Nelson (pop. 50,880) is a city on the northern coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It stands at the head of Tasman Bay and is a major port.
The city is the market center for an important tobacco, hop, and fruit growing area. It is noted for its sunny climate and its fine beaches. The city’s historic South Street district preserves the architecture of the mid-1800’s. The Cawthron Institute, located in Nelson, is a research institute focused on aquaculture (the controlled raising of aquatic plants and animals).
Māori first settled the area around Nelson about 800 years ago. The first Europeans arrived there in 1842. Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom made Nelson a city in 1858.
