Northwood is a suburb on the northern outskirts of Christchurch city. It was developed in 2000 as a subdivision of Belfast on land previously used for apple orchards. The name "Northwood" was accepted at a meeting of the Shirley-Papanui Community Board on 2 February 2000.
Farmland north-west of what later became Northwood was developed into Peppers Clearwater Resort in 1998.
The Groynes is a large park between Northwood and Clearwater. Styx Mill Conservation Reserve is on the south side of Northwood.
Demographics Northwood, comprising the statistical areas of Northwood and Clearwater, covers . It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.
Northwood had a population of 4,290 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 24 people (0.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 132 people (3.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 2,097 males, 2,178 females, and 12 people of other genders in 1,707 dwellings. 2.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 51.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 573 people (13.4%) aged under 15 years, 636 (14.8%) aged 15 to 29, 1,950 (45.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,125 (26.2%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 81.8% European (Pākehā); 5.1% Māori; 1.2% Pasifika; 15.9% Asian; 1.5% 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 96.6%, Māori by 0.9%, Samoan by 0.1%, and other languages by 15.6%. No language could be spoken by 1.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 24.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 42.5% Christian, 0.8% Hindu, 1.9% Islam, 0.1% Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% Buddhist, 0.1% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.2% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 46.4%, and 6.1% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 993 (26.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,980 (53.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 744 (20.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $44,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 684 people (18.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,767 (47.5%) full-time, 537 (14.4%) part-time, and 51 (1.4%) unemployed.
+Individual statistical areasName Area(km2) Population Density(per km2) Dwellings Median age Medianincome Clearwater 5.77 813 141 342 54.7 years $50,100 Northwood 1.45 3,474 2,396 1,365 49.8 years $43,000 New Zealand 38.1 years $41,500
Northwood Supa Centre
The Northwood Supa Centre shopping complex opened in the 2000s. It covers an area of 33,062 m2 and features 29 retailers, including Burnsco, PandaMart, Spotlight, Repco and Smiths City.
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