Selwyn District is a predominantly rural district in central Canterbury, on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island. It is named after the Selwyn River / Waikirikiri, which is in turn named after Bishop George Selwyn, the first Anglican bishop of New Zealand who, in 1843 and 1844, travelled the length of the country by horse, foot, boat and canoe, leaving in his wake a sprinkling of locations that now bear his name.
The first inhabitants of the area were the Māori who first settled New Zealand from the Cook and Society Islands about 700 years ago. The predominant Māori tribe today, in Selwyn and most of the rest of the South Island, is Ngāi Tahu, whose local marae (meeting house) is at Taumutu near the exit of Lake Ellesmere (Te Waihora).
In the late 19th century, European (chiefly British) colonists arrived and carved the area up into farmland. This has remained the predominant pattern ever since.
The Selwyn District as a unit of government was formed in the 1989 local government reforms from a legislated merger of the Malvern and Ellesmere counties, along with a portion of Paparua County.[3]
Since this time, the district has enjoyed a stable and prosperous existence. Recent years have seen above-average population growth, making it the fastest-growing local authority in New Zealand in 2013.
Most of Selwyn's new residents have moved from Christchurch to settle on small "lifestyle" farms and in Selwyn's small towns which are within easy commuting distance of the city (e.g. Rolleston, Prebbleton, Lincoln, West Melton, Kirwee). Rolleston is the largest town in Selwyn.
The district is governed by an elected mayor and a council of 11 members, elected simultaneously every 3 years. The current mayor is Sam Broughton, who was first elected mayor in October 2016.[4]
The 10 councillors are elected from four wards on a multi-member First Past the Post basis; the total number of votes a candidate receives are considered:
a.) 2 councillors are elected from Ellesmere Ward b.) 2 councillors are elected from Malvern Ward c.) 3 councillors are elected from Rolleston Ward d.) 3 councillors are elected from Springs Ward
The Malvern Ward also has a Community Board, which has power delegated to it by the Council.
Geographical features: Selwyn District contains within it two distinct regions: the plains and the high country. The plains, where most of the population lives and the majority of activity takes place, form an expanse of low-lying, flat, and comparatively dry grassland. The extreme south-east is dominated by Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora, an expanse of water surrounded by marshes, formed by the out-flow of the Selwyn River / Waikirikiri. The tributaries of the Selwyn River include the Waianiwaniwa River, the Hororata River and the Hawkins River.
The high country is a sparsely-populated region, mainly consisting of hill and mountain ranges and narrow river valleys. Most of the high country is grassland, including some tussocklands; areas of beech forest remain within the Craigieburn Forest Park and the Arthur's Pass National Park.
Climate: The plains have a temperate climate, characterised by warm, dry summers and cool winters. The Southern Alps are responsible for the relatively low rainfall, and also lead to a foehn wind, the "Canterbury Nor'Wester". This strong, hot and dry wind is most common in spring and summer, and on occasion reaches damage-causing strength. In the mountain country of the Southern Alps, conditions are much colder and wetter.
Demographics
Selwyn District covers 6,381.15km2 (2,463.78sqmi)[1] and had an estimated population of 81,300 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 12.7 people per km2.
Selwyn District had a population of 78,144 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 17,583 people (29.0%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 33,549 people (75.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 30,279 dwellings. The median age was 37.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 16,662 people (21.3%) aged under 15 years, 13,320 (17.0%) aged 15 to 29, 38,031 (48.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 10,131 (13.0%) aged 65 or older.[6]
Ethnicities were 84.1% European/Pākehā, 9.0% Māori, 2.4% Pasifika, 11.4% Asian, 1.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders, and 1.5% other. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.[6]
Selwyn District had a population of 60,561 at the 2018 New Zealand census. There were 20,631 households, comprising 30,591 males and 29,970 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.02 males per female.
The percentage of people born overseas was 19.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 55.2% had no religion, 35.2% were Christian, 0.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% were Hindu, 0.4% were Muslim, 0.5% were Buddhist and 1.7% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 10,305 (21.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 6,930 (14.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $42,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 11,577 people (24.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 27,345 (58.0%) people were employed full-time, 7,806 (16.6%) were part-time, and 1,053 (2.2%) were unemployed.[5]
Individual wards (2018 boundaries)
Name
Area (km2)
Population
Density (per km2)
Households
Median age
Median income
Malvern Ward
4,915.25
8,613
1.75
3,318
41.7 years
$37,600
Selwyn Central Ward
295.74
25,503
86.23
8,295
36.1 years
$46,400
Ellesmere Ward
868.14
8,916
10.27
3,141
34.2 years
$42,500
Springs Ward
302.02
17,535
58.06
5,877
40.1 years
$40,300
New Zealand
37.4 years
$31,800
Urban areas
The Selwyn District has six towns with a population over 1,000. Together they are home to 65.4% of the district's population.[2]
Much of the district's economy is based around farming. Most of this is pastoral: beef cattle and sheep in drier areas, and dairy and deer farming in wetter areas. Some horsebreeding is also done. There is also a substantial amount of cropping; wheat and barley are grown on the plains, along with smaller amounts of grapes and other fruit, vegetables, mushrooms and flowers.
