Brightwater (Māori: Wairoa) is a town 20 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of Nelson in Tasman district in the South Island of New Zealand.

Alfred Saunders, the owner of a local flax mill situated on the banks of the Wairoa River and a prominent temperance activist,[4] renamed it Brightwater because of the clarity of the water in Wairoa River.

Before the 2023 census, Brightwater had a larger boundary, covering 4.84 km2 (1.87 sq mi).

[9][10] The school campus has a dental clinic, reading recovery building, two sports fields, two playgrounds, a hard court area, a large shade structure and a swimming pool.

Because of its climate of little rain, it is hot from October through March, and it commonly experiences frosts during the winter.

The Domain includes the town hall, a skatepark, a playground, tennis courts and several playing fields.