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Belfast, New Zealand

Coordinates: 43°27′S 172°38′E / 43.450°S 172.633°E / -43.450; 172.633
From Tilcayo Cats, the lean encyclopaedia by Tilcayo Knowledge Systems
For the city in Northern Ireland, see Belfast.

Belfast
Suburb
[mapframe not available on SimWiki]
Interactive map of Belfast
Coordinates: 43°27′S 172°38′E / 43.450°S 172.633°E / -43.450; 172.633
CountryNew Zealand
CityChristchurch
Local authorityChristchurch City Council
Electoral wardHarewood
Community boardWaimāero Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood
Area
[1]
 • Land657 ha (1,620 acres)
Population
 (June 2025)[2]
 • Total
5,280
 • Density804/km2 (2,080/sq mi)
(Waimakariri River) Kainga
(The Groynes)
File:Pfeil links.svgBelfastFile:Pfeil rechts.svg
Northwood Bottle Lake

Belfast (Māori: Purarekanui)[3] is a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is in the north of the city 10 km (6.2 mi) 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 6.57 km2 (2.54 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 5,280 as of June 2025, with a population density of 804 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20063,669—    
20133,888+0.83%
20184,227+1.69%
20234,668+2.00%
The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 5.98 km2.
Source: [5][6]

Belfast had a population of 4,668 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 441 people (10.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 780 people (20.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 2,286 males, 2,370 females, and 12 people of other genders in 1,845 dwellings.[7] 3.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 38.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 828 people (17.7%) aged under 15 years, 849 (18.2%) aged 15 to 29, 2,244 (48.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 747 (16.0%) aged 65 or older.[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 81.7% European (Pākehā); 12.2% Māori; 3.3% Pasifika; 12.1% Asian; 1.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.2%, Māori by 2.2%, Samoan by 0.8%, and other languages by 12.3%. No language could be spoken by 2.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 21.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]

Religious affiliations were 31.4% Christian, 2.3% Hindu, 0.9% Islam, 0.3% Māori religious beliefs, 1.1% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.2%, and 6.6% of people did not answer the census question.[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 717 (18.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,127 (55.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 996 (25.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $44,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 330 people (8.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 2,136 (55.6%) full-time, 495 (12.9%) part-time, and 102 (2.7%) unemployed.[5]

Individual statistical areas
Name Area
(km2)		 Population Density
(per km2)		 Dwellings Median age Median
income
Belfast West 2.60 1,908 734 738 39.3 years $44,400[8]
Belfast East 3.96 2,760 697 1,107 37.4 years $44,100[9]
New Zealand 38.1 years $41,500

Economy

Belfast has had a freezing works since 1883. It is now owned by Silver Fern Farms.[10] The nearest shopping complex is at Northwood Supa Centre.

Education

Pūtahi Belfast School is a contributing primary school catering for years 1 to 8.[11] It has two campuses, a junior campus for years 1-4 and a senior campus for years 5-8.[12] It had a roll of 437 as of July 2026.[13] The school opened in 1878.[14]

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

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 3 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  2. ↑ "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 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. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Belfast (60670). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  6. ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Belfast West (316900) and Belfast East (317300).
  7. ↑ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  8. ↑ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Belfast West. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  9. ↑ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Belfast East. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  10. ↑ "Belfast Freezing Works | Engineering New Zealand". www.engineeringnz.org. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  11. ↑ "Belfast School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
  12. ↑ School, Pūtahi Belfast. "Pūtahi Belfast School Redevelopment Blog". Pūtahi Belfast School. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  13. ↑ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  14. ↑ "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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