Marlborough: home of Ariki New Zealand Jewellery

I thought it was about time I told you a little bit more about the region Ariki New Zealand Limited calls home, Marlborough New Zealand.

Marlborough covers the north-eastern corner of the South Island of New Zealand. The main town, Blenheim (population around 24,000) is 4½ hours by road from Christchurch, 35 minutes by air from Wellington and about 1½ hours by air from Auckland.
Here we enjoy long hot summers and crisp clear blue-skied winters.

Wine Growing in Marlborough

We have very diverse landscapes, from the snow covered alpine peaks of our mountains across the valleys of grape vines to the picturesque idyllic sheltered waterways of the Marlborough Sounds. We are spoilt for choice of awe-inspiring scenery. And the warm, settled, sunny days that contribute so much to the region’s successful wine industry create an ideal climate for outdoor activities.

The Marlborough Sounds where I live offers iconic scenery and sheltered inland waterways ideal for fishing and boating. There is excellent cycling, mountain biking, tramping and walks including the world renowned Queen Charlotte Track.

The region also has a wide range of recreational activities from swimming with dolphins in the Marlborough Sounds to watching whales in Kaikoura; from walks through the bush and along the rugged coastline to relaxing at one of Marlborough’s many world-class wineries.

Marlborough is renowned for world famous Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand’s largest winegrowing region, and the soils and enviable climate that create it. The vineyards thrive in one of the sunniest spots in New Zealand. Our region is also about fresh seafood sought by the world’s finest chefs. Salmon, crayfish, mussels and of course Paua to name but a few.
Marlborough is the perfect place for romance, relaxation or adventure, in every season. Here we enjoy the finer things in life.


Picton
Picton at the head of Queen Charlotte Sound is a busy port town, the southern terminus of the Cook Strait ferries which are an integral part of New Zealand’s main trunk road and rail routes.
It is geared to all visitor needs with many cafés offering fresh food and excellent espresso plus several fine craft galleries, I love to sit on a sunny afternoon gazing over the .sparkling clear waters in this idyllic wee port town and devour some of the best gourmet produce in the country.
Blenheim
Blenheim is the largest town in Marlborough and has a good selection of designer, boutique, specialty and day-to-day shops as well as some of the country’s best restaurants and wine bars.
There is an abundance of fresh green tree lined parks and idyllic river side spots to sit in the sunshine and enjoy everything this town has to offer.
Marlborough is a great place to visit and an even better place to stay.

Picton Ferry



Ariki New Zealand Jewellery
We are very proud to be able to call Marlborough the home of Ariki New Zealand Jewellery.
Ariki is the world’s most successful designer/manufacturer of Paua shell jewellery. It is also one of the largest New Zealand jewellery manufacturers.
The name “Ariki” is from the Māori language and means “The Chief” or “The Best”. The name pays homage to the history of our native New Zealand people, The Māori. And we certainly strive to live up to the virtues our name suggests.

Internationally Renowned
The company was established in 1932 when a Marlborough family saw the potential of the Paua shell to be the focal point of a unique New Zealand jewellery collection. Their ambition has resulted in the Ariki Paua Collection being widely sold in New Zealand and throughout the world.

The Ariki Difference
Ariki’s Paua is harvested from areas renowned for their water quality, both pollution free and rich in minerals. These minerals give the New Zealand Paua shell its intense depth of colour and thickness of shell. By using only the best quality Paua shells Ariki’s Paua shell jewellery is able to clearly distinguish itself from its imitators all around the world.

Made and Designed in New Zealand
Ariki’s jewellery collections are proudly produced at Ariki’s factory here in Blenheim. We have a proud history of being a New Zealand based manufacturer employing New Zealanders to produce handcrafted quality products for sale in New Zealand and Overseas.

And I am in turn proud and honoured to play a small role in this remarkable industry.