Diamond Harbour, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Diamond Harbour
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Town
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Main Diamond Harbour wharf
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Small urban area within Christchurch City Council boundaries
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 Diamond Harbour
Location in South Island
Diamond Harbour
Location in New Zealand
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Canterbury |
| District | Christchurch City |
| Ward | Banks Peninsula |
| Community | Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula |
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| Area | |
| • Total | 3.02 km2 (1.17 sq mi) |
| Population
(June 2023)
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| • Total | 1,650 |
| • Density | 546.4/km2 (1,415/sq mi) |
| Local iwi | Ngāi Tahu |
Diamond Harbour is a small town in New Zealand, located on the northern side of Banks Peninsula. It sits on the southern shores of Lyttelton Harbour and is part of the city of Christchurch.
Contents
Why is it Called Diamond Harbour?
The name Diamond Harbour was chosen by Mark Stoddart. He bought about 500 acres of land here in 1856 to start a farm. He named it for the way sunlight sparkled on the water, like diamonds.
The bay next to the town is also called Diamond Harbour. Its name used to be Te Waipapa Harbour. In 1949, it officially became Diamond Harbour (Te Waipapa). Later, in 2003, the name was changed to Te Waipapa / Diamond Harbour.
Historic Buildings in Diamond Harbour
Diamond Harbour has some interesting old buildings with cool stories.
Godley House: A Grand Old Home
Godley House was built in 1880 by Harvey Hawkins. He was a businessman who bought the land from Mark Stoddart. This big family home was famous for its parties. Guests would even arrive by steam launch!
Sadly, Hawkins went bankrupt, and the house was sold in 1896. The Stoddart family, who were owed money, took over the property. They lived there until Anna Stoddart passed away in 1911. Her daughter, the artist Margaret Stoddart, also lived there and painted many pictures of the house.
Later, the Lyttelton Borough Council bought the property. It was named Godley House after John Robert Godley. In 2006, the house and its land became a public park. Before the 2010 earthquakes, it was used as a hotel, restaurant, and conference center.
Earthquake Damage to Godley House
Godley House was badly damaged in the September 2010 Canterbury Earthquake. People thought it could be fixed. But the February 2011 earthquake caused even more damage. Engineers then said the house, which was a Category II Historic Place, had to be taken down.
Stoddart Cottage: The Oldest Building
Stoddart Cottage was built in 1862 for Mark Stoddart's wedding. It is the oldest building still standing in Diamond Harbour. In 1990, it was recognized as a very important historic building by Heritage New Zealand.
The famous artist Margaret Stoddart grew up in this cottage. Today, you can visit it on weekends and public holidays. Sometimes, it even hosts art exhibitions!
Who Lives in Diamond Harbour?
The Diamond Harbour area, which includes nearby Charteris Bay and Purau, covers about 3 square kilometers. As of 2023, around 1,650 people live here.
Most people living in Diamond Harbour are of European descent. A smaller number are Māori, Pasifika, or Asian. Many people living here were born outside of New Zealand.
What Can You Do in Diamond Harbour?
The center of Diamond Harbour has many useful places. You can find a restaurant, a library, and a community hall. There are also clubs for rugby, bowls, and croquet. A medical center is also available. All these places overlook the village cricket pitch and rugby field.
Orton Bradley Park is very close to Diamond Harbour. It's a great place for outdoor activities. In 2021, a new mini-mall opened. It has a Four Square supermarket, a fish and chip shop, a café bar, and a place to get fuel.
Learning in Diamond Harbour
Diamond Harbour School is a primary school for students from Year 1 to Year 8. It opened in 1945. As of February 2024. , about 106 students attend the school.
Getting Around Diamond Harbour
A ferry connects Diamond Harbour to Lyttelton, which is on the other side of the harbour. From Lyttelton, you can take a bus to Christchurch. This makes it easy for people living in Diamond Harbour to travel to the city for work or school. Diamond Harbour is also about 25 kilometers by road to Lyttelton.
Diamond Harbour's Weather
| Climate data for Diamond Harbour (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 21.5 (70.7) |
21.3 (70.3) |
18.9 (66.0) |
16.5 (61.7) |
14.2 (57.6) |
11.2 (52.2) |
10.6 (51.1) |
11.5 (52.7) |
13.6 (56.5) |
15.4 (59.7) |
17.0 (62.6) |
19.5 (67.1) |
15.9 (60.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 16.8 (62.2) |
17.0 (62.6) |
14.9 (58.8) |
12.8 (55.0) |
10.7 (51.3) |
8.1 (46.6) |
7.4 (45.3) |
8.2 (46.8) |
9.8 (49.6) |
11.4 (52.5) |
12.9 (55.2) |
15.3 (59.5) |
12.1 (53.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 12.1 (53.8) |
12.7 (54.9) |
10.9 (51.6) |
9.1 (48.4) |
7.2 (45.0) |
5.0 (41.0) |
4.2 (39.6) |
4.9 (40.8) |
6.0 (42.8) |
7.4 (45.3) |
8.8 (47.8) |
11.1 (52.0) |
8.3 (46.9) |
| Source: NIWA | |||||||||||||
Images for kids
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Godley House after earthquake damage
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