Prestons, New Zealand
Prestons | |
|---|---|
Interactive map of Prestons | |
| Coordinates: 43°28′26″S 172°40′08″E / 43.474°S 172.669°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| City | Christchurch |
| Local authority | Christchurch City Council |
| Electoral ward | Burwood |
| Community board | Waitai Coastal-Burwood-Linwood |
| Area | |
| • Land | 407 ha (1,010 acres) |
| Population (June 2025)[2] | |
• Total | 5,320 |
| • Density | 1,310/km2 (3,390/sq mi) |
| Belfast | Bottle Lake | |
| Marshland |
  Prestons  |
Parklands |
| Mairehau | Shirley | Burwood |
Prestons is a suburb on the northeastern side of Christchurch city.
The suburb is named for Thomas Herbert Preston (1824–1884), a local resident and chair of the Avon Road Board. It was first planned as a residential suburb in 2007,[3] and constructed in the 2010s.[4]
The suburb has a main exit to Preston Road at the north, and a minor one to the east. An exit to the south to reduce congestion was delayed by disagreements over the intersection design.[5] The new exit opened in 2024.[6]
Demographics
Prestons covers 4.07 km2 (1.57 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 5,320 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 1,307 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 162 | — |
| 2013 | 243 | +5.96% |
| 2018 | 3,048 | +65.84% |
| 2023 | 4,863 | +9.79% |
| The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 3.98 km2. Source: [7][8] | ||
Prestons had a population of 4,863 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,815 people (59.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 4,620 people (1901.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 2,343 males, 2,508 females, and 9 people of other genders in 1,794 dwellings.[9] 2.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 957 people (19.7%) aged under 15 years, 675 (13.9%) aged 15 to 29, 2,337 (48.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 894 (18.4%) aged 65 or older.[7]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 84.1% European (Pākehā); 8.5% Māori; 2.4% Pasifika; 12.8% Asian; 1.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.2%, Māori by 1.5%, Samoan by 0.4%, and other languages by 13.2%. No language could be spoken by 2.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 22.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.[7]
Religious affiliations were 34.2% Christian, 2.2% Hindu, 0.4% Islam, 0.2% Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% Buddhist, 0.2% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.2%, and 5.2% of people did not answer the census question.[7]
Of those at least 15 years old, 1,152 (29.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,103 (53.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 651 (16.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 729 people (18.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 2,115 (54.1%) full-time, 555 (14.2%) part-time, and 57 (1.5%) unemployed.[7]
| Name | Area (km2) | Population | Density (per km2) | Dwellings | Median age | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prestons | 1.45 | 2,322 | 1,601 | 825 | 41.0 years | $54,500[10] |
| Prestons Park | 2.62 | 2,541 | 970 | 969 | 39.5 years | $50,100[11] |
| New Zealand | 38.1 years | $41,500 |
References
- 1 2 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 17 August 2026.
- 1 2 "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ↑ "Christchurch Place Names: N - Z : Prestons" (PDF). Christchurch City Libraries. February 2016. pp. 28–30.
- ↑ Chamberlain, Peter (1 August 2010). "Community Commodified: The Prestons Road Residential Subdivision". Lincoln Planning Review. doi:10.34900/lpr.v2i2.528.
- ↑ Walton, Steven (21 December 2022). "Subdivision residents hemmed in after dispute over tiny stretch of road". Stuff.
- ↑ Watson, Sasha (26 February 2024). "'Congested to hell': Prestons Park finally gets second entrance/exit". Otago Daily Times.
- 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. Prestons (321301) and Prestons Park (321302). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Prestons (321300). 2018 Census place summary: Prestons
- ↑ "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. Prestons. 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. Prestons Park. Retrieved 3 October 2024.