{{Short description|Rural locality in Tasman, New Zealand}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Lower Moutere | settlement_type = Rural locality | image_skyline = Moutere Inlet 02.jpg | imagesize = | image_alt = | image_caption = Moutere Inlet | area_footnotes = <ref name="Area"/> | area_total_km2 = 7.16 | population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2023"/> | population_as_of = 2023 Census | population_total = 513 | population_density_km2 = auto | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 11 | coordinates = {{coord|41|09|09|S|172|59|37|E|region:NZ_type:city|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = New Zealand | subdivision_type1 = [[Territorial authorities of New Zealand|Territorial authority]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Tasman District|Tasman]] | subdivision_type2 = Ward | subdivision_name2 = Motueka Ward | subdivision_type3 = Community | subdivision_name3 = Motueka Community | seat_type = [[New Zealand electorates|Electorates]] | seat = {{ubl|[[West Coast-Tasman]]|{{nowrap|[[Te Tai Tonga]] ([[Māori electorates|Māori]])}}}} | government_footnotes = | leader_title = Territorial authority | leader_name = [[Tasman District Council]] | leader_title1 = [[Mayor of Tasman]] | leader_name1 = {{NZ officeholder data|Tasman District Mayor|y}} | leader_title2 = {{nowrap|[[West Coast-Tasman|West Coast-Tasman MP]]}} | leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|West Coast-Tasman MP|y}} | leader_title3 = [[Te Tai Tonga|Te Tai Tonga MP]] | leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Tonga MP|y}} | timezone1 = [[Time in New Zealand|NZST]] | utc_offset1 = +12 | timezone1_DST = [[Time in New Zealand|NZDT]] | utc_offset1_DST = +13 | postal_code_type = [[Postcodes in New Zealand|Postcode]] | postal_code = 7175 | area_code_type = | area_code = | website = | footnotes = }} '''Lower Moutere''' is a settlement in the [[Tasman District]] of New Zealand's upper [[South Island]]. It is a farming community it the Lower Moutere valley, {{convert|6|km|mi|abbr=on}} from [[Motueka]] close to the Moutere Inlet.<ref name="cwalrond">{{cite web |last1=Walrond |first1=Carl |title=Moutere Hills and Tasman Bay |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/nelson-places/page-4 |website=[[Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |publisher=[[Ministry for Culture and Heritage]]}}</ref>

The road up the valley from Motueka to [[Upper Moutere]] is an alternative to the main [[New Zealand State Highway 60|State Highway 60]] route between [[Nelson, New Zealand|Nelson]] and Motueka.<ref name="cwalrond" />

[[Riverside Community, New Zealand|The Riverside Community]] was established in Lower Moutere in 1941 by a small group of [[Methodist]] [[pacifists]], and continues to operate a dairy farm and cafe. As of 2013 about 24 people were permanent members and 19 children lived there, but the community’s population sometimes doubled due to visitors, including WWOOFers (Willing Workers on Organic Farms).<ref name="cwalrond" />

The Lower Moutere Memorial Hall features a plaque commemorating the three local men who died and 35 local men who served overseas during [[World War II]].<ref name="memorialhall">{{cite web |title=Lower Moutere memorial hall |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/lower-moutere-memorial-hall |website=nzhistory.govt.nz |publisher=[[Ministry for Culture and Heritage]]}}</ref> A memorial gate commemorates those who died or were served during [[World War I]].<ref name="memorialgates">{{cite web |title=Lower Moutere war memorial |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/moutere-war-memorial |website=nzhistory.govt.nz |publisher=[[Ministry for Culture and Heritage]]}}</ref>

''Moutere'' is the [[Māori language|Māori]] word for 'island'.<ref name="nzhistory">{{cite web |title=Lower Moutere NZ History |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/keyword/lower-moutere |website=nzhistory.govt.nz |publisher=[[Ministry for Culture and Heritage]]}}</ref>

Native birds are common in the area, and a [[kākā]] was found in the area in January 2020.<ref name="gooch">{{cite news |last1=Gooch |first1=Carla |title=Kākā visitor delights Lower Moutere resident |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/118949776/kaka-visitor-delights-lower-moutere-resident |agency=[[Nelson Mail]] |publisher=[[stuff.co.nz]] |date=24 January 2020}}</ref>

== Demographics == Lower Moutere village covers {{Convert|7.16|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised)|access-date=11 April 2026}}</ref> It is part of the larger Lower Moutere statistical area.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=3a406ce8fbb14367ab5caae21c07ab8b|title=Geographic Boundary Viewer|publisher=Stats NZ|at=Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023}}</ref>

