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Blenheim is a town in Marlborough, in the north east of the South Island of New Zealand. It has a population of about 35,000. The area which surrounds the town is well known as a centre of New Zealand's wine industry. It enjoys one of New Zealand’s sunniest climates, with hot summers and crisp winters. Marlborough is one of the regions of New Zealand, located in the northeast of the South Island. ... The South Island The South Island is one of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the North Island. ...

The Marlborough region in which Blenheim is situate has a wide range of leisure activities, from swimming with dolphins in the Marlborough Sounds to watching whales in Kaikoura; from walks through the bush and along the rugged coastline, as well as scenic boat cruising, fishing, water-skiing and kayaking. The relaxed lifestyle and the flourishing wine and gourmet food industry in Marlborough are enjoyed by both locals and visitors alike. A relaxing afternoon of leisure: a young girl resting in a pool. ... This article concentrates on human swimming. ... This article is about the dolphin mammal. ... Sea kayakers in the Marlborough Sounds. ... Whales are the largest species of exclusively aquatic placental mammals, members of the order Cetacea, which also includes dolphins and porpoises. ... Kaikoura is a town on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. ... Fishing is the activity of hunting for fish by hooking, trapping, or gathering animals not classifiable as insects which breathe in water or pass their lives in water. ... It has been suggested that Water Ski Racing be merged into this article or section. ... Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. ... A glass of red wine This article is about the alcoholic beverage. ... A gourmet is a person with a discriminating palate and who is knowledgeable in fine food and drink. ...

Blenheim is named after the Battle of Blenheim (1704), where troops led by John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough defeated a combined French and Bavarian force. Combatants England,[1] Austria, Dutch Republic, Prussia, Denmark, Hesse, Hanover France, Bavaria Commanders Duke of Marlborough, Eugene of Savoy Duc de Tallard, Maximilian II Emanuel, Ferdinand de Marsin Strength 52,000, 60 guns[2] 56,000, 90 guns Casualties 4,542 killed, 7,942 wounded 20,000 killed, drowned, or... Events Building of the Students Monument in Aiud, Romania. ... John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722) was an English soldier and statesman whose career spanned the reigns of five monarchs throughout the late 17th and early 18th centuries. ... The geographic region and Free State of Bavaria (German:  ), with an area of 70,553 km² (27,241 square miles) and 12. ...

History

"Kia Ora Welcome to Blenheim"

The sheltered coastal bays of Marlborough supported a small Māori population possibly as early as the 12th century. Anthropologists have christened this part of central Aotearoa, Waenganui, a region that stretched from inland Ureweras to Kaiapohia. Māori in the Marlborough Region cultivated crops, including kumara (sweet potato) and exploited marine resources. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 68 KB) Summary Welcome To Blenheim sign. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 68 KB) Summary Welcome To Blenheim sign. ... Languages Māori, English Religions Māori religion, Christianity Related ethnic groups other Polynesian peoples, Austronesian peoples The word Māori refers to the indigenous people of New Zealand and their language. ... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... See Anthropology. ... Look up Aotearoa in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Binomial name Ipomoea batatas Linnaeus The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a crop plant whose large, starchy, sweet tasting tuberous roots are an important root vegetable. ...

Although the early history of Marlborough was closely associated with the Nelson settlement, the people of Marlborough wanted independence from Nelson. Nineteen years after the original Nelson settlement the request of Marlborough settlers was granted, and Marlborough became a separate province in 1859. Although gold was discovered in the province in the early 1860s the boom did not last and, while it helped to expand the region, the development of pastoralism provided the greatest long-term benefits. Marlborough squatters developed huge sheep runs that dominated the countryside, rivalling Canterbury's sheep stations in size and wealth. A view of Nelson from the Centre of New Zealand Nelson stands on the southern corner of Tasman Bay, at the northern end of the South Island of New Zealand and is the administrative centre of the Nelson region. ... A reference to colonization, or the resulting communities. ... GOLD refers to one of the following: GOLD (IEEE) is an IEEE program designed to garner more student members at the university level (Graduates of the Last Decade). ... Species See text. ... The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. ...

