Population
At the last New Zealand census in 2013, the combined population of the Marlborough and Kaikoura regions was 49,857. The majority of these people are located in the towns
of Blenheim, Picton and Kaikoura. Blenheim, which is located on the fertile Wairau Plain, has a population of over 24,000; Picton, at the terminus for the
Wellington-Picton ferries, has a population of over 2,500; and the Kaikoura township has a population of 3,555.| Main population centres: | |
| Blenheim | 24,183 |
| Renwick & Woodbourne | 2,517 |
| Picton | 2,745 |
| Havelock | 489 |
| Seddon | 507 |
| Kaikoura | 3,555 |
| Population mix: | |
| European | 93% |
| Maori | 13% |
| Pacific Island | 1% |
| Asian & Other | 1% |
| Age mix: | |
| Under 15 | 20% |
| 15 to 64 | 64% |
| 65+ | 16% |
Statistics from Statistics New Zealand
It's a Fact...
KAIKOURA LOOKS ON
When Captain James Cook encountered the Kaikoura peninsula he named it "Lookers On" because of his experience with the local Maori. During his circum-navigation of New Zealand in 1770, Cook passed Cape Campbell, sailing south to investigate what lay beyond. On 15 February, his ship was approached by four canoes, in which were 57 Maori. However, they would not talk or trade and returned to land from where they followed the ship's progress south.
When Captain James Cook encountered the Kaikoura peninsula he named it "Lookers On" because of his experience with the local Maori. During his circum-navigation of New Zealand in 1770, Cook passed Cape Campbell, sailing south to investigate what lay beyond. On 15 February, his ship was approached by four canoes, in which were 57 Maori. However, they would not talk or trade and returned to land from where they followed the ship's progress south.