Nelson South is an inner suburb of Nelson, New Zealand. It lies to the southwest of Nelson city centre, between it and Bishopdale, close to the foot of The Grampians. The main inland route to Stoke, New Zealand, Waimea Road, is Nelson South's main road.

The suburb includes both Nelson Hospital and Nelson College.^[3]

It also has six public reserves: Fairfield Park, the Melrose Gardens, Ronaki Reserve, Waimea North Reserve, Wellington Reserve and Wigzell Park.^[4]

The Rutherford statistical area, which corresponds to the northern part of Nelson South, covers 1.21 km² (0.47 sq mi).^[1] It had an estimated population of 2,720 as of June 2023,^[2] with a population density of 2,248 people per km².

Rutherford had a population of 2,583 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 93 people (3.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 108 people (4.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,008 households, comprising 1,227 males and 1,356 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.9 males per female. The median age was 42.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 471 people (18.2%) aged under 15 years, 498 (19.3%) aged 15 to 29, 1,200 (46.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 414 (16.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 85.4% European/Pākehā, 8.7% Māori, 2.3% Pasifika, 10.5% Asian, and 1.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 32.1, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 59.7% had no religion, 27.2% were Christian, 2.7% were Hindu, 0.1% were Muslim, 1.9% were Buddhist and 2.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 783 (37.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 210 (9.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $33,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 399 people (18.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 996 (47.2%) people were employed full-time, 450 (21.3%) were part-time, and 63 (3.0%) were unemployed.^[5]