# Opawa, Christchurch

3,159 council reports since June 2015, the 46th busiest suburb in the city. 2,593 photographs on record.
1,400 people at the 2023 Census, 1,713 to the square kilometre across 0.8 km².

https://www.chch.live/opawa

## Live source links

Link-outs to the source’s own live pages, chch.live does not copy their live values or source text.

- [Christchurch City Council What’s On](https://www.ccc.govt.nz/news-and-events/whats-on)
- [Christchurch City Libraries events](https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/events/)

## The encyclopaedia on it

Opawa is an inner residential suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is located approximately 3.5 kilometres south-east of the city centre. Prior to European settlement, much of the area consisted of marshlands and mixed-use vegetation. By the 1850s, the area was sparsely populated by settlers and became a dairying locality, with many of the early settlers being farmers and people of English descent. Opawa had little development in its early years as it transitioned into a residential suburb.

Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opawa), a tertiary source
Population: Stats NZ 2023 Census Statistical Area 2 counts summed over the suburb’s own areas, as Wikipedia maps them; the area is measured from the suburb boundary.

## Living here

New bonds here ran at about **$555 a week** in the April–June 2026 quarter, the middle half $448–$655, across 9 bonds, up 11% on a year ago. That’s in line with the city’s own quarter median of $550. Tenancy Services counts these under the “Opawa” statistical area, close to this suburb’s outline, not exactly it.

Median and quartiles of weekly rents on new private bonds (Tenancy Services), new bonds only, not the whole stock.

## 2023 Census snapshot

About 1,401 people and 549 occupied private households, grouped from 9 SA1 areas in Opawa. This exact statistical-area match is close to this suburb’s outline, not exactly it.

- Under 15: about 15% (210 people)
- 65 and over: about 25% (351 people)
- Born overseas: about 24% of stated birthplace
- European ethnicity: about 89% of ethnicity responses
- Māori ethnicity: about 11% of ethnicity responses
- Pacific Peoples ethnicity: about 1% of ethnicity responses
- Asian ethnicity: about 4% of ethnicity responses
- Households with internet: about 81% of stated households
- Households with two or more vehicles: about 46% of stated households

Ethnicity is a multiple-response measure, so those percentages are not meant to add to 100%. Stats NZ uses fixed random rounding to base 3; unavailable or confidential cells are left out, not treated as zero.

[individuals](https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/layer/120766-2023-census-totals-by-topic-for-individuals-by-statistical-area-1-part-1/) · [households](https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/layer/120765-2023-census-totals-by-topic-for-households-by-statistical-area-1/) · [geography](https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/table/111243/) · [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

## As reported (2,593 on record)
- [Canterbury](https://www.chch.live/report/9074522)
- [Ensors Rd](https://www.chch.live/report/9070865)
- [63 Vincent Place, Opawa](https://www.chch.live/report/9056228)
- [46 Ford Road, Opawa](https://www.chch.live/report/9049714)
- [Hansen Park 16A Butler Street, Opawa](https://www.chch.live/report/9042812)
- [132a Opawa Road, Opawa](https://www.chch.live/report/9026637)

[2,593 photographs on the wall](https://www.chch.live/wall?suburb=opawa)

## The suburb, back then (12 in the archive)

*Placed by the record’s locality join or the name in its own title, a lead, not a claim each frame stood here.*
- [Opawa RS 157](https://www.chch.live/then/1870s#p-55412815), 1877 · Canterbury Stories
- [Design for bridge at Opawa for the Heathcote Road Board](https://www.chch.live/then/1880s#p-52085885), 1880 · Canterbury Stories
- [Christchurch, looking towards Opawa](https://www.chch.live/then/1890s#p-43361667), 1891 · Kura Heritage Collections Online
- [A country scene, a railway bridge in Opawa](https://www.chch.live/then/1900s#p-48502606), 1900 · Canterbury Stories
- [OPAWA BRIDGE ACROSS THE HEATHCOTE RIVER. CHRISTCHURCH](https://www.chch.live/then/1900s#p-29961804), 1905 · Kura Heritage Collections Online
- [Painting: Opawa, Christchurch](https://www.chch.live/then/1910s#p-63446947), 1918 · Canterbury Museum
- [St Mark's Church, Opawa, Christchurch](https://www.chch.live/then/1920s#p-30028114), 1920 · Kura Heritage Collections Online
- [St Mark's Church, Opawa, Christchurch](https://www.chch.live/then/1920s#p-30063592), 1920 · Kura Heritage Collections Online
- [Gunner W. A. Cooke, of Opawa, Christchurch, killed in action](https://www.chch.live/then/1940s#p-30097408), 1942 · Kura Heritage Collections Online
- [Lance-Bombardier W. B. Moulin, of Opawa, Christchurch, died of wounds](https://www.chch.live/then/1940s#p-30099119), 1942 · Kura Heritage Collections Online

