# Somerfield, Christchurch

6,997 council reports since June 2015, the 18th busiest suburb in the city. 5,649 photographs on record.
7,080 people at the 2023 Census, 2,857 to the square kilometre across 2.5 km².

https://www.chch.live/somerfield

## 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/)
- [CCC mountain-bike track status](https://ccc.govt.nz/transport/getting-around/cycling/find-a-ride/trackstatus)
- [Christchurch Adventure Park trail information](https://christchurchadventurepark.com/trail-information)

## The encyclopaedia on it

Somerfield is a suburb in the south of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is nominally bordered by the Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River to the south and west, Strickland and Colombo Streets to the east, and Milton Street to the north. The suburb includes Somerfield School, Somerfield Park and a small number of shops which service the local area, although it is predominantly residential. Somerfield is also known for its wide variety of trees, especially along the banks of the Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River.

Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerfield%2C_New_Zealand), 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 **$567 a week** in the April–June 2026 quarter, the middle half $515–$661, across 69 bonds, flat on a year ago. That’s about **$17 a week above** the city’s own quarter median of $550. Tenancy Services counts these under the Somerfield East and Somerfield West areas combined, approximately this suburb.
- 1-bedroom house, $554 a week · 24 new bonds
- 2-bedroom house, $560 a week · 12 new bonds
- 3-bedroom house, $735 a week · 6 new bonds

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

## 2023 Census snapshot

About 6,813 people and 2,664 occupied private households, grouped from 47 SA1 areas in Somerfield West, Somerfield East. Several statistical areas are combined here, so this is a grouped proxy rather than a count for one suburb boundary.

- Under 15: about 19% (1,278 people)
- 65 and over: about 18% (1,254 people)
- Born overseas: about 22% of stated birthplace
- European ethnicity: about 88% of ethnicity responses
- Māori ethnicity: about 9% of ethnicity responses
- Pacific Peoples ethnicity: about 2% of ethnicity responses
- Asian ethnicity: about 7% of ethnicity responses
- Households with internet: about 85% of stated households
- Households with two or more vehicles: about 49% 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 (5,649 on record)
- [81 Roberta Dr](https://www.chch.live/report/9072449)
- [188 Barrington Street, Somerfield](https://www.chch.live/report/9068357)
- [93 Ashgrove Tce](https://www.chch.live/report/9066988)
- [295 Ashgrove Terrace, Somerfield](https://www.chch.live/report/9066231)
- [Somerfield Reserve 53 Studholme Street, Somerfield](https://www.chch.live/report/9063835)
- [249 Ashgrove Terrace, Somerfield](https://www.chch.live/report/9062425)

[5,649 photographs on the wall](https://www.chch.live/wall?suburb=somerfield)

## The suburb, back then (2 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.*
- [Upper-storey room exposed by demolition](https://www.chch.live/then/2010s#p-64857689), 2011 · Canterbury Stories
- [Area around Columbo and Somerfield Streets, Christchurch](https://www.chch.live/then/1970s#p-22685607), 1972 · TAPUHI

## The record on Somerfield
- Somerfield enters the written record in 17 May 1851, [“Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1851)”](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18510517.2.2.3), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past).
- “Somerfield” appears somewhere in 256 of the archive’s records.
- A Papers Past search for the name surfaced 30 records, leads by provenance.
- The first report here: water supply, 8 June 2015, at 18 Young St.
- Its busiest day was 2 October 2016, 39 reports in a single day.
- The street that keeps coming up is [Ashgrove Terrace](https://www.chch.live/street/somerfield/ashgrove-terrace), reported on 408 separate days.
- For elections the suburb’s centre falls inside [Cashmere ward](https://www.chch.live/wards/cashmere), 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).

## How fast the council fixes things here (10,190 finished jobs on record)

The median council work order pinned in Somerfield took **4 days** to resolve, the city-wide median is 3 days, so this ground runs slower than the city as a whole.
The slowest tenth of finished jobs waited 9 weeks or longer.
232 tickets are open here now, the oldest was filed 27 February 2019.

