Nelson, New Zealand

is by far the smallest local government region of New Zealand, having an area of only 445 square kilometres, less than 1% of the size of the largest region. It adjoins the northern coast of the South Island, the Tasman District to the west, and the Marlborough Region to the east.

Chief population centre is Nelson, which was one of the first towns in New Zealand to have a cathedral. The whole region is coterminous with Nelson City, both being administered by the Nelson City Council, a unitary authority.

The region is entirely within the former, much larger, Nelson Province (1852-1876).