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Waltham, New Zealand facts for kids

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Waltham
Suburb
Waltham is located in New Zealand
Waltham
Waltham
Location in New Zealand
Country New Zealand
Local authority Christchurch
Electoral ward
  • Heathcote
  • Linwood
Area
 • Land 207 ha (512 acre)
Population
 (June 2022)
 • Total 3,810
Christchurch Central City Phillipstown
Sydenham
Waltham
Woolston
Beckenham St Martins Opawa

Waltham is an inner suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, located approximately two kilometres south-east of the city centre. State Highway 76, part of Christchurch's ring road system, and known there as Brougham Street, runs through the suburb, as does the Lyttelton Line rail corridor.

Approximate boundaries of the suburb are Waltham Road, Moorhouse Avenue, Ferry Road, Ensors Road, and the Heathcote River. Waltham was originally part of the Sydenham borough and was incorporated into the City of Christchurch in 1903 when the borough was ended. In the early 1980s local residents and the Christchurch city council tried to name the western part of the suburb, Charleston, between Ferry Road and Ensors Road. This was done to maintain the residential nature of the area against perceived industrial expansion. The attempt was partly successful and that area today is referred to as both Waltham and Charleston.

The full suburb is a mixture of residential and both light and heavy industry.

Demographics

Waltham comprises three statistical areas. Waltham and Charleston are primarily residential. Lancaster Park is an L-shaped area which extends north on the western side of Nursery Street to Cashel Street.

Individual statistical areas
Name Population Households Median age Median income
Waltham 1,938 849 32.4 years $33,500
Charleston (Christchurch City) 1,401 612 32.3 years $31,400
Lancaster Park 243 72 34.7 years $24,200
New Zealand 37.4 years $31,800

Residential areas

The residential areas cover 0.95 km2 (0.37 sq mi). They had an estimated population of 3540 as of June 2022, with a population density of 3726 people per km2.

Historical population of residential areas
Year Pop. ±% p.a.
2006 2,922 —    
2013 3,012 +0.43%
2018 3,339 +2.08%

Waltham, comprising the statistical areas of Waltham and Charleston (Christchurch City), had a population of 3,339 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 327 people (10.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 417 people (14.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,461 households. There were 1,725 males and 1,614 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.07 males per female, with 474 people (14.2%) aged under 15 years, 996 (29.8%) aged 15 to 29, 1,560 (46.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 306 (9.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 69.6% European/Pākehā, 13.7% Māori, 6.5% Pacific peoples, 18.3% Asian, and 4.2% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 31.9%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 50.1% had no religion, 31.4% were Christian, 4.2% were Hindu, 0.9% were Muslim, 1.0% were Buddhist and 5.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 636 (22.2%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 531 (18.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,611 (56.2%) people were employed full-time, 372 (13.0%) were part-time, and 153 (5.3%) were unemployed.

Lancaster Park

The Lancaster Park statistical area covers 1.12 km2 (0.43 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 270 as of June 2022, with a population density of 241 people per km2.

Historical population of Lancaster Park
Year Pop. ±% p.a.
2006 258 —    
2013 219 −2.31%
2018 243 +2.10%

Lancaster Park had a population of 243 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 24 people (11.0%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 15 people (-5.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 72 households. There were 153 males and 87 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.76 males per female. The median age was 34.7 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 24 people (9.9%) aged under 15 years, 66 (27.2%) aged 15 to 29, 141 (58.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 12 (4.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 54.3% European/Pākehā, 12.3% Māori, 7.4% Pacific peoples, 30.9% Asian, and 3.7% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 44.4%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 48.1% had no religion, 34.6% were Christian, 3.7% were Hindu, 1.2% were Muslim, 1.2% were Buddhist and 3.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 30 (13.7%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 33 (15.1%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $24,200, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 120 (54.8%) people were employed full-time, 27 (12.3%) were part-time, and 18 (8.2%) were unemployed.

Education

Waltham School is a full primary school for years 1 to 8, with a roll of 262 students. The school opened in 1891.

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Waitaha is a composite school for years 1 to 13, teaching in the Māori language. It has a roll of 188 students. The school was established in 1987.

Waltham Primary School 27
Waltham Primary School (2022)

Both of these are coeducational state schools. Rolls are as of April 2023.

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