Aranui facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aranui
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Suburb
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Aranui shops on Pages Road
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 Aranui
Location in New Zealand
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Local authority | Christchurch |
| Electoral ward | Burwood |
| Area | |
| • Land | 142 ha (351 acre) |
| Population
(June 2023)
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| • Total | 4,390 |
  Aranui  |
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Aranui is a suburb located in the eastern part of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is known for being a community where many families with lower incomes live. In its early days, Aranui grew along Pages Road, which is the main street in the area. It quickly became a place where many working-class families settled.
Aranui has mostly homes, but there are also some light industrial businesses. You can find shops and services at the intersection of Breezes Road and Pages Road. There is also a smaller shopping area on Hampshire Street. Aranui is part of the Christchurch East area for national elections.
Contents
Discovering Aranui's Past
How Aranui Got Its Name
Part of Aranui was once called Flemington. This name came from Jubal Fleming, who was a hairdresser and tobacconist. He owned land where Breezes Road and Pages Road meet. The tram stop there was even called Flemington.
In 1912, a post office was opened. George Kyngdon Burton named it Aranui. This name then spread to the whole area. Aranui is a Māori word. Ara means 'path' and nui means 'great'. So, Aranui means 'great path'.
Growth and Development
In the early years, the tram system was extended to Aranui. Land here was cheap, even though it was not good for farming. Because transport became easier, more people started to move to Aranui.
Aranui quickly became a suburb for working-class people. This means many residents worked in jobs that paid a regular wage. There are also some light industrial businesses in the area. The suburb grew very fast between 1945 and 1951. The number of people living there jumped from 404 to 1,141.
After World War II, many state houses were built in Aranui. State houses are homes built by the government for people who need affordable housing. Today, Aranui is still mainly a residential area. It has shops on Pages Road and a smaller group of shops on Hampshire Street.
A report in 2020 showed that Aranui has the most state-owned houses in Christchurch. This means many families in Aranui live in homes provided by the government.
Aranui's Location and Surroundings
Where is Aranui?
Aranui is one of the eastern suburbs of Christchurch. Its eastern edge is the Avon River. The main roads that form its boundaries are Pages Road to the south, Breezes Road to the west, and Wainoni Road to the north.
The suburb of Bexley is located just south of Pages Road. Aranui and its nearby suburb of Wainoni are often thought of together. The Christchurch City Council even creates a combined community report for both suburbs.
Local Government and Politics
How Aranui is Governed
The Christchurch City Council manages Aranui. For local elections, Aranui is part of the Burwood Ward. The current local councillor for this area is Kelly Barber.
For national elections, Aranui is part of the Christchurch East area. The person elected to represent this area in Parliament is Reuben Davidson. He is a member of the Labour Party. Historically, Christchurch East has usually voted for the Labour Party. It is seen as one of their strongest areas.
People and Population in Aranui
Who Lives in Aranui?
Aranui covers about 1.42 square kilometers. It has an estimated population of 4,390 people as of June 2023. . This means there are about 3092 people living in each square kilometer.
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 2006 | 4,260 | — |
| 2013 | 3,777 | −1.70% |
| 2018 | 4,200 | +2.15% |
In 2018, Aranui had 4,200 people. This was an increase of 423 people since 2013. There were 1,392 homes. The population included 2,106 males and 2,091 females. This means there were slightly more males than females.
The average age of people in Aranui was 30.0 years. This is younger than the national average of 37.4 years. About 1,101 people (26.2%) were under 15 years old. Also, 999 people (23.8%) were between 15 and 29 years old.
Cultural Backgrounds
Aranui is home to people from many different backgrounds. In 2018, about 66.1% of residents were European/Pākehā. About 29.9% were Māori, and 17.6% were Pasifika. There were also 3.7% Asian people and 2.0% from other ethnic groups. Some people identify with more than one ethnicity.
About 13.4% of people in Aranui were born outside New Zealand. This is lower than the national average of 27.1%.
Beliefs and Work
When asked about their religious beliefs, 53.9% of people said they had no religion. About 31.8% were Christian. Smaller numbers followed Māori religious beliefs, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, or other religions.
For those aged 15 and older, 4.9% had a university degree or higher. About 35.4% did not have formal qualifications. The average income was $21,300, which is lower than the national average of $31,800. About 39.5% of people aged 15 and over worked full-time. Another 11.7% worked part-time, and 9.3% were unemployed.
Education in Aranui
Schools in the Area
Aranui is served by Haeata Community Campus. This is a special type of school called a composite school. It teaches students from different age groups. Haeata Community Campus is located in Wainoni.
It was formed in 2017 by combining four schools. These included Aranui School and Wainoni School. The new campus was built on the site of the old Aranui High School. As of February 2024. , Haeata Community Campus has 536 students.
Notable People from Aranui
Aranui has been home to some well-known people:
- Tusiata Avia, a talented poet and author of children's books.
- Mabel Howard, who made history as New Zealand's first woman cabinet minister. She once lived in the area.
- Keri Hulme, a famous novelist and poet. She went to Aranui High School and lived in the suburb for a short time.
- Duncan Webb, a lawyer and politician.
See Also
- List of suburbs in Christchurch