[…and 2 more across the archive](https://www.chch.live/then)

## The record on Opawa
- Opawa enters the written record in 11 October 1854, [“Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 11 October 1854)”](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18541011.2.9.1), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past).
- “Opawa” appears somewhere in 1,875 of the archive’s records.
- A Papers Past search for the name surfaced 32 records, leads by provenance.
- The first report here: rubbish/recycling, 10 June 2015, at 1 Louisson Pl.
- Its busiest day was 25 October 2017, 17 reports in a single day.
- The street that keeps coming up is [Opawa Road](https://www.chch.live/street/opawa/opawa-road), reported on 258 separate days.
- For elections the suburb’s centre falls inside [Heathcote ward](https://www.chch.live/wards/heathcote), the [Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote community board](https://www.chch.live/boards/spreydon-cashmere-heathcote) is its local layer. The whole roll is at [/wards](https://www.chch.live/wards).
- On foot: [The named houses](https://www.chch.live/walks/opawa-named-houses), a heritage walk over this ground.

## How fast the council fixes things here (4,344 finished jobs on record)

The median council work order pinned in Opawa took **3 days** to resolve, about the city-wide median (3 days).
The slowest tenth of finished jobs waited 10 weeks or longer.
84 tickets are open here now, the oldest was filed 10 September 2020.

Work orders, not resident reports, the council’s MyCouncilTicket stream, and one job can appear in both. A median counts only finished jobs; open ones are named as open, never averaged in. [The ticket roll](https://www.chch.live/fixed) · [the whole city’s fix times](https://www.chch.live/trends#fix).

## Alcohol rules on this ground

3 sensitive sites stand here, Rudolf Steiner School, St Marks School, Te Kura o Ōpāwaho – Opawa School, and the Local Alcohol Policy restricts new off-licences within 200 m of them.

The council’s bylaw zones and the Local Alcohol Policy’s buffer list. A ban rules drinking in public places; it says nothing about whether a premises may sell, that is the licence register’s job.

## Lately
- [Graffiti on a fence, building or structure](https://www.chch.live/report/9080608), 12 Oct 2026 · Canterbury, “Graffetti on metal box .. by RisingHolme Park walkway entrance on Cholmondeley Ave number 22..”
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/report/9074522), 12 Oct 2026 · Canterbury, “Dumped rubbish”
- [Graffiti on a traffic light pole or cabinet, or wa](https://www.chch.live/report/9070865), 11 Oct 2026 · Ensors Rd
- [Graffiti on a fence, building or structure](https://www.chch.live/report/9056228), 8 Oct 2026 · 63 Vincent Place, “Graffiti ( black x 2) between 2 bridges, Richardson Terrace Woolston.Thanks. Please notify me when this SSS is…”
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/report/9049714), 7 Oct 2026 · 46 Ford Road, “A tyre has been on the banks of the Heathcote River between Louisson Place and the river in behind trees and foliage…”
- [Graffiti on a fence, building or structure](https://www.chch.live/report/9042812), 6 Oct 2026 · Hansen Park 16A Butler Street, “Graffiti.”
- [Street Gutters / Storm Water](https://www.chch.live/report/9026637), 4 Oct 2026 · 132a Opawa Road, “Blocked gutters”
- [Street Gutters / Storm Water](https://www.chch.live/report/9026619), 4 Oct 2026 · 131 Hawford Road, “Blocked gutter at the entrance of the car park”
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/report/9026615), 4 Oct 2026 · 267–273 Fifield Tce, “Small backpack filled with glass and other rubbish dumped beside the river”
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/report/9026539), 4 Oct 2026 · 192 Richardson Tce, “Dumping”
- [Water Leak](https://www.chch.live/report/9024736), 3 Oct 2026 · 247 Fifield Tce, “Yellow Mains tap appears to be leaking”
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/report/9023054), 3 Oct 2026 · 188 Richardson Terrace, “dumped”

