Leithfield

Leithfield is a small town in north Canterbury, New Zealand. It is on State Highway 1, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of Amberley and 42 kilometres (26 mi) north of Christchurch and 11.8 kilometres north of Waikuku. The Leithfield area consists of two semi-distinct areas, Leithfield Beach to the east of State Highway 1 and Leithfield Village adjacent to and immediately to the west of State Highway 1. Leithfield sits just south of the South Branch of the Kowai River.

Leithfield
State Highway 1 at the turn off to Leithfield Beach
Coordinates: 43°12′S 172°44′E
Country	New Zealand
Region	Canterbury
Territorial authority	Hurunui District
Ward	South Ward
Electorates	Kaikōura Te Tai Tonga
Government
• Territorial Authority	Hurunui District Council
• Regional council	Environment Canterbury
• Mayor of Hurunui	Marie Black
• Kaikoura MP	Stuart Smith
• Te Tai Tonga MP	Tākuta Ferris
Area
• Total	1.58 km2 (0.61 sq mi)
Population  (June 2024)
• Total	1,040
• Density	660/km2 (1,700/sq mi)

Leithfield's regional importance is behind that of Amberley with its wine industry and the tourist centre of Hanmer Springs. This is due in large part to its proximity to the district centre at Amberley. Despite this proximity, the Leithfield community supports a school, library, summer swimming pool, and many small businesses.

History

Leithfield was founded in 1857 by John Leith. He purchased a windmill in 1862 and brought it from Christchurch to Leithfield in order to mill wheat. The mill building was 23 metres tall and each sail was 12 metres long making it the tallest building in Canterbury at the time. Unfortunately the Canterbury nor'westerly winds damaged the mill building making it inoperable. In 1880, Leithfield was a town of 700 people. It had three churches, a police station, a court, a school, three hotels and five shops.

Demographics

Leithfield and Leithfield Beach are both defined by Statistics New Zealand as rural settlements and cover 1.29 km² (0.50 sq mi) and 0.29 km² (0.11 sq mi) respectively. They had an estimated combined population of 1,040 as of June 2024, with a population density of 658 people per km². Both are included in Balcairn statistical area.

Historical population for Leigthfield and Leithfield Beach

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	765	—
2013	954	+3.20%
2018	981	+0.56%
Source:

The two settlements had a population of 981 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 27 people (2.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 216 people (28.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 396 households, comprising 462 males and 510 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.91 males per female, with 168 people (17.1%) aged under 15 years, 132 (13.5%) aged 15 to 29, 486 (49.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 195 (19.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 94.5% European/Pākehā, 11.0% Māori, 1.8% Pasifika, 0.9% Asian, and 1.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 58.4% had no religion, 30.6% were Christian, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.3% were Buddhist and 1.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 69 (8.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 189 (23.2%) people had no formal qualifications. 120 people (14.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 408 (50.2%) people were employed full-time, 117 (14.4%) were part-time, and 18 (2.2%) were unemployed.

Balcairn statistical area

Balcairn, which also includes Amberley Beach and surrounds but does not include Amberley, covers 130.51 km² (50.39 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 2,520 as of June 2024, with a population density of 19.3 people per km².

Historical population for Balcairn

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	1,872	—
2013	2,190	+2.27%
2018	2,343	+1.36%
Source:

Balcairn had a population of 2,343 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 153 people (7.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 471 people (25.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 921 households, comprising 1,161 males and 1,182 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female. The median age was 47.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 417 people (17.8%) aged under 15 years, 315 (13.4%) aged 15 to 29, 1,134 (48.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 477 (20.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 95.5% European/Pākehā, 7.8% Māori, 1.3% Pasifika, 1.3% Asian, and 1.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 15.1, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.2% had no religion, 34.8% were Christian, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.3% were Buddhist and 2.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 267 (13.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 417 (21.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $31,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 294 people (15.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 987 (51.2%) people were employed full-time, 336 (17.4%) were part-time, and 39 (2.0%) were unemployed.

Education

Leithfield School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of 115 as of August 2024.