St Martins, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
St Martins
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Suburb
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 St Martins
Location in New Zealand
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Local authority | Christchurch |
| Electoral ward | Cashmere |
| Area | |
| • Land | 105 ha (259 acre) |
| Population
(June 2023)
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| • Total | 2,790 |
  St Martins, New Zealand  |
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St Martins is a neighborhood in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is located about two kilometers south of the city center. St Martins is mostly a place where people live. It has a small shopping center on Wilsons Road, which is the main street through the area. You can also find Centaurus Park and Saint Martins Park here.
Contents
St Martins' Location and Landscape
St Martins does not have exact borders. The Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River often forms its boundaries on three sides. It separates St Martins from Beckenham to the west. It also separates it from Sydenham and Waltham to the north. To the east, it separates St Martins from Opawa. Sometimes, parts of these other areas are also called St Martins.
The southern edge of St Martins is usually seen as the bottom of the Port Hills. The nearby areas of Huntsbury and Hillsborough are on the hills to the south.
How Earthquakes Affected St Martins
Before Europeans arrived, much of St Martins was marshland and swamp. This land was closely connected to the Ōpāwaho River's natural environment. Because it is so close to the river and was originally swampy, the area was damaged by the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.
In many parts of Christchurch, including St Martins, the ground sank by 20 to 30 centimeters. This made the already low-lying areas near the river more likely to flood. Flooding happens often during heavy rain.
The History of St Martins
Henry Phillips bought the land in the early days of European settlement. He turned it into an orchard for himself and his family. Phillips was the first person to name the area St Martins. We are not completely sure why he chose this name. One idea is that it was named after Saint Martin's Hall in London. A group of Canterbury pilgrims, whom Phillips knew, met there before they left for Christchurch.
Growing as a Community
Phillips first divided the orchard into smaller plots in 1863, using the name St Martins. This name appeared in official records 15 years later. Like many nearby areas, St Martins grew steadily in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Local people worked together to get new facilities built.
In 1923, a community group from St Martins wanted to build a community hall. Instead, the Christchurch City Council supported them in building a library. This library was officially opened in 1927 by the mayor, John Kendrick Archer. By the end of that year, 273 people had signed up to use the library.
The library eventually closed because of damage from the 2011 earthquake. Many homes were also damaged by falling chimneys. A supermarket was so badly damaged that it had to be torn down and rebuilt.
St Martins' Population and People
St Martins covers about 1.05 square kilometers. As of June 2023, , it has an estimated population of 2,790 people. This means there are about 2657 people per square kilometer.
In the 2018 New Zealand census, St Martins had 2,721 people. This was a small increase from 2013. There were 1,107 homes. For every 100 females, there were about 83 males. The average age was 38.5 years old. About 20% of the people were under 15 years old.
Most people in St Martins (about 90%) are of European descent. Other groups include Māori, Pasifika, and Asian people. About 23% of the people were born outside New Zealand.
When asked about their religion, most people (about 55%) said they had no religion. About 36% were Christian. Smaller numbers followed Hinduism, Buddhism, or other religions.
Many adults in St Martins have a university degree (about 32%). The average income was $37,400. About half of the adults worked full-time.
Schools in St Martins
Saint Martins School
Saint Martins School is a primary school for students in years 1 to 8. It has about 479 students. The school first opened in 1956.
Hillview Christian School
Hillview Christian School is a state-integrated school. This means it is a private school that gets some government funding. It teaches students from years 1 to 10. It has about 523 students. The school started in 1977 as St Martin Private School. It was founded by the Evangelistic Church, which is now called C3 Church Christchurch. At first, only children of church members could attend.
Both schools welcome both boys and girls. The student numbers are from February 2024. .
