Murchison is a town in the Tasman Region of the South Island of New Zealand.

It is a rural service town for the surrounding mixed farming district, approximately halfway between Westport and Nelson.

The future settlement of Murchison did not come into being until gold was discovered in the area, and the town was surveyed in 1865, under the name Hampden.

[3][4][5] The world's earliest non-military suicide attack is believed to have occurred in Murchison on 14 July 1905.

A long-standing dispute between two farmers resulted in a court case, and the defendant (Joseph Sewell) had sticks of gelignite strapped to his body.

When Sewell excitedly shouted during the court sitting, "I'll blow the devil to hell, and I have enough dynamite to do just that", he was ushered out of the building.

Sewell detonated the charge when a police officer tried to arrest him on the street, and his body was blown to pieces; no one else died from the explosion.

Murchison is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers 4.34 km2 (1.68 sq mi).

It was designed by Nelson architect David Greg and built by John Downie.

Electricity is fed from Transpower's national grid at its Murchison substation, on Matiri Valley Road northeast of the town.

[21] The Tasman District Council operates reticulated fresh water, stormwater and wastewater systems in Murchison.

Fresh water is sourced from two bores west of the town centre, close to the Matakitaki River.