{{Historical populations|2006|411|2013|441|2018|489|2023|513|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Lower Moutere village|source=<ref name="Census 2023"/><ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|7022583, 7022588 and 7022589}}</ref>}} The village had a population of 513 in the [[2023 New Zealand census]], an increase of 24 people (4.9%) since the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], and an increase of 72 people (16.3%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]]. There were 276 males and 237 females in 165 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_009&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.7022583%2B7022588%2B7022589.2023&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> 3.5% of people identified as [[LGBTQ|LGBTIQ+]]. There were 72 people (14.0%) aged under 15 years, 111 (21.6%) aged 15 to 29, 264 (51.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 69 (13.5%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 81.9% [[European New Zealanders|European]] ([[Pākehā]]); 12.3% [[Māori people|Māori]]; 12.3% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]]; 3.5% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]]; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.5%, Māori by 2.9%, Samoan by 8.2%, and other languages by 12.9%. No language could be spoken by 0.6% (e.g. too young to talk). [[New Zealand Sign Language]] was known by 1.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 28.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Religious affiliations were 33.9% [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 0.6% [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]], 0.6% [[New Age]], and 0.6% other religions. People who answered that they had [[Irreligion in New Zealand|no religion]] were 56.7%, and 6.4% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Of those at least 15 years old, 42 (9.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 243 (55.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 162 (36.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 24 people (5.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 249 (56.5%) full-time, 66 (15.0%) part-time, and 12 (2.7%) 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_012&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.7022583%2B7022588%2B7022589.2013%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=7022583, 7022588 and 7022589}}</ref>

===Lower Moutere statistical area=== Lower Moutere statistical area covers {{Convert|62.11|km2||abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised)|access-date=11 April 2026}}</ref> It had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Lower Moutere|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Lower Moutere|y}}|R}}/62.11|1}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.

{{Historical populations|2006|1,374|2013|1,509|2018|1,683|2023|1,845|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Lower Moutere statistical area|source=<ref name="Census 2023 LM"/><ref name="Census 2018 LM">{{NZ census 2018|Lower Moutere (301000)|lower-moutere|Lower Moutere}}</ref>}} Lower Moutere had a population of 1,845 in the [[2023 New Zealand census]], an increase of 162 people (9.6%) since the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], and an increase of 336 people (22.3%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]]. There were 975 males, 870 females, and 3 people of [[non-binary gender|other genders]] in 663 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%2Bdo1.301000.2023&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> 2.8% of people identified as [[LGBTQ|LGBTIQ+]]. The median age was 44.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 288 people (15.6%) aged under 15 years, 309 (16.7%) aged 15 to 29, 927 (50.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 321 (17.4%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023 LM"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 85.5% [[European New Zealanders|European]] ([[Pākehā]]); 11.1% [[Māori people|Māori]]; 7.2% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]]; 2.6% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]]; 1.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.2%, Māori by 3.6%, Samoan by 3.7%, and other languages by 12.4%. No language could be spoken by 1.5% (e.g. too young to talk). [[New Zealand Sign Language]] was known by 0.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 27.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023 LM"/>

Religious affiliations were 29.1% [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 0.3% [[Māori religious beliefs]], 0.3% [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]], 0.5% [[New Age]], and 0.8% other religions. People who answered that they had [[Irreligion in New Zealand|no religion]] were 62.6%, and 6.0% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023 LM"/>

Of those at least 15 years old, 291 (18.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 804 (51.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 468 (30.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $35,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 123 people (7.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 789 (50.7%) full-time, 276 (17.7%) part-time, and 39 (2.5%) unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023 LM">{{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.301000.2013%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=Lower Moutere (301000)}}</ref>

==Education==

Lower Moutere School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,<ref name="official3200">{{cite web |title=Lower Moutere School Official School Website |url=http://www.lowermoutere.school.nz |website=lowermoutere.school.nz}}</ref><ref name="moe3200">{{cite web |title=Lower Moutere School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=3200 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=[[Ministry of Education (New Zealand)|Ministry of Education]]}}</ref> with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|3200|y}} as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|}}.<ref name="ero3200">{{cite web |title=Lower Moutere School Education Review Office Report |url=https://www.ero.govt.nz/institution/3200/lower-moutere-school |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=[[Education Review Office]]}}</ref> The school opened in 1857. A fire destroyed four classrooms and other facilities in 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lowermoutere.school.nz/index.php/our-school|title=The History of Lower Moutere School|publisher=Lower Moutere School|accessdate=25 July 2021}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Tasman District}} [[Category:Populated places in the Tasman District]] [[Category:Populated places around Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere]]