Belfast, New Zealand

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For the city in Northern Ireland, see Belfast.

Belfast
Suburb of Christchurch
Former site of the Belfast railway station
Former site of the Belfast railway station
Coordinates: 43°27′S 172°38′E / 43.450°S 172.633°E / -43.450; 172.633Coordinates: 43°27′S 172°38′E / 43.450°S 172.633°E / -43.450; 172.633
CountryNew Zealand
CityChristchurch
Local authorityChristchurch City Council
Electoral ward
  • Harewood
  • Innes
Area
[1]
 • Land596 ha (1,473 acres)
Population
 (June 2021)[2]
 • Total4,510
(Waimakariri River) Kainga
()
Belfast
Northwood Bottle Lake

Belfast (Māori: Purarekanui)[3] is a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is in the north of the city 10 km from Cathedral Square, close to the banks of the Waimakariri River.

History[]

Belfast is named after Belfast in Northern Ireland. It was originally known as North Road District, Seven Mile Peg, Styx, or by its Māori name Purarekanui.[3]

James McNeight Watt (1838–1892) emigrated from Belfast and was a partner with the original meat works, around which the settlement grew. Watt, who developed much of the area, is believed to have given it its present name.[4]

Demographics[]

Belfast, comprising the statistical areas of Belfast West and Belfast East, covers 5.98 km2 (2.31 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 4,510 as of June 2021, with a population density of 754 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20063,669—    
20133,900+0.88%
20184,218+1.58%
Source: [5]

Belfast had a population of 4,218 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 318 people (8.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 549 people (15.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,632 households. There were 2,091 males and 2,124 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female, with 759 people (18.0%) aged under 15 years, 801 (19.0%) aged 15 to 29, 1,956 (46.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 705 (16.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 86.8% European/Pākehā, 11.7% Māori, 2.5% Pacific peoples, 6.4% Asian, and 2.9% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 17.0%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 54.5% had no religion, 33.4% were Christian, 1.1% were Hindu, 0.4% were Muslim, 0.7% were Buddhist and 2.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 441 (12.7%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 855 (24.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,812 (52.4%) people were employed full-time, 492 (14.2%) were part-time, and 129 (3.7%) were unemployed.[5]

Individual statistical areas
Name Population Households Median age Median income
Belfast West 1,908 729 41.2 years $35,600[6]
Belfast East 2,310 903 37.2 years $33,400[7]
New Zealand 37.4 years $31,800

Economy[]

Belfast has a freezing works. The nearest shopping complex is at Northwood Supa Centre.

Education[]

Belfast School is a contributing primary school catering for years 1 to 6.[8] It had a roll of 465 as of November 2021.[9] The school opened in 1878.[10]

Sport[]

Belfast is home to the Belfast Rugby Club, which competes in the Christchurch rugby competition. The team's colours are green and gold. Its main sports ground is Sheldon Park. The northern end of the suburb houses light industry.

Notable people from Belfast[]

  • Shane Bond (Former player for New Zealand Black Caps cricket team)
  • Bill Bush (former All-Black) Now President Belfast Rugby Club (Cobras)
  • Craig Green (former All Black)
  • Jamie Nutbrown Former Canterbury Crusaders halfback, also a former Super Rugby referee.
  • Wayne Smith (All Black's assistant coach)

References[]

Media related to Belfast, New Zealand at Wikimedia Commons

  1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b Reed, A. W. (2010). Peter Dowling (ed.). Place Names of New Zealand. Rosedale, North Shore: Raupo. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-14-320410-7.
  4. ^ Harper, Margaret (July 2011). "Christchurch Place Names" (PDF). Christchurch City Libraries. p. 21. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Belfast West (316900) and Belfast East (317300).
  6. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Belfast West
  7. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Belfast East
  8. ^ Education Counts: Belfast School
  9. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Local history resources - An annotated bibliography of published sources on the history of Christchurch, Lyttelton, and Banks Peninsula - Belfast School reunion: 120 years, 1878-1998" (PDF). Christchurch City Libraries. September 2014. p. 56.
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