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Sheffield, New Zealand

Coordinates: 43°23′S 172°1′E / 43.383°S 172.017°E / -43.383; 172.017
From Tilcayo Cats, the lean encyclopaedia by Tilcayo Knowledge Systems

Sheffield
Village
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Interactive map of Sheffield
Coordinates: 43°23′S 172°1′E / 43.383°S 172.017°E / -43.383; 172.017
CountryNew Zealand
RegionCanterbury
Territorial authoritySelwyn District
WardMalvern
CommunityMalvern
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthoritySelwyn District Council
 • Regional councilEnvironment Canterbury
 • Mayor of SelwynLydia Gliddon[1]
 • Selwyn MPNicola Grigg[2]
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris[3]
Area
[4]
 • Total
0.55 km2 (0.21 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 Census)[5]
 • Total
198
 • Density360/km2 (930/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (New Zealand Standard Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (New Zealand Daylight Time)
Postcode
7500
Area code03

Sheffield (formerly Malvern) is a small village located in the Selwyn District of the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island, near the Waimakariri Gorge.

Sheffield has a close association with its neighbouring village Waddington, which is 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) further south-east along State Highway 73.[6] The two villages share a community committee.[7]

The two villages are located between Darfield and Springfield on State Highway 73 and the Midland Line railway. The towns were settled in the 19th century by farmers attracted to the area for sheep grazing.

Sheffield was once a railway junction. The first railway line reached the town in the late 1870s from a junction in Darfield with the Whitecliffs Branch. This line, then known as the Malvern Branch line, grew to become the Midland Line between Christchurch and the West Coast. On 28 July 1884, the Oxford Branch was extended over the Waimakariri River to Sheffield, making the town a railway junction. Plans existed to continue this extension south from Sheffield as part of the proposed Canterbury Interior Main Line, but this never came to fruition and the rail link with Oxford closed on 14 July 1930. The railway station and goods shed are no longer present.[8]

Demographics

Sheffield and Waddington are described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. They cover 1.63 km2 (0.63 sq mi)[9] and had an estimated population of 350 as of June 2025,[10] with a population density of 215 people per km2. They are part of the statistical area of Torlesse.[11] Sheffield covers 0.55 km2 (0.21 sq mi).[4]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006144—    
2013150+0.58%
2018192+5.06%
2023198+0.62%
Source: [5][12]

Sheffield had a population of 198 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 6 people (3.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 48 people (32.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 105 males and 93 females in 72 dwellings.[13] 1.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 39.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 42 people (21.2%) aged under 15 years, 27 (13.6%) aged 15 to 29, 99 (50.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 30 (15.2%) aged 65 or older.[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 92.4% European (Pākehā); 7.6% Māori; 3.0% Asian; 3.0% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 6.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.5%, and other languages by 7.6%. No language could be spoken by 1.5% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 15.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]

Religious affiliations were 24.2% Christian, and 1.5% Hindu. People who answered that they had no religion were 63.6%, and 10.6% of people did not answer the census question.[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 33 (21.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 90 (57.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 33 (21.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $41,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 9 people (5.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 96 (61.5%) full-time, 15 (9.6%) part-time, and 3 (1.9%) unemployed.[5]

Government

Sheffield is part of the Selwyn electorate.[14] The Selwyn District Council provides local government services for Sheffield.[15]

Sheffield War Memorial

The Sheffield community marked 100 years since the end of World War One by planting an oak tree for each of the 20 soldiers from the Sheffield area who lost their lives. The oaks were grown from acorns collected from the Gallipoli Oak which is next to the Bridge of Remembrance in Christchurch.

Saint Ambrose's Anglican Church

The original church was built in 1878. A decision to replace it occurred in 1939 and work started in 1955, but it was not until 26 August 1962 that it was finally consecrated.[16]

Sheffield Hotel

Originally built in 1882. In poor shape, the Sheffield Hotel was taken over by new owners in 2014 who revitalised it.[17] The Sheffield Hotel was destroyed by a fire in September 2021. The sole occupant of the hotel was awoken in the middle of the night by smoke alarms and escaped safely.[18]

Education

Sheffield School is a contributing primary school catering for years 1 to 6.[19] It had a roll of 89 as of July 2026.[20] The school opened in 1949 as a consolidation of schools in Waddington, Russells Flat and Annat.[21]

References

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  1. ↑ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "Selwyn - Official Result". www.electionresults.govt.nz. Electoral Commission. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "Te Tai Tonga – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 25 September 2026.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7026676. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  6. ↑ "Sheffield & Waddington". Selwyn District Council. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  7. ↑ "Community Townships". Selwyn District Council. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  8. ↑ Wilson, John (17 August 2015). "Canterbury places–Darfield district". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
  9. ↑ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 25 September 2026.
  10. ↑ "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  11. ↑ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Urban Rural Areas – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  12. ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7026676.
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ "Selwyn Electorate Profile – New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  15. ↑ "Selwyn District Council". Selwyn District Council. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  16. ↑ "St Ambrose brochure" (PDF).
  17. ↑ "No room at the inn – Sheffield's new lease of life". Stuff. 27 December 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  18. ↑ "'Hell of a battle': Fire crews fight large blaze at Canterbury hotel". Stuff. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  19. ↑ "Sheffield Contributing School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
  20. ↑ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  21. ↑ "Sheffield Primary School Charter (School ID No. 3502) 2019 - 2021". Sheffield School. p. 5. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
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