## Reports per year
- 2015, 21
- 2016, 89
- 2017, 125
- 2018, 159
- 2019, 306
- 2020, 297
- 2021, 248
- 2022, 321
- 2023, 409
- 2024, 429
- 2025, 436

## What gets reported
- [Graffiti & vandalism](https://www.chch.live/problems/graffiti), 1,117
- Trees & parks, 715
- Rubbish & dumping, 468
- Water & drains, 368
- Roads & footpaths, 342
- Everything else, 63
- Vehicles & parking, 61
- [Animals & pests](https://www.chch.live/problems/animals-pests), 20

## Exactly what people say
- [Graffiti](https://www.chch.live/problems/graffiti), 828
- [Parks](https://www.chch.live/problems/parks-maintenance), 288
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/problems/dumped-rubbish), 267
- [Water Leak](https://www.chch.live/problems/water-leaks), 180
- [Roading/Streets](https://www.chch.live/problems/road-damage), 166
- [Rubbish/Recycling](https://www.chch.live/problems/bins-recycling), 140
- [Fallen Tree](https://www.chch.live/problems/trees), 107
- [Overgrown Vegetation](https://www.chch.live/problems/overgrown-vegetation), 106

## On the heritage register (7)
- [9 Ford Road](https://www.chch.live/place/532), 9 Ford Road
- [Dwelling and Setting, Cardowan](https://www.chch.live/place/167), 64 Opawa Road
- [Dwelling and Setting, Fifield](https://www.chch.live/place/286), 14 Hawford Road
- [Dwelling and Setting, Former Calimo](https://www.chch.live/place/166), 44 Opawa Road
- [Dwelling and Setting, Roxburghe](https://www.chch.live/place/165), 41D Opawa Road
- [Dwelling and Setting, The Hollies](https://www.chch.live/place/197), 188 Richardson Terrace
- [Former Dwelling and Setting, Risingholme](https://www.chch.live/place/37), 22 Cholmondeley Avenue

The register’s own page for the area: [Opawa on the heritage register](https://www.chch.live/history/opawa)

On foot: [The named houses](https://www.chch.live/walks/opawa-named-houses), heritage walk over this ground.

## The streets that keep coming up
- [Opawa Road](https://www.chch.live/street/opawa/opawa-road), reported on 258 separate days
- [Ombersley Terrace](https://www.chch.live/street/opawa/ombersley-terrace), reported on 213 separate days
- [Richardson Terrace](https://www.chch.live/street/opawa/richardson-terrace), reported on 199 separate days
- [Ford Road](https://www.chch.live/street/opawa/ford-road), reported on 169 separate days
- [Fifield Terrace](https://www.chch.live/street/opawa/fifield-terrace), reported on 144 separate days
- [Butler Street](https://www.chch.live/street/opawa/butler-street), reported on 139 separate days
- [Vincent Place](https://www.chch.live/street/opawa/vincent-place), reported on 119 separate days
- [Hawford Road](https://www.chch.live/street/opawa/hawford-road), reported on 119 separate days

## Schools (3)
- [Rudolf Steiner School (Chch)](https://www.chch.live/school/419-rudolf-steiner-school-chch), Composite · decile 8 · EQI 410
- [St Mark's School (Christchurch)](https://www.chch.live/school/4135-st-mark-s-school-christchurch), Full Primary · decile 10 · EQI 398
- [Te Kura o Ōpāwaho – Opawa School](https://www.chch.live/school/3455-te-kura-o-opawaho-opawa-school), Full Primary · decile 4 · EQI 463

Decile and Equity Index describe the community a school draws from, never how well it teaches.