Today the region's economy is still rurally based with pastoral and horticultural farming, providing a major source of income. The region's inhabitants continue to utilise the marine resources. Lake Grassmere is the country's only source of salt, and fishing and mussel farming are also extremely important in the region. Grape growing has been one of the fastest growing industries and Marlborough is now New Zealand's largest wine producing region, receiving worldwide recognition for its sauvignon blanc wines. Olive growing has also become popular in recent years. Titians The Pastoral Concert Pastoral refers to the lifestyle of shepherds and pastoralists, moving livestock around larger areas of land according to seasons and availability of water and feed. ... The Latin words hortus (garden plant) and cultura (culture) together form horticulture, classically defined as the culture or growing of garden plants. ... Lake Grassmere is found close to the shore of Cook Strait in the northeastern South Island of New Zealand. ... A magnified crystal of a salt (halite/sodium chloride) Salt covering the floor of Bad Water in Death Valley, CA, the lowest point in the US. A salt, in chemistry, is defined as the product formed from the neutralisation reaction of acids and bases. ... Fishing is the activity of hunting for fish by hooking, trapping, or gathering animals not classifiable as insects which breathe in water or pass their lives in water. ... Subclasses Pteriomorpha (marine mussels) Palaeoheterodonta (freshwater mussels) Heterodonta (zebra mussels) The term mussel is used for several families of bivalve molluscs inhabiting lakes, rivers, and creeks, as well as intertidal areas along coastlines worldwide. ... It has been suggested that Veraison be merged into this article or section. ... Sauvignon blanc is a white wine grape probably originating in the Bordeaux region of France that is now planted in much of the worlds winelands producing a crisp dry refreshing white varietal wine. ... Binomial name Olea europaea L. 19th century illustration The Olive (Olea europaea) is a species of small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean region, from Lebanon and the maritime parts of Asia Minor and northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian...

The sunny, pleasant climate has attracted people to the region, either as holiday-makers or as permanent settlers. The region is especially popular among retired people, as well as people seeking an alternative lifestyle. Rapid population growth and other factors though have led to a contemporary chronic shortage of affordable housing for low and middle income earners. Settlers are people who have travelled of their own choice, from the land of their birth to live in new lands or colonies. ...

Geography

The Taylor River in central Blenheim

Blenheim, situated on the Wairau Plain, is mostly flat with surrounding hills, which do not, however, give it as much protection from prevailing winds as might be expected. Open areas in and around Blenheim are hit quite hard by winds blowing in from Cook Strait. Blenheim sits at the confluence of the Taylor and Opawa Rivers. Blenheim is in a tectonically active zone and experiences several (usually small) earthquakes each year. The boundary between the Pacific plate (on which Blenheim sits) and the Indo-Australian plate passes just north of Blenheim. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 143 KB) Summary Taylor river area. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 143 KB) Summary Taylor river area. ...

Demographics

According to the 2001 census, Blenheim had a population of 26,550, a change of 3.3% since the 1996 census. 2005 estimates put Blenheim's population at 35,000. 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1870 US Census for New York City A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a population (not necessarily a human population). ... 1870 US Census for New York City A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a population (not necessarily a human population). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Age

• 21.3% of people living in Blenheim were under 15, compared with 22.7% for all of New Zealand.
• 16.7% of people living in Blenheim were aged 65 years and over, compared with 12.1% for all of New Zealand.

Education

• 28.7% of people aged 15 years and over had a post-secondary-school qualification, compared with 32. percent for New Zealand as a whole.

Ethnic background

Most Blenheim residents are of European origin, predominantly of British, Irish, German and Dutch descent. Many of these people however, identify as Pakeha or New Zealanders rather than anachronistically refer to themselves as European. Small Māori, Pacific Island and Asian communities exist. Ethnic diversity has increased in recent years with the arrival of large numbers of South Americans (mostly Brazilians) and Asians (mainly Indonesian, Japanese, Korean and Filipino) who work in the expanding viticulture sector. The team qualification may refer to: Certification A process of deciding the running order in many auto racing events This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Languages Māori, English Religions Māori religion, Christianity Related ethnic groups other Polynesian peoples, Austronesian peoples The word Māori refers to the indigenous people of New Zealand and their language. ... The Pacific Ocean has an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 islands; the exact number is unknown. ... This article deals primarily or exclusively with the definition of Asian in English-speaking countries, mainly referring to immigrants or descendants of immigrants living therein. ... wine grapes Viticulture (from the Latin word for vine) refers to the cultivation of grapes, often for use in the production of wine. ...

