Brightwater

Description

Brightwater is located about 20 minutes from Nelson and under 10 minutes drive south of Richmond on State Highway 6 and has a population of around 2,000 people.

Brightwater is the birthplace of Lord Ernest Rutherford and the Lord Rutherford memorial was designed and erected as part of the Rutherford Birth site Project, and commemorates Lord Rutherford’s contribution to science. It includes display panels, an audio display, lighting, and formal gardens and is situated at the entrance to Brightwater on SH6

Industry:
Brightwater Engineering is a very large engineering firm servicing the national & international market. There are also service industry players like mechanical services, loggers shop etc.  Also there is small light industrial area across the main road on Factory road with amongst others, dairy related industries, food industry, agricultural engineering.

Shopping
Locally there is a block of shops containing Four Square store, hairdresser, fish & chip shop, and the Sprig and Fern bistro.

There is also a dairy, 2 garages, and the Brightwater Motor Inn ( including the Crossroads Restaurant) is at the SH 6 crossroad with Ellis street and 6 new shops are currently under construction.

Craft shops include the following:-
McGlashens Pottery
Wrought iron shop
Craft shop in the old post office.

Transport:
There is no regular commercial scheduled public transport service to from Brightwater. The trains stopped travelling through here in the mid 1950’s when the Nelson to Glenhope line was abandoned.  NZ's Intercity Buses operate a service through Brightwater but these buses cater mainly to tourists rather than residents. Services depart from Brightwater at the Four Square Store in Ellis Street.

Reserves
2 rivers walkway along Wairoa and Wai-iti Rivers

Lord Rutherford Park has sports fields and open space for recreation. The reserve is located on the edge of the Brightwater urban area, at Malthouse Crescent.  Nearby is the BMX track, community gardens, and dog exercise area.

Snowden’s Bush Scenic Reserve and St Paul’s Protected Private Land – both important lowland forest remnants are off Waimea West just as you are traveling west out of Brightwater.

Brightwater Recreation Reserve is located in the Brightwater urban area between Lord Rutherford Road, Ellis Street, and Charlotte Lane and is the home of the Wanderers Rugby club.  Also here are the skateboard, tennis and netball courts.  Wanderer’s club rooms also have squash courts.  Also in this area is the Brightwater Public Hall and the small public domain.

Events
Each February it plays host to the annual Brightwater Wine and Food Festival, an event that showcases the areas wine, food, craft, etc and that attracts thousands of visitors.

Education and activities
There is an active primary school,
 Kindergarten and 2 play groups.

A number of social groups meet in the St Paul’s Hall or at the Public Hall.  These include Art group, gardening and horticultural groups; and various physical activities take place in the public hall – many as part of the Way2Go series run by TDC.