Southbridge, New Zealand

Southbridge is a small town on the Canterbury Plains in the South Island of New Zealand.[1] It is located 45 kilometres (28 mi) southwest of Christchurch, between Leeston, Dunsandel and the Rakaia River.

Southbridge had a population of 858 at the 2013 New Zealand census, an increase of 123 people since the 2006 census. There were 426 males and 432 females.[2] 91.5% were European, 7.4% were Māori, 1.1% were Pacific peoples and 1.1% were Asian.[3]

The town serves mainly as a centre for agricultural services, but also has nearly 70 small to medium-sized businesses, a swimming pool, tennis courts, Southbridge Primary School, and many other attractions.

On 13 July 1875, a branch line railway was opened from Christchurch to Southbridge. Despite proposals to extend it further to Longbeach and Waterton, the line's terminus remained in Southbridge and it was thus known as the Southbridge Branch. Traffic was strong in the line's early decades; in 1914, two mixed trains and a goods-only train ran each way daily. However, the line entered into decline after the late 1920s. Passenger services to Southbridge were cancelled on 14 April 1951, and the line closed entirely on 30 June 1962. Few remnants of the line remain, though locations of level crossings can be discerned.[4]

Ngāti Moki marae, a marae (tribal meeting ground) of Ngāi Tahu and its Te Taumutu Rūnanga branch, is located in Southbridge.[5] It includes Ngāti Moki wharenui (meeting house).[6]