Nelson, New Zealand

Nelson has the best climate in New Zealand. It regularly tops the national stats for sunshine hours, with an annual average total of over 2400 hours.

Nelson has great beaches. It is close to mountains, Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa in the Nelson Lakes National Park[?], and is the gateway to the Abel Tasman National Park[?] and the Kahurangi National Park [?]. The geographical Centre of New Zealand is located in Nelson.

It is a centre for arts and crafts.

Nelson is the birthplace of Ernest Rutherford, and he attended Nelson College.

The first rugby match in New Zealand was played at the Botanic Reserve in Nelson on May 14, 1870, between the Nelson Football Club[?] and Nelson College.