Burnside, Christchurch
Burnside | |
|---|---|
 | |
Interactive map of Burnside | |
| Coordinates: 43°29′59″S 172°34′07″E / 43.499857°S 172.568658°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| City | Christchurch |
| Local authority | Christchurch City Council |
| Electoral ward |
|
| Community board | Waimāero Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood |
| Area | |
| • Land | 457 ha (1,130 acres) |
| Population (June 2025)[2] | |
• Total | 8,370 |
| • Density | 1,830/km2 (4,740/sq mi) |
| Harewood | Bishopdale | |
  Burnside  |
Bryndwr | |
| Avonhead | Ilam | Fendalton |
Burnside is a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, located southeast of Christchurch International Airport. As with most suburbs in Christchurch, it has no defined boundaries and is a general area.
History
Burnside was originally part of a farm, approximately 1,700 acres (6.9 km2) in size, owned by the early settler William Boag (1828–1904), who arrived in 1851 from Perthshire. It was named for the small creeks that formed the headwaters of the Waimairi Stream.[3][4] The name Burnside was made official by the Waimairi County Council in 1959,[5] although Burnside Road had been renamed Memorial Avenue in 1950.[6]
For the first hundred years of European settlement, the area in and around Burnside was farmland, with sheep, cattle and orchards occupying the land.
Demographics
Burnside, comprising the statistical areas of Burnside, Burnside Park and Burnside West (called Russley until 2023), covers 4.57 km2 (1.76 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 9,690 as of June 2025, with a population density of 1,832 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 7,191 | — |
| 2013 | 7,338 | +0.29% |
| 2018 | 7,710 | +0.99% |
| 2023 | 7,875 | +0.42% |
| Source: [7][8] | ||
Burnside had a population of 7,875 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 165 people (2.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 537 people (7.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 3,840 males, 4,002 females, and 30 people of other genders in 2,763 dwellings.[9] 3.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 37.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,530 people (19.4%) aged under 15 years, 1,674 (21.3%) aged 15 to 29, 3,381 (42.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,287 (16.3%) aged 65 or older.[7]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 67.7% European (Pākehā); 8.7% Māori; 3.3% Pasifika; 27.4% Asian; 2.0% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 94.0%, Māori by 1.6%, Samoan by 0.9%, and other languages by 25.2%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 34.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.[7]
Religious affiliations were 33.8% Christian, 1.9% Hindu, 1.8% Islam, 0.1% Māori religious beliefs, 2.1% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 51.8%, and 6.1% of people did not answer the census question.[7]
Of those at least 15 years old, 2,070 (32.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,955 (46.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,320 (20.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $40,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 753 people (11.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 3,057 (48.2%) full-time, 990 (15.6%) part-time, and 153 (2.4%) unemployed.[7]
| Name | Area (km2) | Population | Density (per km2) | Dwellings | Median age | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burnside | 1.36 | 3,603 | 2,649 | 1,218 | 35.8 years | $39,500[10] |
| Burnside Park | 1.34 | 3,198 | 2,387 | 1,104 | 36.8 years | $40,700[11] |
| Burnside West | 1.87 | 1,077 | 576 | 441 | 46.5 years | $42,600[12] |
| New Zealand | 38.1 years | $41,500 |
Schools
Burnside High School is a secondary school catering for years 9 to 13.[13] It has a roll of 2,724. The school opened in 1960.[14]
Cobham Intermediate is an intermediate school catering for years 7 to 8.[15] It has a roll of 670. The school, initially named Fendalton Intermediate, opened in 1963.[16]
Burnside Primary School and Roydvale School are contributing primary schools catering for years 1 to 6.[17][18] They have rolls of 319 and 284, respectively. Burnside School opened in 1956, and Roydvale in 1967.[3] Kendal School, which opened in 1962,[3] closed in 2014.[19]
Christ the King School is a state-integrated Catholic primary school for years 1 to 8.[20] It has a roll of 317.
All these schools are coeducational, and all except Christ the King are state schools. Rolls are as of July 2026.[21]
Suburb
Burnside contains a central park (Burnside Park), and its two central roads are Memorial Avenue and Greers Road. It contains a smaller park (Jellie Park) opposite Burnside High School on Greers Road.
References
- 1 2 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 3 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- 1 2 3 "Bryndwr and Burnside". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ↑ Reed, A. W. (2010). Peter Dowling (ed.). Place Names of New Zealand. Rosedale, North Shore: Raupo. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-14-320410-7.
- ↑ Harper, Margaret (July 2011). "Christchurch Place Names". Christchurch City Libraries. p. 36. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ↑ O’Connor, Paul (2009). Choosing the Right Path: Burnside High School 1960–2010. Christchurch: Silver Fox Publishing. p. 12. ISBN 978-0-473-15685-5.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Burnside (60800). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Burnside (319200), Burnside Park (318300) and Russley (317500).
- ↑ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ↑ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Burnside. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ↑ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Burnside Park. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ↑ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Burnside West. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ↑ "Burnside High School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
- ↑ O'Connor, Paul (2009). Choosing the Right Path: Burnside High School 1960–2010. Christchurch: Silver Fox Publishing. ISBN 978-0-473-15685-5.
- ↑ "Cobham Intermediate School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
- ↑ "Miscellaneous Local Historical Information" (PDF). Christchurch City Libraries. p. 47. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ↑ "Burnside Primary School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
- ↑ "Roydvale School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
- ↑ Parata, Hekia (20 June 2013). "Kendal School, Christchurch (3395) Closure Notice" (PDF). New Zealand Gazette. 2013 (78). New Zealand Government: 2138. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ↑ "Christ the King School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
- ↑ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2026.