{{Short description|Rural settlement in Marlborough, New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Rai Valley | image_skyline = Rai Valley.JPG | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = New Zealand | subdivision_type1 = District | subdivision_name1 = Marlborough | subdivision_type2 = Ward | subdivision_name2 = {{ubl|Marlborough Sounds General Ward|Marlborough Māori Ward}} | seat_type = Electorates | seat = {{ubl|Kaikōura|Te Tai Tonga (Māori)}} | leader_title = Territorial Authority | leader_name = Marlborough District Council | leader_title1 = Marlborough District Mayor | leader_name1 = {{NZ officeholder data|Marlborough District Mayor|y}} | leader_title2 = Kaikōura MP | leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|Kaikōura MP|y}} | leader_title3 = Te Tai Tonga MP | leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Tonga MP|y}} | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 9 | coordinates = {{coord|41|13|39|S|173|34|59|E|region:NZ|display=inline,title}} | official_name = | population_footnotes = {{NZ population data 2018||||y}} | population_as_of = {{NZ population data 2018|||y}} | population_total = {{NZ population data 2018|Rai Valley|y}} | population_density_km2 = auto | area_total_km2 = 27.96 | area_footnotes = <ref name="Area"/> }} '''Rai Valley''' is a rural settlement in Marlborough, New Zealand. It is located on {{NZlSH|6}}, {{Convert|68|km||abbr=on}} northwest of Blenheim and {{Convert|46|km||abbr=on}} east of Nelson. The Rai River runs past the locality to join the Pelorus River at the locality of Pelorus Bridge to the south.<ref>{{cite book|title=Reed New Zealand Atlas|year=2004|isbn=0-7900-0952-8|editor=Peter Dowling |publisher=Reed Books|pages=map 59}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand|year=2005|isbn=1-877333-20-4|author=Roger Smith, GeographX|publisher=Robbie Burton|pages=map 131}}</ref> At the 2018 census, the settlement had a population of 177.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Age and sex by ethnic group (grouped total response), for census usually resident population counts, 2006, 2013, and 2018 Censuses (urban rural areas)|url=http://nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=TABLECODE8318|access-date=2020-10-02|website=nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz}}</ref>
The area may have been named for the Rangitāne chief, Rai kau moana.<ref>{{cite book|title=Click – A Captured Moment – Marlborough's Early Heritage|author=Marlborough Historical Society|year=2005|isbn=0-473-10475-X|pages=64|publisher=Marlborough Historical Society|location=Blenheim}}</ref>
The locality supports dairy farming in the area,<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/M/MarlboroughRegion/LandscapePattern/en|title=Marlborough Region – Landscape Pattern|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966)}}</ref> with a dairy and cheese factory established in about 1909.<ref>Marlborough Historical Society, pp 84–85</ref>
==History== The Valley was one of the last areas explored by Europeans in northern Marlborough. John Tinline discovered it while looking for a route to Nelson in January 1850.{{sfn|McIntosh|1940|pages=116–117}}
The Rai Valley was densely forested in the 19th century. A township grew up at Carluke, just to the west of Rai Valley locality, around a sawmill built by William Brownlee in 1907. About 100 people worked at the mill, and a light railway connected it to a port on the Pelorus River.{{sfn|McIntosh|1940|pages=94, 204}}<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.peloruspeople.org.nz/havelockmuseum/index.mvc?ArticleID=2|title=Brownlee & Co. Sawmilling Industry|journal=Bits & Pieces|issue=1|date=September 1993|archive-date=23 February 2009|access-date=21 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223230157/http://www.peloruspeople.org.nz/havelockmuseum/index.mvc?ArticleID=2|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Returned servicemen took up many local farms in 1919.{{sfn|McIntosh|1940|page=159}}
==Demographics== Rai Valley is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers {{Convert|27.96|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Urban Rural 2023 (generalised)|access-date=8 May 2026}}</ref> and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Rai Valley|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Rai Valley|y}}|R}}/27.96|1}} people per km<sup>2</sup>. It is part of the larger Marlborough Sounds West 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=Urban Rural Areas – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023}}</ref>
{{Historical populations|2006|141|2013|147|2018|177|2023|171|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2023"/><ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|7023221}}</ref>}} Rai Valley had a population of 171 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 6 people (−3.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 24 people (16.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 87 males, 84 females, and 3 people of other genders in 63 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%2Bdo1.2027.2023&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 LGBTIQ+. The median age was 39.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 39 people (22.8%) aged under 15 years, 27 (15.8%) aged 15 to 29, 78 (45.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 27 (15.8%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 96.5% European (Pākehā), 10.5% Māori, and 3.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 100.0%, Māori by 1.8%, and other languages by 7.0%. The percentage of people born overseas was 12.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