Zoned for [Christchurch Adventist School](https://www.chch.live/school/317-christchurch-adventist-school) · [Hillview Christian School](https://www.chch.live/school/341-hillview-christian-school) · [Marian College](https://www.chch.live/school/343-marian-college) · [Middleton Grange School](https://www.chch.live/school/335-middleton-grange-school) · [St Thomas of Canterbury College](https://www.chch.live/school/331-st-thomas-of-canterbury-college) · [Te Aratai College](https://www.chch.live/school/337-te-aratai-college) · and 7 more zones, the drawn zone is indicative; the Ministry’s written scheme is the legal boundary.

## The green here (4)
- [Hansen Park](https://www.chch.live/park/1809-hansen-park), Sports ground · 12 ha · playground, 63 pieces
- [Risingholme Park](https://www.chch.live/park/1675-risingholme-park), Botanic · 2 ha · playground, 10 pieces
- [Heathcote Riverbank Reserve](https://www.chch.live/park/1733-heathcote-riverbank-reserve)
- [Fifield Reserve](https://www.chch.live/park/1497-fifield-reserve)

A park lands in the suburb its centre falls inside, a centroid call, not a containment claim.

## Where the suburb worships (1)
- [Saint Mark's](https://www.chch.live/worship/saint-mark-s), an Anglican church · 101 Opawa Road

The whole roll is at [/worship](https://www.chch.live/worship).

## The tracks through here (12)
- [Walk and bike track through Opawa](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-562-waltham), 3.5 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Opawa](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-40-opawa), 1.4 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Opawa](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-49-opawa), 797 m · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Opawa](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-61-opawa), 757 m · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Opawa](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-44-opawa), 610 m · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Opawa](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-585-opawa), 485 m · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Opawa](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-46-opawa), 326 m · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Opawa](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-78-opawa), 266 m · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Opawa](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-53-opawa), 253 m · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Opawa](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-41-opawa), 132 m · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Opawa](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-79-hillsborough), 126 m · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Opawa](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-75-opawa), 58 m · walk · bike

A track belongs to every suburb its line passes through.

