Pegasus, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pegasus
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Entrance feature at Pegasus
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Canterbury |
| Territorial authority | Waimakariri District |
| Ward | Kaiapoi-Woodend Ward |
| Community | Kaiapoi-Woodend Community |
| Construction began | 2006 |
| Electorates |
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| Area | |
| • Total | 6.34 km2 (2.45 sq mi) |
| Population
(June 2023)
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| • Total | 4,180 |
| • Density | 659.3/km2 (1,708/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode(s) |
7612
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| Area code | 03 |
Pegasus is a modern town located in the Waimakariri District of Canterbury, New Zealand. It's named after the nearby Pegasus Bay and is close to Woodend, about 25 kilometers north of Christchurch. When it's fully built, Pegasus is expected to have up to 6,000 residents living in about 1,700 homes. The town center, with shops and offices, is right next to Lake Pegasus.
The idea for Pegasus first came up in 1997. It was initially developed by a group called Infinity Investment Group. In 2012, the project faced money problems. Another company, Todd Property, bought it and finished building the main parts of the town. In 2019, Templeton Group took over the project.
The Story of Pegasus Town
The idea for Pegasus was to create a completely new, planned town. This was a first for New Zealand! The project was designed by businessman Bob Robertson. To get people interested, they even had a big event with a small model of the town.
Here are some important dates for Pegasus:
- Mid-2006: Big earthworks began, shaping the land for the town.
- December 2007: An old Māori village site (called a pā) was found where the golf course was planned.
- January 2008: The first land titles were given out, meaning people could start owning plots.
- September 2008: The very first residents moved into their new homes.
- November 2008: A village of showhomes opened for people to visit.
- December 2009: The Pegasus Golf & Sports Club and Lake Pegasus were finished.
By May 2016, most of the land sections in Pegasus had been sold. Over 950 houses were either built or being built, and the town's population grew to over 2,500 people.
Lake Pegasus is a central part of the town. It has become a popular spot for sports events. These include national triathlons, dragon boat races, and sailing events. A community center for residents opened in August 2017.
In October 2019, Todd Property sold its part of the project to Templeton Group.
Who Lives in Pegasus?
Statistics New Zealand describes Pegasus as a small urban area. It covers about 6.34 square kilometers. As of 2018, the estimated population was about 2,637 people. This means there were about 416 people per square kilometer.
The population of Pegasus has grown a lot:
- 2006: 18 people
- 2013: 1,017 people
- 2018: 2,637 people
In 2018, there were 936 households in Pegasus. There were slightly more females (1,344) than males (1,293). The average age was 39 years old. About 24.5% of residents were under 15 years old.
Most people in Pegasus (90.9%) are of European background. About 7.8% are Māori, and smaller numbers are from other ethnic groups. Many residents (30.6%) were born outside New Zealand.
When asked about religion, 53.2% said they had no religion. About 37.9% were Christian. A small number followed other religions like Hinduism, Islam, or Buddhism.
Many adults in Pegasus have a good education. About 20.5% have a university degree or higher. The average income was $40,600. Many people (53.3%) worked full-time.
Learning in Pegasus
Pegasus Bay School is a primary school for both boys and girls. It's located on Solander Road. As of 2023, it has about 466 students. This school used to be called Waikuku School, which started in 1872. It moved to its current, larger site in April 2014 and was renamed Pegasus Bay School.
For high school, students from Pegasus go to Kaiapoi High School. This school is about 13 kilometers away in Kaiapoi. Pegasus used to be in the zone for Rangiora High School too. However, to help balance student numbers, the school zone was changed. Now, Pegasus students attend Kaiapoi High School.
