Saint Arnaud (previously Rotoiti) is a small alpine village in the Tasman district of New Zealand's South Island, west of the mountains of the Saint Arnaud Range and 90 kilometres southwest of Nelson near the historic Tophouse Settlement. It is situated at the northern end of Lake Rotoiti.
Saint Arnaud | |
|---|---|
 View over Lake Rotoiti and St Arnaud | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 41°48′12″S 172°50′42″E / 41.80333°S 172.84500°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Territorial authority | Tasman |
| Ward | Lakes-Murchison Ward |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Tasman District Council |
| • Mayor of Tasman | Tim King |
| • West Coast-Tasman MP | Maureen Pugh |
| • Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.29 km2 (2.43 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 650 m (2,130 ft) |
| Population (June 2023)[2] | |
| • Total | 150 |
| • Density | 24/km2 (62/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode(s) | 7072 |
| Area code | 03 |
Naming edit
The village was called Rotoiti until 1921, when it was renamed by the Department of Lands and Survey to avoid confusion with other communities of the same name.[3] Archives show that between 1921 and 1951 both names were unofficially used by local residents and government agencies when referring to the village area.
Such references include a letter dated 1 June 1950 from the Chief Surveyor of the Nelson District Office of the Department of Lands and Survey to the New Zealand Geographic Board stating that "for many years confusion has occurred due to correspondence addressed to the residents and visitors at Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Land District going to Lake Rotoiti, near Rotorua, in the Auckland Land District. Due to the same confusion of names, the Town of Rotoiti in the Nelson Land District was altered to Town of St. Arnaud by this Department."[4] However, the name St. Arnaud did not receive legal approval until it was gazetted on 19 July 1951. Some locals were opposed to this change, as shown by a 4 December 1950 petition held by the New Zealand Geographic Board opposing the name change.[4][5] Some local residents today still give their address as Lake Rotoiti, even with St. Arnaud as the official name.[citation needed]
A proposal with the New Zealand Geographic Board[6] to either change the village's name back to its original name of Rotoiti or to use a dual name (a relatively common practice in New Zealand), failed in 2007.[7] A survey had originally indicated that just over half of the area residents supported a return to the original name.[3]
The town's name is something of a shibboleth: while the official pronunciation is the same as would be expected from a French-language name (/'ɑː.noʊ/),[citation needed] locals often voice the name's end as /'ɑː.nəd/.
Demographics edit
Saint Arnaud is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 6.29 km2 (2.43 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 150 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 24 people per km2. It is part of the larger Murchison-Nelson Lakes statistical area.[1]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 78 | — |
| 2013 | 105 | +4.34% |
| 2018 | 111 | +1.12% |
| Source: [8] | ||
Saint Arnaud had a population of 111 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 6 people (5.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 33 people (42.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 54 households, comprising 60 males and 54 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.11 males per female. The median age was 54.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 9 people (8.1%) aged under 15 years, 15 (13.5%) aged 15 to 29, 60 (54.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 27 (24.3%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 89.2% European/Pākehā, 5.4% Māori, 0.0% Pasifika, 2.7% Asian, and 8.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 67.6% had no religion, 18.9% were Christian and 2.7% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 30 (29.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 15 (14.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $35,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. 15 people (14.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 51 (50.0%) people were employed full-time, 24 (23.5%) were part-time, and 0 (0.0%) were unemployed.[8]
Government edit
Saint Arnaud falls under the Tasman District Council authority. The current mayor of Tasman is Tim King. Nationally, Saint Arnaud falls under the West Coast-Tasman electorate, which is currently held by Damien O'Connor of the Labour Party.
Amenities edit
Mostly catering for a small number of locals and tramping and skiing tourists, the centre of Saint Arnaud has a village store with postal services, a petrol station, a cafe-restaurant, camping facilities, motels, chalets and specialist accommodation for trampers at the Travers-Sabine Lodge youth hostel. A water taxi service operates from a jetty at the northern end of Lake Rotoiti, near to a DOC campsite at Kerr Bay. There is another campsite at West Bay. A daily shuttle bus service along State Highway 63 provides connections to Nelson, Murchison, Greymouth, Blenheim, Westport and Picton.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force's field training base is nearby at Dip Flat.