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

**South Colombo**, a public drinking ban (at all times, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week), covers about 16% of Somerfield.
3 sensitive sites stand here, Cashmere High School, Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Whanau Tahi, 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
- [Water Leak](https://www.chch.live/report/9072449), 11 Oct 2026 · 81 Roberta Dr, “The water meter on street at my house (#79) has been leaking for over two weeks with a small puddle there all the time.”
- [Water General](https://www.chch.live/report/9068357), 10 Oct 2026 · 188 Barrington Street, “lid is loose, lifts if you step on it”
- [Water Leak](https://www.chch.live/report/9066988), 10 Oct 2026 · 93 Ashgrove Tce, “Water meter valve leak and over flowing”
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/report/9066231), 10 Oct 2026 · 295 Ashgrove Terrace, “Household rubbish has been dumped by the river and some is in the river”
- [Public Toilet](https://www.chch.live/report/9063835), 9 Oct 2026 · Somerfield Reserve 53 Studholme Street, “sommerfield Park men's toilet has been flooded someone has blocked the toilet intentionally”
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/report/9062425), 9 Oct 2026 · 249 Ashgrove Terrace, “Dumped rubbish in reserve needs removal. walk over bridge,turn right, walk 20 m and you will sed it.”
- [Road Signage](https://www.chch.live/report/9060839), 9 Oct 2026 · 27 Sparks Road, “cycle lane direction sign is in the Heathcote River by Sparks Road bridge”
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/report/9060333), 9 Oct 2026 · Ashgrove Reserve 35 Ashgrove Terrace, “rubbish by concrete structure”
- [Water Fountain](https://www.chch.live/report/9055419), 8 Oct 2026 · 59 Studholme St, “Water fountain set up leads to a mud puddle at this entrance. Can we install some form of drainage or soak pit or I’m…”
- [Damaged Street Sign](https://www.chch.live/report/9053287), 8 Oct 2026 · 37 Sparks Road, “cycle path sign in river. idiots in the community. needs reattaching somewhere.”
- [Poles and Signage - General](https://www.chch.live/report/9052299), 8 Oct 2026 · CJM7+5X, “bus stop in the field”
- [Damaged Street Sign](https://www.chch.live/report/9044858), 6 Oct 2026 · 5 Barrington St, “Someone has crashed into the road sign (around 8:30pm) on the median island at the intersection of Ashgrove Terrace and…”

## Reports per year
- 2015, 60
- 2016, 154
- 2017, 255
- 2018, 340
- 2019, 728
- 2020, 426
- 2021, 559
- 2022, 694
- 2023, 985
- 2024, 1,127
- 2025, 930

## What gets reported
- [Graffiti & vandalism](https://www.chch.live/problems/graffiti), 1,608
- Water & drains, 1,589
- Roads & footpaths, 1,251
- Rubbish & dumping, 1,118
- Trees & parks, 956
- Vehicles & parking, 237
- Everything else, 193
- [Animals & pests](https://www.chch.live/problems/animals-pests), 31

## Exactly what people say
- [Graffiti](https://www.chch.live/problems/graffiti), 1,202
- [Water Leak](https://www.chch.live/problems/water-leaks), 789
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/problems/dumped-rubbish), 618
- [Roading/Streets](https://www.chch.live/problems/road-damage), 584
- [Water Supply](https://www.chch.live/problems/water-leaks), 371
- [Parks](https://www.chch.live/problems/parks-maintenance), 367
- [Rubbish/Recycling](https://www.chch.live/problems/bins-recycling), 282
- [Overgrown Vegetation](https://www.chch.live/problems/overgrown-vegetation), 203

## On the heritage register (9)
- [Barrington Park Gates](https://www.chch.live/place/480)
- [Dwelling and Setting, Hursthaven](https://www.chch.live/place/88), 16 Hackthorne Road
- [Former Dwelling and Setting, Ngaio Marsh House](https://www.chch.live/place/237), 37 Valley Road
- [MED Substation](https://www.chch.live/place/251), 2E Woodard Terrace
- [Ngaio Marsh House Garden](https://www.chch.live/place/416), 37 Valley Road
- [Somerfield Hall](https://www.chch.live/place/533), 47 Studholme Street
- [St Augustine's Anglican Church and Setting](https://www.chch.live/place/49), 5 Cracroft Terrace
- [Sydenham Cemetery](https://www.chch.live/place/553)
- [The Malthouse and Setting](https://www.chch.live/place/43), 69 Colombo Street

