Heathcote Valley is a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is named after Sir William Heathcote, who was secretary of the Canterbury Association.
Location Heathcote is southeast of the city centre. It is site of the lower terminus of the Christchurch Gondola, which goes up to the top of Mount Cavendish on the Port Hills.
History In the past Heathcote was known for its orchards, brickworks and maltworks. The distinctive towers of the Canterbury Malting Company's maltworks dominated the skyline until 2012 when it was demolished to make way for residential developments.https://canterbury.cyberplace.co.nz/community/CAFCA/cafca00/Jul00.html Background reading on the company closure
Demographics Heathcote Valley covers . It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.
Heathcote Valley had a population of 2,379 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 150 people (6.7%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 261 people (12.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,131 males, 1,239 females, and 12 people of other genders in 1,008 dwellings. 3.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 47.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 354 people (14.9%) aged under 15 years, 345 (14.5%) aged 15 to 29, 1,107 (46.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 573 (24.1%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 93.2% European (Pākehā); 8.7% Māori; 1.4% Pasifika; 3.8% Asian; 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.9%, Māori by 2.4%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 8.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 22.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 28.2% Christian, 0.5% Hindu, 0.4% Islam, 0.5% Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% Buddhist, 0.8% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 60.9%, and 6.6% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 600 (29.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,044 (51.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 387 (19.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $40,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 246 people (12.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 954 (47.1%) full-time, 324 (16.0%) part-time, and 33 (1.6%) unemployed.
Education Heathcote Valley School () is a full primary school catering for years 1 to 8. It had a roll of The school started in a private house in 1860 and the first classroom opened in 1861.
Notable residents Wally Argus – New Zealand rugby international who bought a market garden in Heathcote Valley in 1949 Bob Parker – former mayor of Christchurch was brought up here
Further reading In The Shadow Of The Rock, 150 Years of Heathcote Valley, 2010, Paul Corliss
References
External links Christchurch City Libraries: Gimblett Collection historic photographs of Heathcote Valley Official site of the Christchurch Gondola