## The ground that moved
The February 2011 survey drew mapped ground failure over 38.6% of this outline, about 32 hectares. A patch is a footprint, not a finding about an address; the count for the whole city is at [liquefaction](https://www.chch.live/liquefaction).
The 2011 grading filed 104.2% of this outline, about 85 hectares, mostly **TC3**, with TC3 79 ha · TC2 7 ha. A category is a verdict for a patch of ground, not a finding about an address; the grades are at [technical-categories](https://www.chch.live/technical-categories).
The flood record drew water over 26.3% of this outline, about 22 hectares, across 4 named events. A patch is one event’s observation, not a live hazard finding; the record is at [floods](https://www.chch.live/floods).
The plan’s schedule of sites significant to Ngāi Tahu covers **3%** of this outline, ngā wai. Shares read from a sampled join; a recognition overlay, not a catalogue. The whole schedule: [cultural](https://www.chch.live/cultural).
The plan’s ecological schedules cover **4%** of this outline across **1** scheduled site, all of it protected under Schedule A. Shares read from a sampled join; a recognition overlay, not a survey. The whole ledger: [ecology](https://www.chch.live/ecology).
The plan’s landscape schedules cover **3%** of this outline across **1** scheduled area. Shares read from a sampled join; a protection overlay, not a ranking of views. The kept view: [landscape](https://www.chch.live/landscape).
The plan’s flood map draws **2%** of this outline inside **high flood hazard** ground across **2** mapped areas. The broader flood-management watch covers **19%** of it, Heathcote River. Shares read from a sampled join; a model’s map, not a promise. The waiting water: [flood-hazard](https://www.chch.live/flood-hazard).
The plan’s water-margin layers cross this outline, **18** classified reaches, the plan calling **Jacksons Creek Lower** and **Heathcote / Opawaho River**
           by name, **18%** of it inside the setback strips, the widest holding **30 m** off the bank, and an esplanade line holds a public edge here. The margin is the plan’s drawing, not a survey of the bank. The drawn water: [water-margin](https://www.chch.live/water-margin).
The plan’s allowed shape holds this outline, **4%** of it inside the residential overlays, the densest standing **Suburban Density Transition**. The shape is the plan’s permission, not a survey of what stands. The allowed shape: [density](https://www.chch.live/density).
The rebuild’s cameras filed **954** photographs on this ground, 2010–2016, wastewater work mostly. Each frame is a receipt the dig left behind, a work log, not a survey of what stands now. The whole record: [rebuild](https://www.chch.live/rebuild).
The pedal network threads this ground, **19.8 km** of cycleway crosses the outline, [Ōpāwaho River](https://www.chch.live/cycleway/opawaho-river). A segment counts under every suburb its path enters; the whole network: [cycleways](https://www.chch.live/cycleways).
The remembered names stand on this ground, **8** inscribed plaques, [Risingholme Park](https://www.chch.live/plaque/41715-risingholme-park), [Hansen Park](https://www.chch.live/plaque/35342-hansen-park) among the grounds. The plaque is the register’s pin, not a surveyed spot; the whole roll: [plaques](https://www.chch.live/plaques).
The rulebook binds this ground, **5** drawn instruments, 5 bottle-store buffers; the outline sits inside the takiwā of Te Ngai Tuahuriri Runanga. The bylaw is the instrument, this the map of it, the rulebook: [rules](https://www.chch.live/rules).
**2** parcels inside this outline sit on the hazardous-activities register, mostly cemeteries and waste recycling, treatment and disposal, 1 still doing the work. A listing records the work, not a soil test; the register is at [hazards](https://www.chch.live/hazards).
The files record **55** parcels of made or characterised ground inside this outline, about 16 hectares, mostly mixed fill with rubbish, sand, topsoil, 11 carry fill the file can’t vouch for. A record is the file’s word on what was laid, not a fresh survey; the layer is at [fill](https://www.chch.live/fill).
**2** parcels inside this outline carry a cleanup on the file, 1 marked verified. A cleanup on the file is the register’s word, not a clearance; the register is at [remediated](https://www.chch.live/remediated).
The 2019 liquefaction study put **52%** of this outline in the **high** class, and 9 assessed areas here carry the free-face flag for possible lateral spreading. A class is the model’s verdict on a patch of ground, not a finding about an address; the study is at [vulnerability](https://www.chch.live/vulnerability).
The council’s structure register stands **26** assets on this ground, 11 ramps, 10 sets of steps, 4 bridges, 1 jetty, sited at Hansen Park, Risingholme Park, Opawa Public Library, Heathcote Riverbank Reserve. Site names are the register’s own labels; the layer is drawn on [the map](https://www.chch.live/map?layer=structures).
The recreation register keeps **16** records inside this outline, bookable surfaces for 4 football, 3 shotput, 2 long jump, 2 rugby. Seasons and surfaces are the register’s record, not this week’s draw; the layer is drawn on [the map](https://www.chch.live/map?layer=recreation).
The register counts **1201** living trees inside this outline, **25** veterans among them, 1 carrying a protection, mostly Cabbage tree, Ribbonwood, Pin Oak. The file remembers **541** trees felled here. A tree record is the register’s word on what stands or stood; the canopy is at [trees](https://www.chch.live/trees).
The plan files **52%** of this outline under **Residential Suburban**, **55%** residential, the rest mostly Transport 18%, Open Space Community Parks 14%. A zone is a permission, not a description, the mix is a sampled read of the plan’s polygons; the district’s zoning is at [zones](https://www.chch.live/zones).
The plan reserves about **7 hectares** of this outline, **8%** , under 3 designations, mostly learning, movement. A designation is a claim on the ground, not a build date, the mix is a sampled read; the register is at [designations](https://www.chch.live/designations).
The plan’s heritage schedule protects **4** places by name in this suburb, **1** graded highly significant, **Former Dwelling and Setting, Risingholme**, **9 Ford Road**, **Dwelling and Setting, Fifield** among them. A setting is the ground the item stands in, each files under the suburb holding its centroid. The schedule is at [heritage](https://www.chch.live/heritage).
GeoNet’s catalogue puts 1 magnitude-3+ epicentre inside this outline since the sequence opened, the biggest a M3.3 in 2010. An epicentre is where the instruments placed the break, not a measure of the shaking here; the whole catalogue is counted at [sequence](https://www.chch.live/sequence), and the story in plain language is [the earthquakes explainer](https://www.chch.live/how-nz-works/canterbury-earthquakes).