## The streets that keep coming up
- [Ashgrove Terrace](https://www.chch.live/street/somerfield/ashgrove-terrace), reported on 408 separate days
- [Studholme Street](https://www.chch.live/street/somerfield/studholme-street), reported on 396 separate days
- [Lyttelton Street](https://www.chch.live/street/somerfield/lyttelton-street), reported on 340 separate days
- [Barrington Street](https://www.chch.live/street/somerfield/barrington-street), reported on 299 separate days
- [Somerfield Street](https://www.chch.live/street/somerfield/somerfield-street), reported on 279 separate days
- [Milton Street](https://www.chch.live/street/somerfield/milton-street), reported on 261 separate days
- [Rose Street](https://www.chch.live/street/somerfield/rose-street), reported on 252 separate days
- [Roker Street](https://www.chch.live/street/somerfield/roker-street), reported on 196 separate days

## Schools (2)
- [Cashmere High School](https://www.chch.live/school/340-cashmere-high-school), Secondary (Year 9-15) · decile 9 · EQI 413
- [Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo](https://www.chch.live/school/3506-somerfield-te-kura-wairepo), Contributing · decile 8 · EQI 419

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

Zoned for [Cashmere High School](https://www.chch.live/school/340-cashmere-high-school) · [Christchurch Adventist School](https://www.chch.live/school/317-christchurch-adventist-school) · [Christchurch South Karamata Intermediate School](https://www.chch.live/school/3318-christchurch-south-karamata-intermediate-school) · [Hillview Christian School](https://www.chch.live/school/341-hillview-christian-school) · [Middleton Grange School](https://www.chch.live/school/335-middleton-grange-school) · [Our Lady of the Assumption School (Chch)](https://www.chch.live/school/3461-our-lady-of-the-assumption-school-chch) · and 10 more zones, the drawn zone is indicative; the Ministry’s written scheme is the legal boundary.

## The green here (4)
- [Centennial Park](https://www.chch.live/park/1746-centennial-park), Sports ground · 10 ha · playground, 37 pieces
- [Somerfield Park](https://www.chch.live/park/1210-somerfield-park), Sports ground · 3 ha · playground, 64 pieces
- [Ashgrove Reserve](https://www.chch.live/park/1392-ashgrove-reserve)
- [Cashmere View Playground](https://www.chch.live/park/1787-cashmere-view-playground), playground, 15 pieces

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

## The civic shelf (2)
- [Sydenham Cemetery](https://www.chch.live/facility/cemetery-74), Cemetery
- [Pioneer](https://www.chch.live/facility/recreation-centre-17), Recreation centre · 61 Lyttelton Street

## Where the suburb worships (1)
- [St Mark's Methodist Church](https://www.chch.live/worship/st-mark-s-methodist-church), a Methodist church · 7 Somerfield Street

