Mahau Sound is a suburb which lies within the Territorial Authority of Marlborough, one of 36 residential suburbs which form the wider region. Mahau Sound is the 29th largest suburb of Marlborough in terms of the total number of residential housing stock. Mahau Sound provides a range of housing stock, with the earliest residential housing recorded in the area constructed between 1940 - 1949. The majority of the residential housing stock in the locality was constructed between 1990 - 1999. Residential housing stock in Mahau Sound is made up of approximately 89% residential housing and 11% lifestyle properties.