Leithfield

{{Short description|Town in Canterbury, New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=December 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox settlement  | name = Leithfield | image_skyline = New Zealand- Leithfield Beach.jpg | image_caption = State Highway 1 at the turn off to Kaiapoi | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = New Zealand | subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of New Zealand|Region]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Canterbury Region|Canterbury]] | subdivision_type2 = [[Territorial authorities of New Zealand|Territorial authority]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Hurunui District]] | subdivision_type3 = Ward | subdivision_name3 = South Ward | seat_type = Electorates | seat = {{ubl|[[Kaikōura (New Zealand electorate)|Kaikōura]]|[[Te Tai Tonga]]}} | leader_title = Territorial Authority | leader_name = [[Hurunui District Council]] | leader_title1 = Regional council | leader_name1 = [[Environment Canterbury]] | leader_title2 = [[Mayor of Hurunui]] | leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|Hurunui District Mayor|y}} | leader_title3 = [[Kaikōura (New Zealand electorate)|Kaikoura MP]] | leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|Kaikōura MP|y}} | leader_title4 = [[Te Tai Tonga|Te Tai Tonga MP]] | leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Tonga MP|y}} | area_total_km2 = 1.58 | area_footnotes = <ref name="Area"/> | population_footnotes = {{NZ population data 2018||||y}} | population_as_of = {{NZ population data 2018|||y}} | population_total = {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Leithfield|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Leithfield Beach|y}}|R}}|0}} | population_density_km2 = auto | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 8 | coordinates = {{coord|43|12|S|172|44|E|display=inline,title}} }}

'''Leithfield''' is a small town in north [[Canterbury, New Zealand]]. It is on [[New Zealand State Highway 1|State Highway 1]], {{convert|5|km}} south of [[Amberley, New Zealand|Amberley]] and {{convert|42|km}} 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's regional importance is behind that of [[Amberley, New Zealand|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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Leithfield - Hurunui District Council|url=https://www.hurunui.govt.nz/find/about-the-district/our-towns/leithfield|access-date=2020-10-11|website=hurunui.govt.nz}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Leith's field of dreams">{{Cite web|date=2009-01-31|title=Leith's field of dreams|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/christchurch-life/travel-orig/south-island-travel/487377/Leiths-field-of-dreams|access-date=2020-10-11|website=Stuff|language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Leith's field of dreams"/>

==Demographics== Leithfield and Leithfield Beach are both defined by Statistics New Zealand as rural settlements and cover {{Convert|1.29|km2||abbr=on}} and {{Convert|0.29|km2||abbr=on}} respectively.<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787|access-date=27 August 2021|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}}</ref> They had an estimated combined population of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Leithfield|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Leithfield Beach|y}}|R}}|0}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|({{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Leithfield|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Leithfield Beach|y}}|R}})/1.58|0}} people per km<sup>2</sup>. Both are included in Balcairn statistical area.<ref>{{NZ census place summary 2018|balcairn|Balcairn}}</ref>

{{Historical populations|2006|765|2013|954|2018|981|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Leigthfield and Leithfield Beach|source=<ref name="Census 2018"/>}} The two settlements had a population of 981 at the [[2018 New Zealand census]], an increase of 27 people (2.8%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]], and an increase of 216 people (28.2%) since the [[2006 New Zealand census|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 people|Māori]], 1.8% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]], 0.9% [[Asian New Zealanders|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 [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 0.3% were [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 0.3% were [[Buddhism in New Zealand|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.<ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|7023886, 7023887, 7023888, 7023889, 7023890, 7023892, 7023893 and 7023894}}</ref>

===Balcairn statistical area=== Balcairn, which also includes [[Amberley Beach]] and surrounds but does not include [[Amberley, New Zealand|Amberley]], covers {{Convert|130.51|km2||abbr=on}}.<ref name="Area"/> It had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Balcairn|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Balcairn|y}}|R}}/130.51|1}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.

{{Historical populations|2006|1,872|2013|2,190|2018|2,343|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Balcairn|source=<ref name="Census 2018 B"/>}}

Balcairn had a population of 2,343 at the [[2018 New Zealand census]], an increase of 153 people (7.0%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]], and an increase of 471 people (25.2%) since the [[2006 New Zealand census|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 people|Māori]], 1.3% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]], 1.3% [[Asian New Zealanders|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 [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 0.3% were [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 0.3% were [[Buddhism in New Zealand|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.<ref name="Census 2018 B">{{NZ census 2018|Balcairn (312800)|balcairn|Balcairn}}</ref>

==Education==

Leithfield School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,<ref name="moe3411">{{cite web |title=Leithfield School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=3411 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=[[Ministry of Education (New Zealand)|Ministry of Education]]}}</ref> with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|3411|y}} as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|}}.<ref name="ero3411">{{cite web |title=Leithfield School Education Review Office Report |url=https://www.ero.govt.nz/institution/3411/leithfield-school-te-kura-o-kowai |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=[[Education Review Office]] |access-date=1 January 2026}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Populated places in the Canterbury Region]] [[Category:Hurunui District]]