## The names on this ground (4)
- [Hansen Park](https://www.chch.live/landfills), old dump · 1936–1955
- [Recorded dump 483](https://www.chch.live/landfills), old dump
- [Jacksons Creek](https://www.chch.live/river/jacksons-creek), waterway · 4.1 km
- [Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River](https://www.chch.live/river/opawaho-heathcote-river), waterway · 30.7 km

The named waterways, bays, headlands, monuments, summits and old sites OpenStreetMap puts inside this outline, a pin is the mapper’s own; a waterway belongs to every suburb it crosses. Every roll, counted: [geography](https://www.chch.live/geography).

## Documents that name it

*These are leads, not verified claims, search ties, not read sources.*
- [Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 11 October 1854)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18541011.2.9.1), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1854-10-11T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 9 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 February 1858)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18580210.2.20.3), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1858-02-10T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 01 March 1862)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18620301.2.31.1), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1862-03-01T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 12 March 1862)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18620312.2.21.1), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1862-03-12T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 22 March 1862)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18620322.2.33.1), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1862-03-22T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 29 March 1862)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18620329.2.24.1), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1862-03-29T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 02 April 1862)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18620402.2.25.2), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1862-04-02T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 05 April 1862)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18620405.2.17.2), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1862-04-05T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 09 April 1862)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18620409.2.7.3), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1862-04-09T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 12 April 1862)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18620412.2.3.3), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1862-04-12T00:00:00.000Z

## The wire on Opawa
- [Golden-brown Jumping Spider seen — Opawa, Christchurch 8023, New Zealand](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/407985523), iNaturalist · holly_fletcher, 13 Oct 2026
- [Here are four of my more notable observations from my weekly biodiversity run about Ōtautahi-Christchurch city, NZ, yesterday. The steel blue ladybirds are back. These are Australians that have been…](https://mastodon.nz/@joncounts/117419342088453757), Fediverse · Jon Sullivan, 11 Oct 2026
- [Thistle Tortoise Beetle seen — Opawa, Christchurch 8023, New Zealand](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/406509940), iNaturalist · kylie81712, 7 Oct 2026
- [OPINION: Sprawling from Redwood to Opawa and Spreydon to Phillipstown, boundary changes have reshaped the electorate of Christchurch Central. It is anything but central now, rather a cross-shaped…](https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/361092380/compelling-contest-looms-reshaped-central-electorate), The Press · Mike Yardley, 6 Oct 2026
- [Australian Leafroller Tachinid seen — Opawa, Opawa, Christchurch 8023, New Zealand](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/405695325), iNaturalist · dwgryphon, 4 Oct 2026

[The whole wire](https://www.chch.live/wire)

## The crash record (29 injury crashes)

29 crashes that hurt somebody on record inside the suburb’s outline, 1 person killed, 8 seriously hurt.

The corner that keeps appearing: [Opawa Road at Ensors Road](https://www.chch.live/crashes/ensors-road-and-opawa-road), 7 injury crashes.

- [Every crash it holds](https://www.chch.live/crashes?suburb=opawa)
- [The city’s whole record](https://www.chch.live/crashes)

## The crime record (346 recorded victimisations)

346 victimisations on the NZ Police record inside the suburb’s outline, September 2022–August 2026, mostly burglary, about 62 a year per 1,000 residents. Reported is not all, how much never reaches the record depends on the offence.

- [The suburb on the crime map](https://www.chch.live/crime?grain=suburb&area=opawa)
- [The city’s whole record](https://www.chch.live/crime)

## The buses through it (7 stops)

7 Metro stops inside the suburb’s outline, in ECan’s stop record, served by [route 8](https://www.chch.live/buses/8), [the Orbiter (anticlockwise)](https://www.chch.live/buses/oa), [the Orbiter (clockwise)](https://www.chch.live/buses/oc).
- Ensors Rd
- Ensors Rd
- Opawa
- Opawa Rd near Cholmondeley Ave
- Opawa Rd near Ensors Rd
- Opawa Rd near Hawford Rd
- Opawa Rd near Locarno St

- [Every route in the record](https://www.chch.live/buses)

## Businesses here (22 in the directory)

From OpenStreetMap, the council’s licensed-premises register and its 2024 Find Christchurch directory, each kind opens at this suburb’s shelf.

