Best Island

Geography
Location	Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere[1]
Coordinates	41°17′38″S 173°09′18″E / 41.294°S 173.155°E / -41.294; 173.155
Area	1.32 km2 (0.51 sq mi)[2]
Length	3.7 km (2.3 mi)
Width	0.7 km (0.43 mi)
Administration
New Zealand
District	Tasman District
Ward	Richmond Ward
Demographics
Population	93 (2018)[3]
Pop. density	70.5/km2 (182.6/sq mi)

Best Island, previously Bests Island, is an island in the Waimea Inlet, an arm in the southernmost part of Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere,^[1] on the northern coast of New Zealand's South Island. The island runs northwest to southeast for 3.7 kilometres (2.3 mi). It is connected to the South Island on the southwest and to Bell Island to the northeast by causeways. It is in the Richmond Ward of Tasman District.

The northeastern half of the island contains the Greenacres Golf Club.^[4] The middle of the island contains farms.^[2] The population is concentrated at the southwestern end. Legal access to properties is only from the sea, although private roads have been used for decades to give property-owners access. A plan for the district council to buy land for public road access failed in 2016.^[5]

The island was originally called Bests (or Best's) Island after a local family.^[6][7]

These islands are contained in the statistical area Islands Tasman District, which covers 15.94 km² (6.15 sq mi)^[8] and also includes the sparsely populated Moturoa / Rabbit Island, Bell Island and Rough Island. The statistical area had an estimated population of 110 as of June 2024,^[9] with a population density of 6.9 people per km². Best Island contains almost the entire population of the area, with the population of Best Island and Bell Island being 93 in 2018.^[3]

Islands Tasman District had a population of 99 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 3 people (3.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 6 people (6.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 45 households, comprising 51 males and 48 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.06 males per female. The median age was 43.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 24 people (24.2%) aged under 15 years, 9 (9.1%) aged 15 to 29, 57 (57.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 15 (15.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 93.9% European/Pākehā, and 3.0% Asian.

The percentage of people born overseas was 24.2, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 66.7% had no religion, 24.2% were Christian, 3.0% were Buddhist and 3.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 21 (28.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 12 (16.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,800, compared with $31,800 nationally. 9 people (12.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 39 (52.0%) people were employed full-time, 18 (24.0%) were part-time, and 3 (4.0%) were unemployed.^[10]