Introducing
Selwyn District
Introduction
About Selwyn
Selwyn is a predominantly rural district in central Canterbury, in New Zealand’s South Island. It covers an area of 6,420 square kilometres, to the west of the South Island’s largest city, Christchurch. The district stretches from Lake Ellesmere in the south east to Arthur’s Pass in the west.
Population and people
The population of Selwyn (at 30 June 2020) is 69,700 – making it the third-largest local authority area in the South Island by population.
From 2010 to 2020 Selwyn was the second-fastest growing district in New Zealand, with average annual growth of 5.4%. The district’s population had been growing before 2010, but increased rapidly following the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquakes, which saw many Christchurch residents relocating to nearby districts. More recently, growth has been driven by younger families moving from Christchurch and other parts of New Zealand, attracted by the affordability of land and housing.
Selwyn’s population is projected to grow to 90,000 by 2031.
Around 70% of Selwyn’s population lives in local townships and settlements. The largest townships are:
- Rolleston (pop. approx. 20,000)
- Lincoln (8,000)
- Prebbleton (5,000)
- Darfield (3,600)
- Leeston (2,600)
- West Melton (2,300).
Selwyn generally has a younger population than other parts of New Zealand and is the third-youngest territorial authority in the country. The district has a large percentage of people aged under 14 and between 40 and 50.
Ethnicity – Selwyn’s population is predominantly European (2018: 89%) but with increasing diversity in recent years including Maori (7.9%), Pacific peoples (1.7%) and Asian (6.4%).
Economy
Selwyn is one of New Zealand’s fast-growing economies, with growth consistently above national averages. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the 10 years to 2019 was the highest in New Zealand, at an average of 6.5% per year.
Major contributors to the district’s economic activity and employment include
- Agriculture (17.6% GDP)
- Manufacturing (12.6%)
- Construction (8.1%).
Dairy processing companies Fonterra, Synlait and Westland Milk have processing facilities in Selwyn.
A major irrigation scheme, Central Plains Water Ltd, operates across much of the district increasing the productive capacity of the area’s farms.
The district has around 6,800 businesses, providing 22,500 jobs. Unemployment in Selwyn is traditionally low, and well below New Zealand averages.
Selwyn District Council has developed the Izone Southern Business Hub – a 2000 hectare business park which includes more than 70 businesses, including a major freight and logistics hub with proximity to road and rail links.
Education
The district is well served by education facilities including four secondary schools, 29 primary or intermediate schools and a university.
Recent population growth has resulted in substantial government investment in new schools across the district.
Lincoln University is a major tertiary institution and centre for primary industry research, and contributor to local economy.
Where is Selwyn?
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A Snapshot of the History of Selwyn
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The Culture of Selwyn
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The History of the Sister City - Shandon
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Sister City Activities
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Selwyn Opportunities
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