- [Cafés](https://www.chch.live/businesses/cafe#in-opawa), 3
- [Restaurants](https://www.chch.live/businesses/restaurant#in-opawa), 3
- [Dairies & convenience](https://www.chch.live/businesses/dairy#in-opawa), 2
- [Doctors & clinics](https://www.chch.live/businesses/doctor#in-opawa), 2
- [Fast food](https://www.chch.live/businesses/fast-food#in-opawa), 2
- [Sports centres](https://www.chch.live/businesses/sports-centre#in-opawa), 2
- [Bike shops](https://www.chch.live/businesses/bike-shop#in-opawa), 1
- [Clothing](https://www.chch.live/businesses/clothes#in-opawa), 1
- [Delis](https://www.chch.live/businesses/deli#in-opawa), 1
- [Hairdressers](https://www.chch.live/businesses/hairdresser#in-opawa), 1
- [Handicraft](https://www.chch.live/businesses/craft-handicraft#in-opawa), 1
- [Ice cream](https://www.chch.live/businesses/ice-cream#in-opawa), 1
- [Podiatrists](https://www.chch.live/businesses/podiatrist#in-opawa), 1
- [Vets](https://www.chch.live/businesses/vet#in-opawa), 1

The ones the record says most about:

- [Magic Masala](https://www.chch.live/business/magic-masala-opawa), Restaurants
- [Gelato Lab](https://www.chch.live/business/gelato-lab-opawa), Ice cream
- [Kowhai Vet](https://www.chch.live/business/kowhai-vet-opawa), Vets
- [Love Me Again Vintage](https://www.chch.live/business/love-me-again-vintage-opawa), Clothing

- [The whole directory](https://www.chch.live/businesses)

## Next door
- [Saint Martins](https://www.chch.live/saint-martins)
- [Hillsborough](https://www.chch.live/hillsborough)
- [Waltham](https://www.chch.live/waltham)
- [Woolston](https://www.chch.live/woolston)
- [Huntsbury](https://www.chch.live/huntsbury)
- [Beckenham](https://www.chch.live/beckenham)

[Compare](https://www.chch.live/compare) Opawa with [Saint Martins](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=opawa&b=saint-martins) · [Hillsborough](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=hillsborough&b=opawa) · [Waltham](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=opawa&b=waltham) · [Woolston](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=opawa&b=woolston) · [Huntsbury](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=huntsbury&b=opawa) · [Beckenham](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=beckenham&b=opawa), same record, side by side.

## Questions, answered briefly

**What is Opawa?**

Opawa is an inner residential suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. The public record holds 3,159 council reports for it, the first filed in June 2015.

**How many people live in Opawa?**

1,400 people at the 2023 Census, 1,713 per square kilometre across 0.8 km².

**How many people does the 2023 Census count for Opawa?**

About 1,401 people and 549 occupied private households: grouped from Stats NZ SA1 areas through this site’s suburb join. Indicative, not a LIM.

**What gets reported in Opawa?**

3,159 reports on record, most often graffiti & vandalism (1,117), trees & parks (715), rubbish & dumping (468). 396 of them in the year to 14 October 2026.

**How many crashes has Opawa had?**

29 injury crashes on the police record inside the suburb’s outline, 1 person killed, 8 seriously hurt. [The suburb’s crashes, mapped →](https://www.chch.live/crashes?suburb=opawa)

**What schools are in Opawa?**

3 schools in the Ministry’s directory, Rudolf Steiner School (Chch), St Mark's School (Christchurch), Te Kura o Ōpāwaho – Opawa School.

Data: https://api.chch.live/suburb?name=Opawa · Reports: https://api.chch.live/reports.rss?suburb=Opawa