The 2001 New Zealand Census is dated now, but showed that in 2001, of people in the Blenheim Urban Area who actually completed the census forms (which are not available in either Japanese or Korean script):

• 94.4% belonged to the European or Pakeha ethnic group.
• 3.1% belonged to the Asian ethnic group.
• 1.1% belonged to the Māori ethnic group.
• 1.1% belonged to the Pacific Island ethnic group.

This article is about the continent. ... Pakeha is a New Zealand English word for European New Zealanders, that is, New Zealanders of predominantly European descent. ... This article deals primarily or exclusively with the definition of Asian in English-speaking countries, mainly referring to immigrants or descendants of immigrants living therein. ... Languages Māori, English Religions Māori religion, Christianity Related ethnic groups other Polynesian peoples, Austronesian peoples The word Māori refers to the indigenous people of New Zealand and their language. ... The Pacific Ocean has an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 islands; the exact number is unknown. ...

Economy

The Marlborough region is famous for its wine production, although other forms of agriculture are significant and the services sectors is also important.

With the growing international critical recognition of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, much of the wine industry has come to be dominated by large firms, owned by major New Zealand companies or offshore investors. Wages for most industry participants are low (around NZ$10-NZ$13/hour) and often calculated on a piece rate basis. Employment arrangements are often insecure and frequently not in accordance with New Zealand employment law. Agricultural land prices in the Wairau Valley have increased dramatically in value through the 1990s and 2000s. Sauvignon blanc is a white wine grape probably originating in the Bordeaux region of France that is now planted in much of the worlds winelands producing a crisp dry refreshing white varietal wine. ...

Overall, income and wealth distribution in the town and wider region is highly uneven by New Zealand standards.

Education

Public schools

Marlborough Girls' College [1]and Marlborough Boys' College [2]are the only two colleges in Blenheim. Primary Schools include Redwoodtown School, Witherlea School, Mayfield School, Springlands School[3], Fairhall School[4], Riverlands School, Blenheim School, Richmond View School[5], Whitney Street School and St. Mary's School. The Intermediate School in Blenheim is called Bohally Intermediate School. Other educational options in Blenheim are Polytechnic and NMIT.

Transportation

Air

Woodbourne Airport is a domestic airport and is also used by the RNZAF as an operational base. There are direct flights from Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland. Omaka Aerodrome, to the south of the city centre, is used solely by private and vintage aircraft pilots. Woodbourne Aerodrome (IATA: BHE, ICAO: NZWB) is a small, controlled aerodrome located 3NM west of Blenheim in the South Island of New Zealand, on State Highway Six, Middle Renwick Road. ... Look up Domestic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Wellington (disambiguation). ... Christchurch is the regional capital of Canterbury, New Zealand. ... Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area in New Zealand. ...

Road

Blenheim is on State Highway One and State Highway Six. Blenheim is notable for a town of its size, in that it does not have traffic lights at any intersection. Instead, roundabouts are used to speed arterial traffic flow. State Highway 1 is the most significant road in the New Zealand roading network. ... Traffic lights will sometimes differ where there are several lanes of traffic. ...

Rail

Blenheim is on the northern section of the South Island main trunk railway. The daily long-distance passenger service, the TranzCoastal, stops at the Blenheim Railway Station. The Main North Line, sometimes referred to as part of the South Island Main Trunk Railway, is an important railway line in New Zealand that runs north from Christchurch up the east coast of the South Island to Picton. ... The South Island Main Trunk Railway runs down the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand, from Picton to Bluff. ... The TranzCoastal is a long-distance passenger train between Picton and Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand. ...

A major railway classification yard is located north of Blenheim at Spring Creek. A classification yard or marshalling yard (including hump yards) is a railroad yard found at some freight train stations, used to separate railroad cars on to one of several tracks. ...

Media

Print

Blenheim is served by a variety of print publications. The major daily newspaper serving the Blenheim-Picton area is The Marlborough Express. Its headquarters are in downtown Blenheim. The Saturday Express and Midweek newspapers are published by the same company. Another smaller weekly newspaper is The Blenheim Sun. The Marlborough Express is a newspaper servicing the Marlborough area of New Zealand. ...