Religious affiliations were 15.8% Christian. People who answered that they had no religion were 71.9%, and 12.3% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (9.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 84 (63.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 39 (29.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $36,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 3 people (2.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 69 (52.3%) full-time, 21 (15.9%) part-time, and 3 (2.3%) 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.2027.2013%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=Rai Valley (2027)}}</ref>
==Education== Rai Valley Area School is a coeducational composite (years 1–13) school with a decile rating of 6 and a roll of 94.<ref>{{TKI|291|Rai Valley Area School}}</ref>
There were many schools in the area in the early 20th century: *Ronga School opened in 1913, was destroyed by fire in 1918 and rebuilt in 1920.<ref name="School history">{{cite web|url=https://wairarapaschoolhistory.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/12-Rai-Valley-Flat-Creek.pdf|title=Rai Valley-Flat Creek|publisher=Wairarapa School History|access-date=8 May 2026}}</ref>{{rp|29,69}} *Opouri Valley School, 1911-1921<ref name="School history"/>{{rp|43}} *Upper Opouri School 1928-1938<ref name="School history"/>{{rp|41}} *Carluke School opened in 1907 as Rimu Gully School, and became Carluke School from 1908 to 1938<ref name="School history"/>{{rp|2, 23, 26}} *Rai Valley School was open by 1901. It was sometimes called Flat Creek School.<ref name="School history"/>{{rp|24, 65}} *Billy Goat School, late 1920s to {{circa|1938}}<ref name="School history"/>{{rp|1}} *Kaiuma Flat Creek School, 1919 to {{circa|1927}}<ref name="School history"/>{{rp|24-26}} *Tinline Valley School, 1923-1949<ref name="School history"/>{{rp|32}} *Tunakino School, 1920-1933<ref name="School history"/>{{rp|36-38}} Ronga, Opouri and Carluke schools were merged into Rai Valley School in 1939. Rai Valley became an area school in 1978.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theprow.org.nz/places/rai-valley/|title=Rai Valley|publisher=The Prow|access-date=8 May 2026}}</ref>
==Climate==
{{Weather box|width=auto |metric first=y |single line=y |collapsed = Y |location = Rai Valley (1981–2010 normals, extremes 1962–1987) | Jan record high C = 31.5 | Feb record high C = 33.6 | Mar record high C = 30.0 | Apr record high C = 25.7 | May record high C = 21.8 | Jun record high C = 19.2 | Jul record high C = 19.6 | Aug record high C = 18.8 | Sep record high C = 24.0 | Oct record high C = 25.3 | Nov record high C = 27.6 | Dec record high C = 28.7 | year record high C = |Jan record low C = 1.3 |Feb record low C = 0.7 |Mar record low C = -3.0 |Apr record low C = -4.1 |May record low C = -6.9 |Jun record low C = -7.6 |Jul record low C = -7.8 |Aug record low C = -6.6 |Sep record low C = -5.2 |Oct record low C = -4.4 |Nov record low C = -2.0 |Dec record low C = -0.7 |year record low C = |Jan high C = 22.5 |Feb high C = 23.2 |Mar high C = 21.2 |Apr high C = 18.2 |May high C = 15.6 |Jun high C = 12.7 |Jul high C = 12.4 |Aug high C = 13.8 |Sep high C = 15.6 |Oct high C = 17.1 |Nov high C = 18.8 |Dec high C = 20.7 | year high C = |Jan mean C = 16.7 |Feb mean C = 16.8 |Mar mean C = 15.6 |Apr mean C = 12.5 |May mean C = 10.1 |Jun mean C = 7.6 |Jul mean C = 6.8 |Aug mean C = 8.1 |Sep mean C = 10.2 |Oct mean C = 12.0 |Nov mean C = 13.4 |Dec mean C = 15.7 | year mean C = |Jan low C = 10.9 |Feb low C = 10.4 |Mar low C = 9.9 |Apr low C = 6.8 |May low C = 4.6 |Jun low C = 2.5 |Jul low C = 1.2 |Aug low C = 2.4 |Sep low C = 4.8 |Oct low C = 6.8 |Nov low C = 8.0 |Dec low C = 10.6 | year low C = |rain colour = green |Jan rain mm = 140.8 |Feb rain mm = 113.7 |Mar rain mm = 152.1 |Apr rain mm = 197.5 |May rain mm = 193.8 |Jun rain mm = 171.3 |Jul rain mm = 176.5 |Aug rain mm = 162.4 |Sep rain mm = 141.0 |Oct rain mm = 223.4 |Nov rain mm = 164.2 |Dec rain mm = 180.6 |year rain mm = |source 1 = NIWA (rain 1971–2000)<ref name= NIWA> {{cite web |url = http://cliflo.niwa.co.nz |title = CliFlo – National Climate Database : Rai Valley |publisher = NIWA |access-date = 15 Oct 2024}}</ref> }}
==Notes== {{reflist}}
==References== *{{cite book |ref={{sfnRef|McIntosh|1940}} |title=Marlborough: A Provincial History |editor1-first=Alister |editor1-last=McIntosh |editor1-link=Alister McIntosh |editor2-first=William Edward |editor2-last=Redman |editor3-first=William Raymond |editor3-last=Allen |publisher=Marlborough Provincial Historical Committee |location=Blenheim |year=1940}}
==External links== {{Wikivoyage|Rai Valley}} {{Commons category}} * [http://www.rai.school.nz Rai Valley Area School website]
{{Marlborough Region}}
Category:Populated places in the Marlborough District