Martinborough

Stats NZ describes Martinborough as a small urban area, which covers 4.86 km² (1.88 sq mi).^[5] It had an estimated population of 1,900 as of June 2025,^[12] with a population density of 391 people per km².

Martinborough had a population of 1,875 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 51 people (2.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 381 people (25.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 912 males, 954 females, and 9 people of other genders in 828 dwellings.^[15] 3.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 52.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 279 people (14.9%) aged under 15 years, 198 (10.6%) aged 15 to 29, 837 (44.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 558 (29.8%) aged 65 or older.^[13]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 86.1% European (Pākehā); 17.0% Māori; 2.9% Pasifika; 4.8% Asian; 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.1%, Māori by 2.9%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 9.1%. No language could be spoken by 2.2% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 20.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[13]

Religious affiliations were 25.3% Christian, 0.5% Hindu, 1.3% Māori religious beliefs, 2.1% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, 0.2% Jewish, and 0.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 63.2%, and 6.1% of people did not answer the census question.^[13]

Of those at least 15 years old, 474 (29.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 771 (48.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 354 (22.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $44,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 279 people (17.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 759 (47.6%) full-time, 234 (14.7%) part-time, and 33 (2.1%) unemployed.^[13]

Martinborough has a large number of vineyards producing wines, notably Pinot noir. Martinborough has a warm micro-climate, with hills to the east and west. Almost all the vineyards are in thin ribbons around the northern and eastern sides of the town, and on the Dry River to the south. All follow dry riverbeds, which provide appropriate soils for viticulture.

Notable wineries include Schubert Wines,^[16] Te Kairanga, Tirohana Estate, Palliser Estate Wines,^[17] Dry River, Martinborough Vineyard,^[18] Murdoch James,^[19] Ata Rangi,^[20] Craggy Range,^[21] Tiwaiwaka, Haythornthwaite, and Escarpment.^[22] During November, the region's wines are celebrated in the Toast Martinborough wine festival. This event temporarily enlarges the population by 10,000.

Other industries around Martinborough focus on traditional beef and sheep farming; growing olives, lavender and nuts; and fishing at the coast settlements of Ngawi and Cape Palliser. Tourism is an important industry for the town, and the Martinborough i-site^[23] provides advice about accommodation, activities, wineries and where to eat. Several wineries and specialist tour operators offer vineyard tours, and the Martinborough Brewery is also located in town.^[24]

In January 2023, an area of 3,665 square kilometres (1,415 sq mi), was certified as the Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve by the International Dark-Sky Association. The area covered by the reserve includes the Aorangi Forest Park, and the South Wairarapa and Carterton Districts. Martinborough was the location for the first public meeting to discuss the proposal to apply for dark sky accreditation,^[25] and the town is approximately in the centre of the reserve.^[26][27][28] The Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve was the second dark sky reserve to be certified in New Zealand (after the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve was recognised in 2012). The certification of the new dark sky reserve was the result of 5 years of volunteer work by the Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve Association and local partner organisations.^[29]

Martinborough School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,^[30][31] with a roll of 245 as of July 2026.^[32] It started in 1872^[33] as Wharekaka School, became Waihinga School, then in 1898 Martinborough School. By 1921 it was Martinborough District High School,^[34] and when that merged with other district high schools to form Kuranui College in 1960,^[35] it became Martinborough School again.^[36]

The nearest high school is Kuranui College.

The international cooking school Le Cordon Bleu and UCOL considered establishing a campus in Martinborough by 2009. They eventually opted to open a campus in Wellington instead, disappointing locals who were hoping it would provide an economic boost to the town.^[37]

• John Martin^{[citation needed]} - politician, runholder, and founder of Martinborough
• Eric Ramsden^{[citation needed]} - journalist and author