Selwyn District experienced the strongest economic growth of any district in New Zealand in 2012, with employment growing by 9.5%, compared to the national average of 1%. 1,200 new jobs were created in the district in 2012.
The services in the small towns primarily serve the surrounding community. The major exception is the town of Lincoln, home to a University and a number of Crown Research Institutes and other organisations concerned with scientific research. Rolleston is also home to IZONE – New Zealand's largest business park.
The Selwyn District Council owns 11% shareholding in Orion, the local electricity distribution company.
Related Research Articles
Marlborough District or the Marlborough Region, commonly known simply as Marlborough, is one of the 16 regions of New Zealand, located on the northeast of the South Island. Marlborough is a unitary authority, both a district and a region. Marlborough District Council is based at Blenheim, the largest town. The unitary region has a population of 52,200.
Lincoln is a town in the Selwyn District, in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand's South Island. The town is located on the Canterbury Plains to the west of Banks Peninsula, 22 kilometres southwest of Christchurch. The town has a population of 10,250, making it the second largest town in the Selwyn District behind nearby Rolleston.
The Selwyn River flows through the Selwyn District of Canterbury in the South Island of New Zealand.
Manawatū District is a territorial authority district in the Manawatū-Whanganui local government region in the North Island of New Zealand, administered by Manawatū District Council. It includes most of the area between the Manawatū River in the south and the Rangitīkei River in the north, stretching from slightly south of the settlement of Himatangi in the south, to just south of Mangaweka in the north, and from the Rangitīkei River to the top of the Ruahine Range in the east. It does not include the Foxton area and the mouth of the Manawatū River, or Palmerston North City. Its main town is Feilding. The district has an area of 2,624 km².
Leeston is a town on the Canterbury Plains in the South Island of New Zealand. It is located 30 kilometres southwest of Christchurch, between the shore of Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora and the mouth of the Rakaia River. The town is home to a growing number of services which have increased and diversified along with the population. Leeston has a supermarket, schools, churches, hospital, gym, cafes, restaurants, medical centre, pharmacy and post office. The Selwyn District Council currently has a service office in Leeston, after the headquarters was shifted to Rolleston.
The Rangitikei District is a territorial authority district located primarily in the Manawatū-Whanganui region in the North Island of New Zealand, although a small part, the town of Ngamahanga, lies in the Hawke's Bay Region. It is located in the southwest of the island, and follows the catchment area of the Rangitīkei River.
Westland District is a territorial authority district on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. It is administered by the Westland District Council. The district's population is 8,940.
Hurunui District is a territorial local government district within the Canterbury Region on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island, north of Christchurch. It stretches from the east coast to the Main Divide. Its land area is 8,640.96 square kilometres (3,336.29 sq mi).
Waimakariri District is a local government district, located in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand's South Island. It is named after the Waimakariri River, which forms the district's southern boundary, separating it from Christchurch City and the Selwyn District. It is bounded in the north by the Hurunui District and in the east by the Pacific Ocean.
Rolleston is the seat and largest town in the Selwyn District, in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located on the Canterbury Plains 22 kilometres (14 mi) south-west of Christchurch, and is part of the wider Christchurch metropolitan area.
Doyleston is a minor Canterbury town in the South Island of New Zealand. It was named after Joseph Hastings Doyle, a publican from Christchurch who moved to the locality. Doyleston promised to be one of the main townships in the Ellesmere area, but before long Leeston overtook it and some businesses moved there. Doyleston had a school for many years, but it consolidated with Leeston School in the late 1930s.
Sheffield is a small village located in the Selwyn District of the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island, near the Waimakariri Gorge.
Whitecliffs is a village located in the Selwyn District of the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It has also been known as South Malvern, and the name of Whitecliffs comes from terrace cliffs above the Selwyn River / Waikirikiri.
Glentunnel is a village located in the Selwyn District of the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island.
Waddington is a small village located in the Selwyn District of the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island, near the Waimakariri Gorge.
Dunsandel is a small rural town in the Canterbury region of the South Island, New Zealand. The town is located on the Canterbury Plains just south of the Selwyn River / Waikirikiri and about 40 km south of Christchurch. Dunsandel is a junction town on SH1, halfway between Christchurch and Ashburton, with roads leading to Leeston, Southbridge and Hororata. The town provides an important refreshment stop for main road travellers with eateries and coffee shops, as well as acting as a support town for the rural hinterland.
Ashburton District is a territorial authority district in the Canterbury Region of the South Island of New Zealand. It encompasses the town of Ashburton, a number of small towns and settlements and the surrounding rural area, roughly coterminous with Mid Canterbury. The district had a population of 36,800 as of June 2023.
Waimate District is a territorial authority district located in the Canterbury Region of the South Island of New Zealand. The main town is Waimate, while there are many smaller rural communities dispersed throughout the area. Its boundary to the south is the Waitaki River, to the west Lake Benmore and to the north-east the Pareora River.
Selwyn Huts, also called Upper Selwyn Huts, is a rural settlement close to the northern shore of Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora in the Selwyn District of New Zealand. Lower Selwyn Huts is a smaller settlement 2.8 km further south.
Ellesmere is a locality in the Selwyn District of New Zealand.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
