Cust, New Zealand facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cust
Village
The main street of Cust - Cust Rd
Country	New Zealand
Region	Canterbury
Territorial authority	Waimakariri District
Ward	Rangiora-Ashley Ward
Community	Rangiora-Ashley Community
Electorates	Waimakariri Te Tai Tonga (Māori)
Area
• Total	0.75 km2 (0.29 sq mi)
Population  (June 2023)
• Total	280
• Density	373/km2 (967/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+12 (NZST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode	7471 and 7475
Area code(s)	03
Local iwi	Ngāi Tahu

Cust is a small, peaceful village located in the South Island of New Zealand. You can find it in the beautiful North Canterbury region. It's about 16 kilometers east of Oxford and 17 kilometers west of Rangiora. The village gets its name from Sir Edward Cust, who helped plan the European settlement of this area around 1850. Before it was called Cust, it had other names like Moeraki Downs and Middleton-on-the-Cust.

Learning in Cust: Cust School

Cust is home to Cust School, the village's only school. It's a public school where both boys and girls learn together, covering all primary school years. The school has a high decile rating of 10, which means it serves a community with a good socio-economic background. As of February 2024 , about 139 students attend Cust School. The principal, Miriam Bell, leads the school. Students at Cust School often take part in many exciting activities, like public speaking and sports events such as triathlons.

Who Lives in Cust?

Cust is a small rural community. Statistics New Zealand describes it as a rural settlement. As of June 2023 , the estimated population of Cust is about 280 people.

Most people living in Cust are of European (Pākehā) background. There are also some Māori and Pasifika people, along with other ethnic groups, making Cust a diverse place.

Exciting Past: Motorcycle Racing

Did you know Cust used to be a famous spot for motorcycle racing? For over 20 years, a special road circuit in Cust hosted the exciting New Zealand Grand Prix for motorcycling. This big event, which was last held in 1963, would bring huge crowds. The village population would grow to an amazing 25,000 people during the Easter race!

Cust's Weather

Cust experiences mild weather throughout the year. In summer, the average temperature is around 16.2 °C. During winter, it's cooler, with an average temperature of about 5.9 °C.

Here's a look at the average temperatures each month:

Images for kids

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  The Cust Museum, preserving local history.

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  The Cust War Memorial, honoring those who served.