Prestons
Map
Coordinates: 43°28′26″S 172°40′08″E / 43.474°S 172.669°E / -43.474; 172.669
CountryNew Zealand
CityChristchurch
Local authorityChristchurch City Council
Electoral wardBurwood
Community boardWaitai Coastal-Burwood-Linwood
Area
 • Land407 ha (1,006 acres)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total4,880
Belfast Bottle Lake
Marshland
Prestons
Parklands
Mairehau Shirley Burwood

Prestons is a suburb on the northeastern side of Christchurch city.

The suburb is named for Thomas Herbert Preston (1824–1884), a local resident and chair of the Avon Road Board. It was first planned as a residential suburb in 2007,[3] and constructed in the 2010s.[4]

The suburb has a main exit to Preston Road at the north, and a minor one to the east. An exit to the south to reduce congestion has been delayed by disagreements over the intersection design.[5] The new exit was still delayed in May 2023.[6]

Demographics edit

Prestons covers 4.07 km2 (1.57 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 4,880 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 1,199 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006162—    
2013237+5.59%
20183,048+66.67%
Source: [7]

Before the 2023 census, the suburb had a smaller boundary, covering 3.98 km2 (1.54 sq mi).[1] Using that boundary, Prestons had a population of 3,048 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 2,811 people (1186.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 2,886 people (1781.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,137 households, comprising 1,485 males and 1,566 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female. The median age was 39.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 624 people (20.5%) aged under 15 years, 462 (15.2%) aged 15 to 29, 1,428 (46.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 534 (17.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 87.7% European/Pākehā, 8.1% Māori, 1.8% Pasifika, 8.8% Asian, and 2.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 19.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.4% had no religion, 39.2% were Christian, 0.1% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.6% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.5% were Buddhist and 1.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 591 (24.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 306 (12.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $43,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 627 people (25.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,317 (54.3%) people were employed full-time, 378 (15.6%) were part-time, and 51 (2.1%) were unemployed.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Christchurch Place Names: N - Z : Prestons" (PDF). Christchurch City Libraries. February 2016. pp. 28–30.
  4. ^ Chamberlain, Peter (1 August 2010). "Community Commodified: The Prestons Road Residential Subdivision". Lincoln Planning Review. doi:10.34900/lpr.v2i2.528.
  5. ^ Walton, Steven (21 December 2022). "Subdivision residents hemmed in after dispute over tiny stretch of road". Stuff.
  6. ^ Gill, Sinead (25 May 2023). "Thousands of residents still using the one exit out of subdivision despite assurances". The Press.
  7. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Prestons (321300). 2018 Census place summary: Prestons