Woodend, New Zealand

Woodend is a town in the Waimakariri District, in the Canterbury Region of the South Island of New Zealand. It may have been named because it was on the edge of what was then called the Maori Bush, or after an early settler, Thomas Wooding.[2] It is situated with both the Waimakariri and Ashley Rivers running either side.

Woodend
Minor urban area
Woodend in 2010
Woodend
Coordinates: 43°19′S 172°40′E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionCanterbury
Territorial authorityWaimakariri District
Area
 • Total3.49 km2 (1.35 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2020)[1]
 • Total2,970
 • Density850/km2 (2,200/sq mi)
Postcode
7610

The town has a population of 2,970 (June 2020).[1] It is 25 kilometres (16 mi) north of central Christchurch, and is a satellite town of the city; at the 2006 census, 63% of employed Woodend residents worked in Christchurch.[3] Woodend is located near Woodend Beach. It is possible to go swimming, surfing, walking, running and horse riding there. The Tūhaitara Coastal Park is known for its walking and mountain biking trails. The Tutaepatu Trail links Woodend Beach, Pegasus Town and Waikuku Beach.[4]

Climate

The warmest months of the year are January and February, with an average high temperature of 23°C. The coldest month of the year occurs in July, when the average high temperature is 11°C. Monthly rainfall ranges between an average of 34mm in January and April to 63mm in July.[5]

Education

Woodend School is Woodend's only school. It is a state co-educational full primary school[6] with a decile rating of 8 and a roll of 321 students (as of March 2020).[7] The principal is Adrienne Simpson.

Demographics

In 2006, Woodend had a population of 2661, growing to 2739 in 2013 and 2784 in 2018.  The median age of the residents in 2018 was 43 years old. In terms of ethnicity, 93.9% of residents identified as European, 9.8% identified as Maori and 12.1% identified as of Maori descent. The majority of residents were born in New Zealand (84.1%). The majority of residents identified with no religion (57.5%) while a sizeable minority (31%) identified as Christian. The majority of residents (52%) were in full time employment. The median income was $33,300 with 17% earning over $70,000.[8]

In 2018, there were 987 occupied private dwellings and a further 27 unoccupied private dwellings. [8]

Woodend Community Association

The Woodend Community Association is, of 2020, working on improving the facilities at Woodend Beach and has completed work on the Jill Creamer trail from Woodend to Woodend Beach.[9]

Traffic Issues

State Highway 1 runs through the middle of Woodend. Traffic volumes have been increasing every year and reached 20,000 cars per day in 2019. [10] Frustrated local residents blocked State Highway 1 in February 2020 in protest.[11] In September 2020, the traffic lights which had been promised by the New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) in 2020 to make crossing State Highway One had been delayed.[12][13] The NZTA expects traffic volumes to double over the next 30 years.[14] Its preferred solution is to build a new four-lane bypass which will join the current motorway at Lineside Road and run through to the entrance to Pegasus town.[14] This proposed bypass has yet to be funded by the New Zealand government,[15][16][17]

Notable Buildings

Saint Barnabas Church
Saintt Barnabas Anglican Church, Woodend

Saint Barnabas is the Woodend - Pegasus Anglican Parish Church. It replaced a previous church built on the site which was built in 1859-60. The previous church was condemned due to dry rot. The current church was designed by architect Cecil Wood in 1930 and opened in June 1933. In 1993 an extension containing meeting rooms and kitchen facilities was completed. This was designed by architect Don Donnithorne. [18][19]

Woodend Methodist Church
Woodend Methodist Church, Built 1911.

The Woodend Methodist Church was built in 1911. It was damaged in the 2010-2011 Christchurch Earthquakes and has subsequently been repaired. [20]

Notable Residents
  • Anton Cooper (born 1994), cross-country cyclist and World Under 23 Cross-country champion[21]

References
  1. "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  2. Discover New Zealand:A Wises Guide (9th ed.). 1994. p. 421.
  3. "Commuting patterns in Christchurch – Commuting patterns in New Zealand, 1996–2006". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  4. "Woodend Community Association". Woodend Community Association. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  5. "Climate Woodend". meteoblue. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  6. Education Counts: Woodend School
  7. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  8. "2018 Census place summaries | Stats NZ". www.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  9. "Woodend Community Association". Woodend Community Association. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  10. "Increasing traffic volume strengthens community's resolve to fight for Woodend Bypass". Stuff. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  11. "Highway frustrations aired at Woodend". Otago Daily Times Online News. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  12. "Woodend community's 10-month wait for promised traffic lights". Stuff. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  13. Bristow, Robyn (21 September 2020). "Traffic lights delayed near Woodend School". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  14. "Woodend Corridor bypass | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency". www.nzta.govt.nz. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  15. "Woodend misses out on Government's roading funds". Stuff. 29 January 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  16. "Mayoral Update re National commitment to Woodend Bypass - 22 June". Waimakariri District Council. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  17. "AA urges bypass for dangerous Woodend roads". RNZ. 27 April 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  18. "History of the Churches of Tuahiwi, Waikuku and Woodend". Waimakariri Libraries. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  19. "Anglican church | St Barnabas Anglican Church Woodend | New Zealand". St. Barnabas Woodend. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  20. "Rangiora Parish". www.methodist.org.nz. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  21. Richens, Matt (30 July 2014). "Anton Cooper wins with mountainbike gold". The Press. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
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