Attractions edit
Nelson Lakes National Park edit
The western part of the township includes a local Department of Conservation (DOC) Visitor Centre, with interactive displays and comprehensive information about the wildlife and environmental management of the Nelson Lakes National Park. The centre has a team of professional staff who can offer detailed advice and guidance about all aspects of the area. A number of local footpaths, tracks and nature trails, suitable for all abilities, are maintained by the department.
Saint Arnaud is a starting point for the strenuous 80 km Travers - Sabine tramping circuit. This follows the valley of the Travers River, ascends over the sub-alpine Travers Saddle, the watershed, and then descends the Sabine River valley and gorge to Lake Rotoroa. From here walkers can complete the circuit back to Saint Arnaud by either crossing a low saddle to the valley of Lake Rotoiti, via the Speargrass Track, or by ascending a higher route via Mount Angelus. Alternatively, they can take a water taxi from the DOC Sabine Hut on Lake Rotoroa up to the northern end of the lake.
In winter, snow sports take place primarily at Rainbow Skifield on the eastern side of the Saint Arnaud Range. Other local recreational activities include fishing, hunting, kayaking, small boat sailing, and gliding.
Infrastructure edit
State Highway 63 passes through Saint Arnaud, linking the town to Blenheim and Marlborough in the east and Murchison and the West Coast in the west. Korere Tophouse Road leaves SH 63 four kilometres east of Saint Arnaud, and provides the most direct route to Richmond and Nelson.
Network Tasman owns and operates the electricity distribution network in Saint Arnaud. Electricity is fed from Transpower's national grid at its Kikiwa substation, 15 km (9 mi) north of the town.[9]
The Tasman District Council operates reticulated stormwater and wastewater systems in Saint Arnaud, but not a reticulated fresh water supply. Individual properties are required to build and maintain their own fresh water supply.[10]
Education edit
Lake Rotoiti School is the sole school in Saint Arnaud, serving students from years 1 to 8 (ages 5 to 12) with a roll of 22 as of February 2024.[11] The nearest schools offering secondary education are Tapawera Area School and Murchison Area School, 54 km (34 mi) and 59 km (37 mi) away by road respectively.
Climate edit
According to the Koppen Climate Classification it is a temperate climate (cfb). Despite its altitude of approximately 650m (2,130ft) it rarely has snowfall due to oceanic influences, being near the Cook Strait, compared to other towns in similar altitudes like Lake Tekapo, Arthurs Pass, Mount Cook Village and even Waiouru in the North Island.
The Skifeild, located at a higher elevation:
| Climate data for Rainbow Ski Area, 1,540 m | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 14.4 (57.9) |
14.5 (58.1) |
12.8 (55.0) |
10.0 (50.0) |
7 (45) |
4.5 (40.1) |
3.8 (38.8) |
4.5 (40.1) |
6.7 (44.1) |
8.6 (47.5) |
10.6 (51.1) |
12.7 (54.9) |
9.2 (48.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 8.8 (47.8) |
8.9 (48.0) |
7.4 (45.3) |
4.8 (40.6) |
1.9 (35.4) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
1.7 (35.1) |
3.5 (38.3) |
5.3 (41.5) |
7.3 (45.1) |
4.0 (39.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 3.2 (37.8) |
3.3 (37.9) |
2.1 (35.8) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
−5.4 (22.3) |
−6.2 (20.8) |
−5.2 (22.6) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−1.5 (29.3) |
0.1 (32.2) |
