Riwaka, Tasman Map

About Riwaka, Tasman

Riwaka is a locality in the Tasman Region of New Zealand. It is a small community with a population of 986. It sits at an elevation of around 9 m above sea level. It lies approximately 32 km north-northwest of Richmond, the regional capital. Riwaka is located at 41.0833°S, 173.0000°E. It observes New Zealand Time (NZST/NZDT). Statistics New Zealand classifies the area as a rural settlement.

Riwaka nestles in a landscape cradled by rolling green hills that descend towards the gentle murmur of the Motueka River, its waters carrying the faint scent of the sea from Stephens Bay, some four kilometres distant. It lies 31.6 km north-west of Nelson (from Nelson: bearing 311°T), and is situated 5.7 km north-north-west of Motueka. Here, the air itself feels softened, a subtle blend of sun-baked earth and the distant tang of salt, a constant reminder of the coastal proximity. The land is a rich tapestry of fertile plains, broken by the occasional stand of native bush, its verdant depths promising cool, shaded respite. Sunlight, when it catches the dew-kissed paddocks in the early morning, seems to hold a peculiar, almost ethereal luminescence, a delicate watercolour wash across the waking countryside.

The story of Riwaka is one of quiet industry, deeply rooted in the fertile soil and the bounty of the sea, though its direct connection to Stephens Bay is more a whisper than a roar. For generations, the economy here has been woven from the threads of horticulture, particularly the vibrant cultivation of kiwifruit and apples, their orchards forming neat, ordered patterns across the land. The Motueka River, a vital artery, has long facilitated the movement of goods and people, its banks echoing with the labours of farmers and fishermen. While the wider Tasman region might boast grander peaks like the Pikikiruna Range, Riwaka finds its distinctiveness in this intimate, productive embrace of land and water, a place where the rhythm of the seasons dictates the pulse of daily life, and the distant call of gulls occasionally drifts inland on the breeze.

About This Riwaka Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Riwaka, Tasman, New Zealand — switch between views using the small square in the bottom left-hand corner of the map. Coordinates: -41.08333, 173.0. Live weather conditions with current observations and a 7-day forecast are powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time New Zealand and world news feeds keep the page current, while an editorial description provides background on Riwaka.

Riwaka sits within the Tasman Region. Location data is drawn from the GeoNames geographical database and verified by coordinates, ensuring the correct Riwaka is identified even where the name is shared across multiple New Zealand localities.