Aranui

Suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand

Suburb in Christchurch, New Zealand
43°30′33″S 172°42′22″E / 43.50917°S 172.70611°E / -43.50917; 172.70611CountryNew ZealandCityChristchurchLocal authorityChristchurch City CouncilElectoral wardBurwoodCommunity boardWaitai Coastal-Burwood-LinwoodArea • Land142 ha (351 acres)Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total4,390
Avondale (Residential red zone)
Aranui
 (Residential red zone)
Wainoni Bexley

Aranui is one of the eastern suburbs of Christchurch. It is a lower socio-economic area.[3][4] In its early years, Aranui grew along Pages Road, the suburb's main road. Aranui soon became a working-class suburb. There are also areas of light-industrial premises in Aranui. The suburb grew rapidly between 1945 and 1951. The area is predominantly residential with pockets of light industry. There are shops and service facilities at the intersection of Breezes Road and Pages Road and a smaller retail precinct centred on Hampshire Street. Aranui is part of the Christchurch East parliamentary electorate.

History

Part of the area was previously called Flemington, named after the hairdresser and tobacconist Jubal Fleming (c.1844–1903).[5][6] Fleming had a subdivision at the corner of Breezes and Pages Roads, and the tram stop on Breezes Road was informally called Flemington. The post office was established in 1912 and it was named Aranui by George Kyngdon Burton (c.1859–1957), with that name then applied to the wider area.[6] Aranui is a Māori word, with ara meaning path and nui meaning great.[7]

In its early years, the New Brighton Tramway Company extended the Linwood Cemetery route. Land in Aranui was cheap at the time, though infertile for agriculture purposes, and transportation so that settlement in Aranui increased.[8][9]

Aranui soon became a working class suburb. There are also areas of light-industrial premises in Aranui. The suburb grew rapidly between 1945 and 1951 from 404 to 1,141 dwellers. Local shopping centres were established around Christchurch, particularly in some of the neighbourhoods which had larger state-housing developments. Today, the suburb is mainly residential, though it has areas of retail businesses sited on Pages Road. There is also a smaller retail precinct centred on Hampshire Street.[10]

Residents are still generally of low socio-economic status.[11] In a 2020 report of the Burwood ward from Kāinga Ora, the suburb of Aranui had the highest number of state-owned houses in Christchurch.[12]

Geography

Aranui is one of the eastern suburbs. Its eastern boundary is the Avon River. Boundary roads are Pages Road in the south, Breezes Road in the west, and Wainoni Road in the north.[13] Bexley is located to the south of Pages Road.[14] Aranui and its neighbouring suburb of Wainoni are sometimes considered together. Christchurch City Council publishes a combined community profile for the two suburbs.[15]

Governance

The Christchurch City Council administers Aranui. The suburb is part of the Burwood Ward for Christchurch City Council local body elections. The currently elected councillor is Kelly Barber.[16] Nationally, Aranui is part of the Christchurch East parliamentary electorate. The currently elected member of parliament is Reuben Davidson of the Labour Party.[17] Historically, Christchurch East has supported the Labour Party in general elections and is considered one of Labour's safest seats.[18]

Demographics

Aranui covers 1.42 km2 (0.55 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 4,390 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 3,092 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20064,260—    
20133,777−1.70%
20184,200+2.15%
Source: [19]
Aranui Library

Aranui had a population of 4,200 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 423 people (11.2%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 60 people (−1.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,392 households, comprising 2,106 males and 2,091 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.01 males per female. The median age was 30.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 1,101 people (26.2%) aged under 15 years, 999 (23.8%) aged 15 to 29, 1,740 (41.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 354 (8.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 66.1% European/Pākehā, 29.9% Māori, 17.6% Pasifika, 3.7% Asian, and 2.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 13.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 53.9% had no religion, 31.8% were Christian, 2.6% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% were Hindu, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 2.1% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 153 (4.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,098 (35.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $21,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 96 people (3.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,224 (39.5%) people were employed full-time, 363 (11.7%) were part-time, and 288 (9.3%) were unemployed.[19]

Education

Aranui is served by the composite school Haeata Community Campus in Wainoni, which was created by a merger of four schools in 2017.[20] Haeata Community Campus has a roll of 536 students as of February 2024.[21] It was created by merging Aranui School, and Wainoni School, and was built on the former Aranui High School site in 2017.[22]

Notable residents

  • Mabel Howard, New Zealand's first woman cabinet minister, was once a resident in the area.[23]
  • Keri Hulme, a novelist and poet, was educated in Aranui High School and lived in the suburb for a short period of time.[24]

References

  1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Emergency Relief Centre". grace vinyard church. Archived from the original on 16 April 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  4. ^ "Christchurch Mayor: Nobody has been forgotten". 3 News. 2 March 2011. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  5. ^ "Pars about People". Observer. Vol. XXIII, no. 32. 25 April 1903. p. 4. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  6. ^ a b Harper, Margaret (July 2011). "Christchurch Place Names" (PDF). Christchurch City Libraries. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  7. ^ Reed, A. W. (2010). Peter Dowling (ed.). Place Names of New Zealand. Rosedale, North Shore: Raupo. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-14-320410-7.
  8. ^ Morrison, J.P. (1948). The evolution of a city : the story of the growth of the city and suburbs of Christchurch, the capital of Canterbury, in the years from 1850 to 1903. p. 82.
  9. ^ Burgess, Robyn. "Avebury House, Christchurch" (PDF). Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 January 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  10. ^ Wilson, John (2005). Contextual Historical Overview of Christchurch City (PDF) (report). Christchurch: Christchurch City Council. pp. 122–125, 139. ISBN 9781877313219. OCLC 156459064. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2024 – via Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission.
  11. ^ "Community profile – November 2014 Aranui / Wainoni / Bexley" (PDF). Christchurch City Council. 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 February 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  12. ^ Walton, Steven (8 May 2021). ""It's quite harsh out here": Data reveals clusters of social housing in Christchurch". Stuff. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  13. ^ "Boundary Map of Aranui". Statistics New Zealand. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  14. ^ "Boundary Map of Bexley". Statistics New Zealand. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  15. ^ "Community profile Aranui/Wainoni" (PDF). Christchurch City Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  16. ^ "Kelly Barber Councillor for Burwood Ward". Christchurch City Council. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  17. ^ Morton, Nathan (16 October 2023). "Election 2023 results: The South Island's new elected leaders following blue tidal wave". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 16 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  18. ^ Law, Tina (13 March 2023). "Labour stalwart wins selection to contest Christchurch East". Stuff. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Aranui (328600). 2018 Census place summary: Aranui
  20. ^ "Eight Chch schools merge into two". 3 News NZ. 11 September 2013. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  21. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  22. ^ "Eight Chch schools merge into two". 3 News NZ. 11 September 2013. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  23. ^ "History". Aranui Community Trust Incorporated Society. Archived from the original on 25 May 2010. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  24. ^ Famous Writers, The Press; Christchurch, New Zealand, 8 January 2001

External links

  • Media related to Aranui at Wikimedia Commons
  • A 2016 commentary on the suburb
  • v
  • t
  • e
Populated places
Northern suburbs
Eastern suburbs
Central suburbs
Western suburbs
Southern suburbs
Geographic featuresFacilities and attractionsGovernment