Lower Moutere

Lower Moutere
Rural locality
Moutere Inlet
Coordinates: 41°09′09″S 172°59′37″E / 41.15250°S 172.99361°E / -41.15250; 172.99361
Country	New Zealand
Territorial authority	Tasman
Ward	Motueka Ward
Community	Motueka Community
Electorates	West Coast-Tasman Te Tai Tonga (Māori)
Government
• Territorial Authority	Tasman District Council
• Mayor of Tasman	Tim King
• West Coast-Tasman MP	Maureen Pugh
• Te Tai Tonga MP	Tākuta Ferris
Area [1]
• Total	4.44 km2 (1.71 sq mi)
Population  (2018 Census)[2]
• Total	183
• Density	41/km2 (110/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+12 (New Zealand Standard Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+13 (New Zealand Daylight Time)
Postcode	7175

Lower Moutere is a settlement in the Tasman District of New Zealand's upper South Island. It is a farming community it the Lower Moutere valley, 6 km (3.7 mi) from Motueka close to the Moutere Inlet.^[3]

The road up the valley from Motueka to Upper Moutere is an alternative to the main State Highway 60 route between Nelson and Motueka.^[3]

The Riverside Community was established in Lower Moutere in 1941 by a small group of Methodist pacifists, and continues to operate a dairy farm and cafe. As of 2013 about 24 people were permanent members and 19 children lived there, but the community’s population sometimes doubled due to visitors, including WWOOFers (Willing Workers on Organic Farms).^[3]

The Lower Moutere Memorial Hall features a plaque commemorating the three local men who died and 35 local men who served overseas during World War II.^[4] A memorial gate commemorates those who died or were served during World War I.^[5]

Moutere is the Māori word for 'island'.^[6]

Native birds are common in the area, and a kākā was found in the area in January 2020.^[7]

Lower Moutere village is in an SA1 statistical area which covers 4.44 km² (1.71 sq mi)^[1] The SA1 area is part of the larger Lower Moutere statistical area.

Lower Moutere had a population of 183 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 3 people (−1.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 33 people (22.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 60 households, comprising 96 males and 87 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.1 males per female. The median age was 44.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 27 people (14.8%) aged under 15 years, 36 (19.7%) aged 15 to 29, 96 (52.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 24 (13.1%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 85.2% European/Pākehā, 11.5% Māori, 9.8% Pasifika, 1.6% Asian, and 3.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.1% had no religion, 34.4% were Christian, 1.6% were Buddhist and 4.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 27 (17.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 30 (19.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $25,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 15 people (9.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 84 (53.8%) people were employed full-time, 30 (19.2%) were part-time, and 3 (1.9%) were unemployed.^[2]

Lower Moutere statistical area covers 62.11 km² (23.98 sq mi).^[1] It had an estimated population of 1,920 as of June 2024,^[8] with a population density of 30.9 people per km².

The statistical area had a population of 1,683 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 174 people (11.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 309 people (22.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 597 households, comprising 876 males and 807 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.09 males per female. The median age was 44.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 297 people (17.6%) aged under 15 years, 261 (15.5%) aged 15 to 29, 864 (51.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 261 (15.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 88.6% European/Pākehā, 9.8% Māori, 4.8% Pasifika, 2.7% Asian, and 1.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 26.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 62.2% had no religion, 27.6% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.7% were Buddhist and 2.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 231 (16.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 255 (18.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $29,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 162 people (11.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 717 (51.7%) people were employed full-time, 258 (18.6%) were part-time, and 42 (3.0%) were unemployed.^[9]

Lower Moutere School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,^[10][11] with a roll of 242 as of August 2024.^[12] The school opened in 1857. A fire destroyed four classrooms and other facilities in 1990.^[13]