2.0 (35.6) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 131 (5.2) |
94 (3.7) |
113 (4.4) |
131 (5.2) |
139 (5.5) |
125 (4.9) |
127 (5.0) |
120 (4.7) |
142 (5.6) |
159 (6.3) |
148 (5.8) |
143 (5.6) |
1,572 (61.9) |
| Source: Climate-data.org, estimated from the Saint Arnaud weather station.[12] | |||||||||||||
The town:
| Climate data for St Arnaud | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 30.27 (86.49) |
27.34 (81.21) |
26.36 (79.45) |
21.48 (70.66) |
19.53 (67.15) |
15.62 (60.12) |
14.65 (58.37) |
16.60 (61.88) |
19.53 (67.15) |
22.46 (72.43) |
25.39 (77.7) |
28.32 (82.98) |
30.27 (86.49) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 21.19 (70.14) |
21.38 (70.48) |
19.62 (67.32) |
16.57 (61.83) |
14.15 (57.47) |
11.92 (53.46) |
11.08 (51.94) |
12.05 (53.69) |
13.42 (56.16) |
15.54 (59.97) |
17.50 (63.50) |
19.40 (66.92) |
16.15 (61.07) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 17.88 (64.18) |
17.78 (64.00) |
15.93 (60.67) |
12.98 (55.36) |
10.52 (50.94) |
8.51 (47.32) |
7.54 (45.57) |
8.39 (47.10) |
9.89 (49.80) |
12.20 (53.96) |
14.53 (58.15) |
16.64 (61.95) |
12.73 (54.91) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 10.34 (50.61) |
10.25 (50.45) |
9.13 (48.43) |
7.62 (45.72) |
5.80 (42.44) |
4.42 (39.96) |
3.29 (37.92) |
3.24 (37.83) |
4.15 (39.47) |
5.43 (41.77) |
6.93 (44.47) |
9.26 (48.67) |
6.66 (43.99) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 3.91 (39.04) |
2.93 (37.27) |
2.93 (37.27) |
1.95 (35.51) |
−1.95 (28.49) |
−1.95 (28.49) |
−2.93 (26.73) |
−3.91 (24.96) |
−0.98 (30.24) |
−0.98 (30.24) |
0.98 (33.76) |
2.93 (37.27) |
−3.91 (24.96) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 103.07 (4.06) |
78.79 (3.10) |
103.16 (4.06) |
128.51 (5.06) |
123.83 (4.88) |
148.52 (5.85) |
127.84 (5.03) |
129.71 (5.11) |
128.32 (5.05) |
128.32 (5.05) |
92.26 (3.63) |
137.83 (5.43) |
1,430.16 (56.31) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0mm) | 9.32 | 6.30 | 7.81 | 11.45 | 10.74 | 11.54 | 9.68 | 12.25 | 12.78 | 12.43 | 11.54 | 12.61 | 128.45 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 72.83 | 73.69 | 76.10 | 78.88 | 79.23 | 80.51 | 78.76 | 79.68 | 77.24 | 75.67 | 73.86 | 74.96 | 76.78 |
| Source: weatherandclimate.com[13] | |||||||||||||
References edit
- ^ a b c "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
- ^ a b Hunt, Tom (17 May 2007). "TDC gives cautious support to change". The Nelson Mail. Fairfax.
- ^ a b Reference P&T 76/3123 – New Zealand Geographic Board
- ^ Lake Rotoiti Local History Collection
- ^ Proposing a Place Name Archived 14 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine (from the Land Information New Zealand website)
- ^ "Name change ruled out for St Arnaud". The Nelson Mail. Fairfax. 16 November 2007.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7022872.
- ^ "Distribution Area". www.networktasman.co.nz. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ^ "St Arnaud Settlement Area Report 2018" (PDF). Tasman District Council. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ "Climate-data.org – Climate Data for Cities Worldwide". openstreetmap.org. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- ^ "St Arnaud, Tasman, NZ Climate Zone, Monthly Averages, Historical Weather Data". weatherandclimate.com. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
Further reading edit
- Darroch Donald (2003) Footprint Guide to New Zealand, 2nd edition, pp 481–483
- Jim Dufresne (2002) Tramping in New Zealand, 5th edition, Lonely Planet Books
External links edit
St Arnaud travel guide from Wikivoyage