Lower Moutere

The Riverside Community was established in Lower Moutere in 1941 by a small group of Methodist pacifists, and continues to operate a dairy farm and cafe. The Lower Moutere Memorial Hall features a plaque commemorating the three local men who died and 35 local men who served overseas during World War II. A memorial gate commemorates those who died or were served during World War I. Moutere is the Māori word for 'island'. Native birds are common in the area, and a kākā was found in the area in January 2020.

• Name — Lower Moutere • Settlement Type — Rural locality • Area Total Km2 — 7.16 • Population As Of — 2023 Census • Population Total — 513 • Population Density Km2 — auto • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — New Zealand • Subdivision Type1 — Territorial authority • Subdivision Name1 — Tasman • Subdivision Type2 — Ward • Subdivision Name2 — Motueka Ward • Subdivision Type3 — Community • Subdivision Name3 — Motueka Community • Seat Type — Electorates • Seat — * West Coast-Tasman • Te Tai Tonga (Māori) • Leader Title — Territorial authority • Leader Name — Tasman District Council • Leader Title1 — Mayor of Tasman • Leader Name1 — Tasman District Mayor • Leader Title2 — West Coast-Tasman MP • Leader Name2 — West Coast-Tasman MP • Leader Title3 — Te Tai Tonga MP • Leader Name3 — Te Tai Tonga MP • Timezone1 — NZST • Utc Offset1 — +12 • Timezone1 Dst — NZDT • Utc Offset1 Dst — +13 • Postal Code Type — Postcode • Postal Code — 7175

Lower Moutere village covers 7.16 km2 It is part of the larger Lower Moutere statistical area. The village had a population of 513 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 24 people (4.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 72 people (16.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 276 males and 237 females in 165 dwellings. 3.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 72 people (14.0%) aged under 15 years, 111 (21.6%) aged 15 to 29, 264 (51.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 69 (13.5%) aged 65 or older. People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 81.9% European (Pākehā); 12.3% Māori; 12.3% Pasifika; 3.5% Asian; 0.6% 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 96.5%, Māori by 2.9%, Samoan by 8.2%, and other languages by 12.9%. No language could be spoken by 0.6% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 28.1, compared with 28.8% nationally. Religious affiliations were 33.9% Christian, 0.6% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, and 0.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.7%, and 6.4% of people did not answer the census question. Of those at least 15 years old, 42 (9.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 243 (55.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 162 (36.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 24 people (5.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 249 (56.5%) full-time, 66 (15.0%) part-time, and 12 (2.7%) unemployed.

Lower Moutere statistical area covers 62.11 km2. It had an estimated population of Lower Moutere as of with a population density of people per km 2. Lower Moutere had a population of 1,845 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 162 people (9.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 336 people (22.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 975 males, 870 females, and 3 people of other genders in 663 dwellings. 2.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 44.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 288 people (15.6%) aged under 15 years, 309 (16.7%) aged 15 to 29, 927 (50.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 321 (17.4%) aged 65 or older. People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 85.5% European (Pākehā); 11.1% Māori; 7.2% Pasifika; 2.6% Asian; 1.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.2%, Māori by 3.6%, Samoan by 3.7%, and other languages by 12.4%. No language could be spoken by 1.5% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 27.2, compared with 28.8% nationally. Religious affiliations were 29.1% Christian, 0.3% Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, and 0.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 62.6%, and 6.0% of people did not answer the census question. Of those at least 15 years old, 291 (18.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 804 (51.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 468 (30.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $35,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 123 people (7.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 789 (50.7%) full-time, 276 (17.7%) part-time, and 39 (2.5%) unemployed.

Lower Moutere School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of as of. The school opened in 1857. A fire destroyed four classrooms and other facilities in 1990.