Templeton, New Zealand

Templeton
Interactive map of Templeton
Coordinates: 43°33′S172°28′E / 43.550°S 172.467°E / -43.550; 172.467
Country	New Zealand
Region	Canterbury
Territorial authority	Christchurch City
Ward	Hornby
Community	Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton
Electorates	Selwyn Te Tai Tonga (Māori)
Government
• Territorial Authority	Christchurch City Council
• Regional council	Environment Canterbury
•  Mayor of Christchurch	Phil Mauger [1]
•  Selwyn MP	Nicola Grigg
•  Te Tai Tonga MP	Tākuta Ferris
Area [2]
• Total	0.90 km2 (0.35 sq mi)
Population  (June 2025) [3]
• Total	1,910
• Density	2,100/km2 (5,500/sq mi)

Templeton is a small town on the outskirts of Christchurch. Lying along State Highway 1. Templeton has been the centre of harness racing in Canterbury.^{[ citation needed ]}

Its European history goes to over 140 years when it was a watering point for horses between Christchurch and the Selwyn River / Waikirikiri.

Templeton Hospital has had a major impact on the area, providing employment and controversy over many years.^{[ citation needed ]}

More recently Ruapuna Park has created public debate regarding acceptable noise levels for residents near motor-sports venues.

Paparua to the north of Templeton has Christchurch's men's and women's prisons.

Demographics

Templeton covers 0.90 km² (0.35 sq mi). ^[2] It had an estimated population of 1,910 as of June 2025, ^[3] with a population density of 2,122 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	1,569	—
2013	1,788	+1.88%
2018	1,797	+0.10%
Source: [4]

Templeton had a population of 1,797 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 9 people (0.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 228 people (14.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 687 households, comprising 864 males and 933 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.93 males per female. The median age was 40.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 324 people (18.0%) aged under 15 years, 321 (17.9%) aged 15 to 29, 903 (50.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 249 (13.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 88.6% European/Pākehā, 13.5% Māori, 2.2% Pasifika, 5.5% Asian, and 2.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 15.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.4% had no religion, 35.1% were Christian, 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.0% were Hindu, 0.5% were Muslim, 0.5% were Buddhist and 2.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 174 (11.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 363 (24.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $38,200, compared with $31,800 nationally. 264 people (17.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 828 (56.2%) people were employed full-time, 213 (14.5%) were part-time, and 45 (3.1%) were unemployed. ^[4]

Education

Templeton School is a full primary school catering for years 1 to 8. ^[5] It had a roll of 294 as of July 2025. ^[6] The school opened in 1962, but its predecessors started in 1861. ^[7]

Climate

Climate data for Templeton (1951–1980)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	21.8 (71.2)	21.9 (71.4)	20.0 (68.0)	17.0 (62.6)	13.5 (56.3)	10.5 (50.9)	10.3 (50.5)	11.7 (53.1)	14.2 (57.6)	16.4 (61.5)	18.7 (65.7)	20.2 (68.4)	16.3 (61.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)	16.4 (61.5)	16.3 (61.3)	14.9 (58.8)	11.9 (53.4)	8.9 (48.0)	5.9 (42.6)	5.7 (42.3)	7.0 (44.6)	9.1 (48.4)	11.1 (52.0)	13.1 (55.6)	15.1 (59.2)	11.3 (52.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	10.9 (51.6)	10.7 (51.3)	9.8 (49.6)	6.7 (44.1)	4.2 (39.6)	1.3 (34.3)	1.0 (33.8)	2.3 (36.1)	3.9 (39.0)	5.7 (42.3)	7.4 (45.3)	9.9 (49.8)	6.1 (43.1)
Source: NIWA [8]

Notable residents

• Roger Drayton (1925–1986), born in Templeton; Labour MP (1969–1978) ^[9]
• David Jones (1874–1941), born in Templeton; Minister of Agriculture (1931–1932) ^[10]

References

1. "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
2. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
3. "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand . Retrieved 29 October 2025.
4. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Templeton (318100). 2018 Census place summary: Templeton
5. Education Counts: Templeton School
6. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
7. "About Us - School History". Templeton School. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
8. "NIWA Datahub (Agent number: 4848)". NIWA. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
9. "Former Chch M.P. dies". The Press . 25 June 1986. p. 9.
10. "Mr. David Jones". The Evening Post . Vol. CXXXII, no. 73. 23 September 1941. p. 8. Retrieved 23 November 2013.