager of ACNT, commencing in early February 2026. Nicola takes over the role from Caroline Budge. Nicola brings a wealth of experience from across public health, local government and the not-for-profit sector, along with strong commitment to community-focused delivery.
New leases in Nelson
National bed company Beds 4 U is opening up a store in Nelson in the former Kitchen Things store on Vanguard St. Big Save Furniture are also moving to the former Smiths City building on Hardy St. The National Party has also leased 35 Waimea Rd. In other city business news, The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary has leased 54 Montgomery Square, and Mariposa has opened an outlet store, also in Montgomery Square. Card Merchant has moved into a bigger premises on Hardy St in the former Hardy Street Pharmacy space.
Collection on the move
The Nelson Provincial Museum is preparing to relocate its collections and services from the Isel Park Research Facility to a new purpose-built storage and research centre in Richmond. The Isel Park facility is no longer fit for purpose due to space constraints, building issues, the presence of asbestos, and environmental instability. From 2 April 2026, several services will be temporarily paused to allow for the safe packing and transfer of the collection. These include public research access, archive and collection access, photo and image order services, and the acceptance of new donations. The pause is expected to last at least 12 months. Access to taonga Māori and loans will continue, though some items may have limited availability.
Feeling like summer has been stolen from us?
The numbers from NIWA will back you up. January has been exceptionally wet across New Zealand, with most regions seeing less than 85 per cent of their usual sunshine. Some areas even experienced 2–3 times their normal monthly rainfall. Looking ahead, AccuWeather predicts more rain for Tasman in February, though daily temperatures are expected to rebound into the mid to high 20s°C for the first week, before dipping again to highs of 19–21°C.
Music in the mountains
Nearly 700 caravans and motorhomes will roll into Tapawera this weekend for the annual Music in the Mountains rally. The event is run by the Nelson-Tasman Motor Caravan Association at the Tapawera School, with everything from line dancing to bike maintenance and a craft fair. At its heart is music, including a tribute show to Fleetwood Mac and Billy Joel.
Safe swimming after rain
While we all wish for an endless summer of perfect swimming conditions, the water quality at your favourite spot could change with the weather and/or environmental factors. Rain is the most common reason for the changes, and if we get a downpour, Tasman District Council’s recommendation is to avoid entering the water for at least 36 hours, but preferably 48. Even after the sun is out, there is still a risk to swimmers. Routine testing of water quality is well underway, and in most cases, the results are good – Moturoa/Rabbit Island, for example, remains a perennial winner for safe swimming. Some sites are more vulnerable to high faecal indicator bacteria than others, and several instances of higher readings have occured in recent weeks. Signs will be erected where issues exist. You can also check the LAWA ‘can I swim here’ page for the status of popular swim sites around the region: lawa.org.nz/explore-data/swimming.
Community champions honoured
Nine everyday heroes from across Tasman have received Outstanding Community Service Awards in recognition of a lifetime of voluntary contributions to their communities. Bevan Langmuir, Carol Fowler, Cheryl Elsey, Chris Hickson, Colin Hooker, Greg Pickford, Jim Fry, Mary Nicholls, and Malcolm McConachie received their awards from Tasman Mayor Tim King in December. The nine were recognised for their contributions to the communities, the rural sector, arts, sports, the fire service, conservation and service organisations. Photo: Supplied.
Sunken yacht towed to Kaiteriteri
The yacht that sank in Torrent Bay in the Abel Tasman National Park earlier last week has been salvaged and towed to Kaiteriteri Beach. There was no one on board when the boat went down and the owner made contact last week. Tasman’s Harbourmaster coordinated the operation with the boat towed in to shore at high tide last Thursday. A crane truck then removed the yacht on the outgoing tide. “Our oil response team have worked hard to mitigate all environmental impacts to the site - we will, however, continue to monitor the area for any negative effects,” a Tasman District Council spokesperson says. “The owner of the vessel has been in touch with us and is genuinely apologetic about the situation and the resources that were required sort this out. They are deeply concerned about any environment impacts and very grateful that it was able to be resolved quickly. We really appreciate their willingness to engage.”
Blooming summer show at Brightwater
Summer blooms will create a riot of colour at the Brightwater Horticulture Society’s Summer Show this Saturday. Doors at the Brightwater Hall open at 9am for the one-day show where green-fingered locals will parade their finest efforts, from show-stopping dahlias to gladioli and classic roses. Container-grown plants will join the blooms, alongside the best home-grown fruit and vegetables, plus the children’s section that includes the perennial favourite – the sandsaucer.
