Amberley, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Amberley is a town located in the Hurunui District
of north Canterbury, on the east coast of the South Island
of New Zealand
. It is located on State Highway 1
approximately 50 km north of Christchurch
. It is the seat of the Hurunui District
Council.
, the population of Amberley was 1302, an increase of almost 15% in the previous 5 years. Just under 30% of the population was aged over 65, significantly higher than the national average. In addition, more than 2,300 people lived in the rural areas serviced by the town or in adjacent villages such as Waipara
and Leithfield
. Ethnically, it has one of the lowest concentrations of non-European populations in New Zealand, with local council staff admitting the locals could identify the identities of all Maori and Asians recorded. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=252&objectid=10455860
Broomfield Primary School (about five minutes drive north-west of Amberley township) has a memorial to Rewi Alley
who attended there. There is a statue in memory of Charles Upham
just outside the council building. Upham farmed in the Cheviot
area.
Nearby the statue sit three limestone carvings, labelled The Grandmothers, which celebrate the ancient Waitahe people. Carved by Sculptor Warren Thompson, the statues were unveiled in May 2003 by the Rt. Hon. Helen Clark
, Prime Minister of New Zealand
.
Hurunui District
The Hurunui District is a political district on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island, north of Christchurch, New Zealand. It forms part of the Canterbury region and stretches from the east coast to the main divide. Its land area is ....
of north Canterbury, on the east coast of the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It is located on State Highway 1
New Zealand State Highway network
The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
approximately 50 km north of Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
. It is the seat of the Hurunui District
Hurunui District
The Hurunui District is a political district on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island, north of Christchurch, New Zealand. It forms part of the Canterbury region and stretches from the east coast to the main divide. Its land area is ....
Council.
Population
At the time of the 2006 New Zealand census of population and dwellingsNew Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings
The New Zealand government department Statistics New Zealand conducts a census of population and dwellings every five years. The census scheduled for 2011 was cancelled due to circumstances surrounding the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, however, and legislation introduced to hold the next...
, the population of Amberley was 1302, an increase of almost 15% in the previous 5 years. Just under 30% of the population was aged over 65, significantly higher than the national average. In addition, more than 2,300 people lived in the rural areas serviced by the town or in adjacent villages such as Waipara
Waipara
Waipara is a small town in north Canterbury, on the banks of the Waipara River.It is at the junction of State Highways 1 and 7 60 kilometres north of Christchurch...
and Leithfield
Leithfield
Leithfield is a small town in north Canterbury, New Zealand. It is on State Highway 1, five kilometres south of Amberley and 42 kilometres north of Christchurch...
. Ethnically, it has one of the lowest concentrations of non-European populations in New Zealand, with local council staff admitting the locals could identify the identities of all Maori and Asians recorded. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=252&objectid=10455860
Local Information
Amberley is the seat of the Hurunui District Council and the service centre for a district of arable and sheep farming. Once a year, the local A&P (Agricultural and Pastoral) show is held, usually mid-Spring.Broomfield Primary School (about five minutes drive north-west of Amberley township) has a memorial to Rewi Alley
Rewi Alley
Rewi Alley, 路易•艾黎, Lùyì Àilí, QSO, , was a New Zealand-born writer, educator, social reformer, potter, and member of the Communist Party of China....
who attended there. There is a statue in memory of Charles Upham
Charles Upham
Captain Charles Hazlitt Upham VC and Bar was a New Zealand soldier who earned the Victoria Cross twice during the Second World War: in Crete in May 1941, and at Ruweisat Ridge, Egypt, in July 1942...
just outside the council building. Upham farmed in the Cheviot
Cheviot, New Zealand
Cheviot is a town in the Hurunui District of north Canterbury, on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is on the Main North Line railway and State Highway 1 approximately north of Christchurch. It was originally called Mackenzie after politician John McKenzie, who was closely...
area.
Nearby the statue sit three limestone carvings, labelled The Grandmothers, which celebrate the ancient Waitahe people. Carved by Sculptor Warren Thompson, the statues were unveiled in May 2003 by the Rt. Hon. Helen Clark
Helen Clark
Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...
, Prime Minister of New Zealand
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
.