Marlborough Culture

01/08/2010

Marlborough has developed as a region primarily through primary industry. Unlike other areas of New Zealand where European colonisation proceeded with a great deal of planning, Marlborough communities have tended to form in response to the needs of primary industry in the region. This, and the tendency to rely heavily on other more established centres such as Christchurch and Nelson, led to a slow initial development of a rich local cultural experience. Marlborough can lay claim to a very extensive local Maori heritage, and as the region has matured and developed an identity in its own right, something that can be called uniquely Marlborough has started to emerge, and many cultural activities and events are well represented.