# Nelson

> city on the South Island, New Zealand

**Wikidata**: [Q206687](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206687)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson,_New_Zealand)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/nelson

## Summary
Nelson, also known by its Māori name Whakatū, is a city located on the South Island of New Zealand and serves as the capital of the Nelson Region. Founded in 1841 by Arthur Wakefield, it was named after the British naval officer Horatio Nelson. The city covers an area of 445 square kilometres and had a population of approximately 51,100 as of June 2020.

## Key Facts
- **Location**: South Island, New Zealand; Insular Oceania; Capital of Nelson Region.
- **Coordinates**: -41.293056 latitude, 173.238056 longitude.
- **Area**: 445 square kilometres.
- **Elevation**: 0 metres above sea level.
- **Population**:
  - 2013 Census: 46,437
  - 2018 Census: 48,072
  - 2018 Estimate: 49,300
  - 2020 Estimate: 51,100
- **Inception**: Founded in 1841 by Arthur Wakefield.
- **Named After**: Horatio Nelson.
- **Time Zone**: UTC+12:00.
- **Postal Codes**: 7010, 7011, 7020.
- **Local Dialing Code**: 03.
- **UN/LOCODE**: NZNSN.
- **Significant Event**: Declared a climate emergency on May 16, 2019.
- **Twin Cities**: Eureka, California (USA); Miyazu (Japan).
- **Aliases**: Nelson City, Nelson District, Whakatū, District de Nelson, NZ-NSN, 尼爾遜.
- **Identifiers**: VIAF ID 153579749; Library of Congress Authority ID n50077424; Geonames ID 2186280; GND ID 4251410-1; FAST ID 1203019.

## FAQs
**Where is Nelson located?**
Nelson is situated on the South Island of New Zealand, specifically within the Nelson Region of which it is the capital. Its geographic coordinates are approximately 41.3°S latitude and 173.2°E longitude.

**What is the population of Nelson?**
According to the 2018 New Zealand census, Nelson had a population of 48,072. Subsequent government estimates placed the population at 49,300 in mid-2018 and 51,100 in mid-2020.

**Who founded Nelson?**
The city was founded in 1841 by Arthur Wakefield, who was a leader in the New Zealand Company.

**What are the names and aliases for Nelson?**
The city is officially named Nelson, but it is also known by its Māori name, Whakatū. Other aliases include Nelson City, Nelson District, and 尼爾遜.

**What significant environmental action has Nelson taken?**
On May 16, 2019, Nelson declared a climate emergency, aligning with other regional councils in New Zealand to formally recognize the urgency of climate change.

## Why It Matters
Nelson serves as a crucial administrative hub as the capital of the Nelson Region. Its establishment in 1841 marks it as one of the early cities founded in New Zealand during the period of European settlement, playing a historical role in the country's development. The city's decision to declare a climate emergency in 2019 highlights its active engagement in contemporary environmental governance. Furthermore, its international twinning relationships with Eureka and Miyazu illustrate its participation in global cultural and civic exchange.

## Notable For
- **Founding Figure**: Established by Arthur Wakefield, a key figure in the colonization efforts of the New Zealand Company.
- **Naming**: Uniquely named after Horatio Nelson, a prominent British admiral.
- **Climate Action**: Was among the councils in New Zealand to declare a climate emergency in 2019.
- **Geographic Scope**: Encompasses a large area of 445 square kilometres for a city of its population size.
- **Cultural Recognition**: Recognized globally across numerous languages and encyclopedias, including the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica and The Nuttall Encyclopædia, and maintains a strong digital presence across platforms like Reddit (r/nelsonnz) and Wikipedia (available in over 60 language editions).

## Body

### Geography and Demographics
Nelson is a city on the South Island of New Zealand, located within the region of Insular Oceania. It holds the status of being the capital of the Nelson Region. The city spans a total area of 445 square kilometres and is uniquely situated at sea level, with an elevation of 0 metres. The precise geographic coordinates for the city are latitude -41.293056 and longitude 173.238056.

Demographic data for Nelson shows a consistent population trend. The 2013 census recorded a population of 46,437. The 2018 census showed an increase to 48,072 residents. Government statistical estimates provide further context: a June 30, 2018 estimate placed the population at 49,300, while a June 30, 2020 estimate recorded 51,100 residents.

### History and Governance
The city was officially established in 1841 and was named in honour of Horatio Nelson. Its inception was led by Arthur Wakefield. Administratively, Nelson functions as the capital of the Nelson Region. In a significant modern governance move, the city declared a climate emergency on May 16, 2019, a fact noted in national news outlets like RNZ and Stuff.

### Infrastructure and Codes
Nelson is integrated into national and international logistical frameworks through various codes. Its UN/LOCODE is NZNSN, and it falls under the FIPS 10-4 region code NZF5. The local dialing code for the city is 03. For postal services, the city is divided into the codes 7010, 7011, and 7020.

### Cultural and Digital Presence
The city has a rich cultural identity, reflected in its various names. Its native label is Whakatū, and it is also referred to as Nelson City and District de Nelson. Nelson has a notable digital footprint; it is the subject of a subreddit (/r/nelsonnz) which was created on December 15, 2011, and has a Quora topic designated as "Nelson-New-Zealand". The city is also extensively documented on Wikipedia, with articles in over 60 languages including English, Māori (mi), German (de), French (fr), Japanese (ja), and Chinese (zh).

### International Relations and Identifiers
Nelson maintains twinning relationships with two cities: Eureka in the United States and Miyazu in Japan. The city is catalogued in a vast array of international databases and library systems. Key identifiers include a VIAF ID (153579749), a Library of Congress Authority ID (n50077424), a GND ID (4251410-1), and a FAST ID (1203019). It also possesses a WorldCat Entities ID (E39PBJtxbHrmdFrXygQ6H8Qg8C) and is listed in the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names (ID 7018052). Other identifiers include a Who's On First ID (101915555) and an OpenStreetMap node ID (53190047).

## References

1. archINFORM
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. Czech National Authority Database
4. [Source](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/389338/canterbury-and-nelson-councils-declare-climate-emergencies)
5. [Source](https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/112774585/nelson-declares-climate-emergency)
6. MusicBrainz
7. [Source](http://www.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/profile-and-summary-reports/quickstats-about-a-place.aspx?request_value=15200#15200)
8. [Source](http://nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=TABLECODE7981)
9. [Source](http://nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=TABLECODE8318)
10. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
11. GeoNames
12. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/nz.htm)
13. Virtual International Authority File
14. Quora
15. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
16. [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/places/inaturalist-places.csv.zip)