Leeston
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Leeston (
Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...
: ''Karumata'') is a town on the
Canterbury Plains The Canterbury Plains () are an area in New Zealand centred in the Mid Canterbury, to the south of the city of Christchurch in the Canterbury region. Their northern extremes are at the foot of the Hundalee Hills in the Hurunui District, and ...
in the
South Island The South Island ( , 'the waters of Pounamu, Greenstone') is the largest of the three major islands of New Zealand by surface area, the others being the smaller but more populous North Island and Stewart Island. It is bordered to the north by ...
of
New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
. It is located 30 kilometres southwest of
Christchurch Christchurch (; ) is the largest city in the South Island and the List of cities in New Zealand, second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Christchurch has an urban population of , and a metropolitan population of over hal ...
, between the shore of Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora and the mouth of the
Rakaia River The Rakaia River is in the Canterbury Plains in New Zealand's South Island. The Rakaia River is one of the largest braided rivers in New Zealand. The Rakaia River has a mean flow of and a mean annual seven-day low flow of . In the 1850s, Europ ...
. The town is home to a growing number of services which have increased and diversified along with the population. Leeston has a supermarket, schools (pre-school, primary school and high school), churches, hospital (for the elderly only), gym, cafes, restaurants, medical centre, pharmacy and post office. The Selwyn District Council currently has a service office in Leeston, after the headquarters was shifted to Rolleston.


Demographics

Leeston is described by Statistics New Zealand as a small urban area, and covers . It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Leeston had a population of 2,208 at the
2018 New Zealand census The 2018 New Zealand census, which took place on Tuesday 6 March 2018, was the thirty-fourth national census in New Zealand. The population of New Zealand was counted as 4,699,755 – an increase of 457,707 (10.79%) over the 2013 census. Resu ...
, an increase of 669 people (43.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 882 people (66.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 828 households, comprising 1,083 males and 1,128 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.96 males per female. The median age was 39.3 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 498 people (22.6%) aged under 15 years, 327 (14.8%) aged 15 to 29, 990 (44.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 390 (17.7%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 92.7% European/
Pākehā ''Pākehā'' (or ''Pakeha''; ; ) is a Māori language, Māori-language word used in English, particularly in New Zealand. It generally means a non-Polynesians, Polynesian New Zealanders, New Zealander or more specifically a European New Zeala ...
, 9.9%
Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...
, 0.8% Pasifika, 2.0% Asian, and 2.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 15.2, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.5% had no religion, 35.1% were
Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...
, 0.3% had
Māori religious beliefs Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...
, 0.1% were
Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
, 0.3% were
Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...
, 0.1% were
Buddhist Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
and 1.9% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 240 (14.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 402 (23.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $37,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 294 people (17.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 927 (54.2%) people were employed full-time, 243 (14.2%) were part-time, and 42 (2.5%) were unemployed.


Leisure and entertainment


Harts Creek

Harts creek is a spring-fed creek and wildlife reserve located 7 minutes drive from Leeston and is a popular place for short walks, picnics, fly fishing and bird watching. Restoration projects have resulted in a wildlife reserve with some of the clearest waters in the Ellesmere District. Bird life includes: *
mute swans The mute swan (''Cygnus olor'') is a species of swan and a member of the waterfowl family Anatidae. It is native to much of Eurasia, and (as a rare winter visitor) the far north of Africa. It is an introduced species in North America, home to ...
*
black swans The black swan (''Cygnus atratus'') is a large waterbird, a species of swan which breeds mainly in the southeast and southwest regions of Australia. Within Australia, the black swan is nomadic, with erratic migration patterns dependent on climat ...
* pūkeko * parekareka/spotted shag * Canada geese * several species of duck * kōtuku/white heron * kakī/pied stilts * kamana/crested grebe * matuku/Australasian bittern


Ellesmere A&P Show

The Ellesmere A&P show is currently in its 147th year. It is held annually at the Leeston Agricultural and Pastoral Showgrounds. It is typically held in October and is one of the Selwyn Districts biggest events, attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year. Typical attractions include: farmyard displays, photography displays, craft stalls, sheep and wool displays, horse showing and jumping, dairy and beef cattle, wood chopping, trade displays, live music, vintage and modern machinery, dog trials, face painting, pony rides, shearing competitions, fair-ground rides, wine tasting, wearable arts and many more.


Camping

The Leeston District is home to three campsites, two situated on the banks of the Selwyn River, and one on the shores of Lake Ellesmere. * Coes Ford Camp Ground: Camping is permitted for a maximum of 28 days and is free of charge. Coes Ford is a good spot for camping, fishing, picnics, casual recreation and conservation. Toilets are available but there is no drinking water. Coes Ford is available for camping all year round. * Chamberlains Ford Camp Ground: This is a Selwyn District Council designated camping ground. Camping here is free – has a good waterhole for swimming. Toilets are available but there is no drinking water. Chamberlains Ford Camp Ground is available for camping all year round. * Lakeside Domain Camp Ground: This camp site is situated on the shores of Lake Ellesmere, New Zealand's 5th largest lake. A spot for bird watching and recreational water sports. This is a free camp ground. Toilets are available but there is no drinking water.


Other activities

In May 2017, a community art gallery was opened in Leeston. It is Leeston's first art gallery. Leeston is home to a variety of different sporting clubs and has a weekly running club each Wednesday evening. Sporting clubs in Leeston include: Rugby, Netball, Tennis, Lawn Bowls, Soccer, Cricket and Running. Leeston also has a fully equipped gym, which is open seven days a week from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m.


Schools

Ellesmere College is a co-educational secondary school catering for years 7 to 13. It has a roll of students as of The school opened in 1981 to replace
Southbridge District High School The Southbridge District High School was a school in Southbridge, New Zealand until 1981. History The Southbridge Primary School which is still in use today, based in Southbridge, New Zealand, was founded in 1868 with a roll of 20 students. T ...
. Leeston Consolidated School is a co-educational contributing primary school catering for years 1 to 6. It has a roll of students ( It opened in 1865, and gained the name "Consolidated" in recognition of primary schools in Lakeside, Irwell, Doyleston and Brookside with which it amalgamated in the 1930s.


Climate


References


External links


Selwyn District Council page on Leeston
{{Authority control Populated places in the Canterbury Region Selwyn District