Sefton, New Zealand
Sefton | |
|---|---|
| [mapframe not available on SimWiki] Interactive map of Sefton | |
| Coordinates: 43°14′49″S 172°40′01″E / 43.247°S 172.667°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Canterbury |
| Territorial authority | Waimakariri District |
| Ward | Kaiapoi-Woodend Ward |
| Community | Woodend-Sefton Community |
| Electorates |
|
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Waimakariri District Council |
| • Regional council | Environment Canterbury |
| • Mayor of Waimakariri | Dan Gordon[1] |
| • Kaikōura MP | Stuart Smith[2] |
| • Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.87 km2 (0.34 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2025)[5] | |
• Total | 270 |
| • Density | 310/km2 (800/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode | 7472 |
| Area code | 03 |
Sefton is a small town in the Waimakariri District, New Zealand, about 23 kilometres (14 miles) from Christchurch.[6]
In 1886, it had a census population of 276 and was a station on the Christchurch Ashley line.[6] In 1891 it had a population of 390, of which 202 were male and 188 were female.[7] In the 2018 census, the population was 207.[8]
Education
Sefton has one school: Te Waitai Sefton School. It is a state co-educational full primary,[9] with 121 students (as of July 2026).[10] The principal is Heidi Moeller-Kemp. It opened in 1884. Balcairn School (opened 1878)[11] merged with Sefton in 1930, Salwater Creek School (opened 1865)[12] merged in 1951, and Mt Grey Downs School (extant 1869)[13] in 1963.[14]
Demographics
Sefton is described by Stats NZ as a rural settlement and covers 0.87 km2 (0.34 sq mi).[4] It had an estimated population of 270 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 310 people per km2. Sefton is part of the larger Ashley-Sefton statistical area.[15]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 231 | — |
| 2013 | 225 | −0.38% |
| 2018 | 207 | −1.65% |
| 2023 | 255 | +4.26% |
| Source: [16][8] | ||
Sefton had a population of 255 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 48 people (23.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 30 people (13.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 144 males, 111 females, and 3 people of other genders in 99 dwellings.[17] 5.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 37.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 54 people (21.2%) aged under 15 years, 42 (16.5%) aged 15 to 29, 111 (43.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 48 (18.8%) aged 65 or older.[16]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 94.1% European (Pākehā), 10.6% Māori, 2.4% Pasifika, and 4.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.8%, Māori by 1.2%, and other languages by 2.4%. No language could be spoken by 2.4% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 8.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.[16]
Religious affiliations were 21.2% Christian, and 1.2% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 69.4%, and 9.4% of people did not answer the census question.[16]
Of those at least 15 years old, 30 (14.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 114 (56.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 57 (28.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $37,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 9 people (4.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 99 (49.3%) full-time, 39 (19.4%) part-time, and 6 (3.0%) unemployed.[16]
References
- ↑ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "Kaikōura - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
- ↑ "Te Tai Tonga – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 24 July 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Australian Handbook (incorporating New Zealand, Fiji, and New Guinea) Shippers, Importers and Professional Directory & Business Guide for ... Gordon and Gotch. 1888. pp. 516–.
- ↑ Dept, New Zealand. Registrar-General's (1892). Results of a Census of the Colony of New Zealand, Taken for the Night of the 5th April, 1891. Government Press. pp. 59–. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7023943.
- ↑ "Sefton School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
- ↑ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- ↑ Hawkins, D. N. (1957). "Beyond the Waimakariri : a regional history". p. 361 – via Waimakariri Heritage.
- ↑ "Saltwater Creek (Northport) School". Waimakariri Heritage. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
- ↑ "Board of Education – Inspector's Report for the Month" (PDF). New Zealand Government Gazette Province of Canterbury. 27 February 1869. p. liii.
- ↑ "Te Waitai Sefton School". Waimakariri Heritage. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
- ↑ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Urban Rural Areas – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Sefton (2095). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ↑ "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.