{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox islands | name = Best Island | local_name = | image_name = | image_caption = | map_image = | map_caption = | nickname = | location = [[Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere]]<ref name=Tasman /> | coordinates = {{coord|-41.294|173.155|region:NZ_type:isle|display=inline,title}} | archipelago = | total_islands = | major_islands = | area_footnotes = <ref name="Islands in the stream"/> | area_km2 = 1.32 | length_km = 3.7 | width_km = 0.7 | highest_mount = | elevation_m = | population_footnotes = <ref name="Meshblock 2357102"/> | population = 88 | population_as_of = 2023 | density_km2 = 67 | ethnic_groups = | country = [[New Zealand]] | country_admin_divisions_title_1 = [[Districts of New Zealand|District]] | country_admin_divisions_1 = [[Tasman District]] | country_admin_divisions_title_2 = Ward | country_admin_divisions_2 = Richmond Ward | additional_info = }} '''Best Island''', previously '''Bests Island''', is an island in the [[Waimea Inlet]], an arm in the southernmost part of [[Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere]],<ref name=Tasman>{{LINZ|371|Best Island|27 July 2021}}</ref> on the northern coast of New Zealand's [[South Island]]. The island runs northwest to southeast for {{convert|3.7|km|mi}}. It is connected to the South Island on the southwest and to [[Bell Island (New Zealand)|Bell Island]] to the northeast by causeways. It is in the Richmond Ward of [[Tasman District]].

The northeastern half of the island contains the Greenacres Golf Club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.greenacresgolfclub.co.nz/|title=Welcome to the Best Island Golf Course|publisher=Greenacres Golf Club|accessdate=27 July 2021}}</ref> The middle of the island contains farms.<ref name="Islands in the stream">{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/lifestyle-entertainment/weekend/1393765/Islands-in-the-stream|title=Islands in the stream|publisher=Stuff|date=16 June 2009}}</ref> The population is concentrated at the southwestern end. Legal access to properties is only from the sea, although private roads have been used for decades to give property-owners access. A plan for the district council to buy land for public road access failed in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/83318060/tasman-district-council-steps-back-from-plan-to-buy-land-on-best-island-for-legal-road|title=Tasman District Council steps back from plan to buy land on Best Island for legal road|publisher=Stuff|date=18 August 2018|first=Cherie|last=Sivignon}}</ref>

The island was originally called Bests (or Best's) Island after a local family.<ref>{{LINZ|49688|Best's Island|27 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC18861009.2.18?query=Best%27s+Island|newspaper=The Colonist|date=9 October 1886|title=The Recent Floods – The Waimea}}</ref>

==Demographics== These islands are contained in the statistical area Islands Tasman District, which covers {{Convert|15.94|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised)|access-date=13 April 2026}}</ref> and also includes the sparsely populated [[Moturoa / Rabbit Island]], Bell Island and Rough Island. The statistical area had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Islands Tasman district|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Islands Tasman district|y}}|R}}/15.94|1}} people per km<sup>2</sup>. Best Island contains almost the entire population of the area, with the population being 88 in 2023.<ref name="Meshblock 2357102">{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=2023 Census electoral population at meshblock level (2025 Meshblock) [Meshblock 2357102]|access-date=28 March 2025}}</ref>

{{Historical populations|2006|93|2013|96|2018|102|2023|90|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2023"/><ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|Islands Tasman District (302000)|islands-tasman-district|Islands Tasman District}}</ref>}} Islands Tasman District had a population of 90 in the [[2023 New Zealand census]], a decrease of 12 people (−11.8%) since the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], and a decrease of 6 people (−6.2%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]]. There were 48 males and 42 females in 51 dwellings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.302000.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}}</ref> The median age was 55.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 9 people (10.0%) aged under 15 years, 12 (13.3%) aged 15 to 29, 45 (50.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 21 (23.3%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 96.7% [[European New Zealanders|European]] ([[Pākehā]]), and 3.3% [[Māori people|Māori]]. English was spoken by 100.0%, and other languages by 3.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 20.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Religious affiliations were 30.0% [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], and 3.3% other religions. People who answered that they had [[Irreligion in New Zealand|no religion]] were 60.0%, and 3.3% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Of those at least 15 years old, 24 (29.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 48 (59.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 12 (14.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $37,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 45 (55.6%) full-time, 9 (11.1%) part-time, and 3 (3.7%) unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023">{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.302000.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Islands Tasman District (302000)}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Tasman District}} [[Category:Islands of the Tasman District]] [[Category:Populated places in the Tasman District]] [[Category:Populated places around Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere]] [[Category:Islands of Tasman Bay]] [[Category:Tidal islands of New Zealand]]