Kirwee

Kirwee is a town located west of Christchurch in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It was named after Karwi in India by retired British Army colonel De Renzie Brett.[1] Kirwee is also home to the South Island Agricultural Field Days, held biennially.[2][3]

This article is about the town in New Zealand. For the town in Uttar Pradesh, India, see Karwi.

Kirwee
Minor urban area
De Renzie Brett memorial in Kirwee
Kirwee
Coordinates: 43°30′S 172°13′E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionCanterbury
Territorial authoritySelwyn District
Elevation
157 m (515 ft)
Population
 (2018)
 • Total3,498
Time zoneUTC+12 (New Zealand Standard Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (New Zealand Daylight Time)
Postcode
7571
Area code(s)03

History
St Mathews Church, April 2012

In the early 1870s, Kirwee was intended to be the junction of two branch lines, one to Whitecliffs and the other to Sheffield and Springfield. The line from Kirwee to Darfield, intended to be the first portion of the Whitecliffs Branch, was built first and the decision was taken to establish the junction of the two branches in Darfield instead. The section of line from Kirwee to Darfield, as well as the branch to Sheffield and Springfield are now part of the Midland Line.

On 25 December 2019, the historic pub was gutted by a fire.[4] It was demolished in May 2020.[5]

Demographics

Kirwee and its surrounding rural area had a population of 1,275 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 174 people since the 2013 census. There were 648 males and 627 females. 96.7% were European/Pākehā, 4.9% were Māori, 1.4% were Asian, 0.5% were Pacific peoples, 0.2% MELAA and 1.9% were other ethnicities.[6]

Transport
Ka 942 "Nigel Bruce" in Kirwee with an excursion to Arthurs Pass, August 2014

State Highway 73 and the Midland Line railway both pass through the town. Kirwee is also serviced with the 86 bus route.[7]

References
  1. Perry, P. J. "Brett, De Renzie James - Biography". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  2. "Home - The largest agricultural field days event in the South Island of New Zealand". www.siafd.co.nz. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  3. Malthus, Nigel. "Southern Field Days returns". www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  4. "Residents 'heartbroken' after historic Canterbury pub gutted in Christmas blaze". Stuff. 25 December 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  5. Bolger, Devon (27 May 2020). "Work to demolish fire-damaged hotel starts this week". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  6. "2018 Census place summaries | Stats NZ". www.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  7. "Darfield/City | Metro Christchurch". www.metroinfo.co.nz. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
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