Radio

This is a list of FM & AM radio stations in Blenheim. The abbreviations FM, Fm, and fm may refer to: Electrical engineering Frequency modulation (FM) and its most common applications: FM broadcasting, used primarily to broadcast music and speech at VHF frequencies FM synthesis, a sound-generation technique popularized by early digital synthesizers Science Femtometre (fm), an SI measure of length... AM broadcasting is radio broadcasting using Amplitude Modulation. ... A radio station is an audio (sound) broadcasting service, traditionally broadcast through the air as radio waves (a form of electromagnetic radiation) from a transmitter to an antenna and a thus to a receiving device. ...

// A nickname is a short, clever, cute, derogatory, or otherwise substitute name for a person or things proper name (for example, Bob, Rob, Robby, Robbie, Robi, Robin, Robbo, RobBob, Bobby, Rab, Rabbie, Bert, Bertie, Butch, Bobbers, Bobert, Beto, Bobadito, and Robban (in Sweden), are all nicknames for Robert). ... In broadcasting and radio communication, a callsign or call sign (also call letters) is a unique designation for a transmitting station. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... ZM may have a number of meanings, including: The internet domain for Zambia ZM (radio station), a New Zealand radio station. ... Newstalk ZB is a nationwide New Zealand talkback radio network operated by The Radio Network of New Zealand (TRN). ... Concert FM is a New Zealand radio network owned by Radio New Zealand. ... National Radio is a New Zealand radio network owned by Radio New Zealand. ... // A nickname is a short, clever, cute, derogatory, or otherwise substitute name for a person or things proper name (for example, Bob, Rob, Robby, Robbie, Robi, Robin, Robbo, RobBob, Bobby, Rab, Rabbie, Bert, Bertie, Butch, Bobbers, Bobert, Beto, Bobadito, and Robban (in Sweden), are all nicknames for Robert). ... In broadcasting and radio communication, a callsign or call sign (also call letters) is a unique designation for a transmitting station. ...

Events and points of interest

Omaka Aerodrome, south of the town centre, is the setting for the biennial Classic Fighters Marlborough airshow. The show, with a large emphasis on aircraft of World War One, has been held biannually since 2001, with the next show set to be held over the weekend of 10-12 April 2009.

In December 2005 the third meeting of the biennial Australasian Ornithological Conference series, initiated and organised by the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, and jointly sponsored by the RAOU and the Ornithological Society of New Zealand (OSNZ), was held in Blenheim. 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Australasian Ornithological Conferences are biennial meetings of ornithologists that focus on the Australasian region and Antarctica. ... Australia The Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union was founded in 1901 to promote the study and conservation of the native bird species of Australia, making it the oldest national birding association of that country. ...

Spy Base

The GCSB Waihopai communications monitoring facility, part of the ECHELON network, is situated near Blenheim. The Waihopai Valley Facility . ... A radome at RAF Menwith Hill, a site with satellite downlink capabilities that some believe to be used by ECHELON. ECHELON is a name used to describe a highly secretive world-wide signals intelligence and analysis network said to be run by the UKUSA Community (comprised of intelligence agencies of...

Highlights

• Marlborough residents have the highest median age of 36.1 years, compared with 33.0 years nationally.
• The population of Marlborough is increasing at a faster rate than the national average.
• The population of the land surrounding the Marlborough Sounds is the fastest growing in the region.
• The region had the third-lowest population (38,397 usual residents on census night 1996), and a low population density.
• The population is predominantly Pakeha.
• Agriculture and horticulture are important to the economy. The region is currently the largest and fastest growing grape producing area in the country.
• The region has the highest proportion of businesses in the agriculture, forestry and fishing industries - 16.9% compared with 4.4% nationally (as at 30 June 2004).

Pakeha is a New Zealand English word for European New Zealanders, that is, New Zealanders of predominantly European descent. ...

References

• Reed, A. W. (2002). The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names. Auckland: Reed Books. ISBN 0-7900-0761-4. 

External links

• Blenheim, New Zealand travel guide from Wikitravel
• Destination Marlborough
• Marlborough District Council
• The Marlborough Express daily newspaper
• Blenheim Street Map

Coordinates: 41°31′S, 173°58′E Wikitravel is a project to create an open content, complete, up-to-date, and reliable world-wide travel guide. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...