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

## The tracks through here (12)
- [Walk and bike track through Somerfield](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-452-sydenham), 2.3 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Somerfield](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-463-somerfield), 2.2 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Somerfield](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-406-spreydon), 2.1 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Somerfield](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-474-somerfield), 1.1 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Somerfield](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-425-somerfield), 1.1 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Somerfield](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-446-spreydon), 744 m · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Somerfield](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-467-somerfield), 735 m · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Somerfield](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-486-somerfield), 636 m · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Somerfield](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-409-spreydon), 593 m · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Somerfield](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-414-somerfield), 579 m · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Somerfield](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-464-cashmere), 552 m · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Somerfield](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-469-somerfield), 378 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 39.3% of this outline, about 97 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 445.0% of this outline, about 1,103 hectares, mostly **TC2**, with TC3 8 ha · TC2 1,095 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 11.5% of this outline, about 28 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 **2%** 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 **2%** 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 **2%** 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 **1%** of this outline inside **high flood hazard** ground across **1** mapped area. The broader flood-management watch covers **11%** 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, **25** classified reaches, the plan calling **Heathcote / Opawaho River** and **Tennysons Drain**
           by name, **5%** 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, **31%** 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 **2,130** photographs on this ground, 2000–2016, 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, **25.9 km** of cycleway crosses the outline, 1.0 km of it separated from the traffic, [Nor'West Arc](https://www.chch.live/cycleway/nor-west-arc), [Quarryman's Trail](https://www.chch.live/cycleway/quarryman-s-trail), [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, **3** inscribed plaques, [Ashgrove Reserve](https://www.chch.live/plaque/30436-ashgrove-reserve), [Somerfield Park](https://www.chch.live/plaque/112030-somerfield-park), [Pioneer Rec And Sports Centre](https://www.chch.live/plaque/310854-pioneer-rec-and-sports-centre) 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, **9** drawn instruments, 2 of them dog rules, 1 alcohol ban, 6 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).
**6** parcels inside this outline sit on the hazardous-activities register, mostly cemeteries and waste recycling, treatment and disposal, vehicle refuelling, service and repair, 4 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 **68** parcels of made or characterised ground inside this outline, about 18 hectares, mostly mixed fill with rubbish, engineered fill, silt, 15 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 **100%** of this outline in the **medium** class. 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 **11** assets on this ground, 4 sets of steps, 3 ramps, 2 bridges, 2 shelters, sited at Ashgrove Reserve, Sydenham Cemetery, Somerfield Community Centre, Cashmere 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 **26** records inside this outline, bookable surfaces for 12 football, 7 touch rugby, 3 cricket, 2 tennis. 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 **1719** living trees inside this outline, **31** veterans among them, 23 carrying a protection, mostly Kobushi Magnolia, Kowhai, Field Maple. The file remembers **863** 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 **35%** of this outline under **Residential Suburban**, **67%** residential, the rest mostly Medium density residential zone 31%, Transport 18%. 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 **14 hectares** of this outline, **6%** , under 3 designations, mostly learning. 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, **The Malthouse and Setting**, **MED Substation**, **Somerfield Hall** 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 16 magnitude-3+ epicentres inside this outline since the sequence opened, the biggest a M4.3 in 2016. 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 (6)
- [Sunflowers and Honeycombs](https://www.chch.live/memorial/sunflowers-and-honeycombs), artwork · Isabella Cobb
- [Sydenham Cemetery](https://www.chch.live/cemetery/sydenham-cemetery), cemetery
- [Centannial Park](https://www.chch.live/landfills), old dump · 1915–1947
- [Cashmere Stream](https://www.chch.live/river/cashmere-stream), waterway · 5.0 km
- [Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River](https://www.chch.live/river/opawaho-heathcote-river), waterway · 30.7 km
- [Waimokihi Stream](https://www.chch.livenull), waterway · 1.0 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 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1851)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18510517.2.2.3), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1851-05-17T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 31 May 1851)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18510531.2.8.2), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1851-05-31T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 07 June 1851)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18510607.2.16.3), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1851-06-07T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 28 June 1851)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18510628.2.2.2), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1851-06-28T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 05 July 1851)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18510705.2.16.1), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1851-07-05T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 26 July 1851)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18510726.2.3.3), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1851-07-26T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 02 August 1851)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18510802.2.9.1), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1851-08-02T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 16 August 1851)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18510816.2.5.2), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1851-08-16T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 23 August 1851)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18510823.2.13.3), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1851-08-23T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 30 August 1851)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18510830.2.2.3), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1851-08-30T00:00:00.000Z

## The wire on Somerfield
- [European Goldfinch seen — Lyttelton St near Conway St, Somerfield, Christchurch 8024, New Zealand](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/406716304), iNaturalist · adamduchac, 8 Oct 2026
- [There’s another Banks Peninsula - Meet the Candidates event on at 6pm tomorrow at Somerfield School. It’s electorate focused, we’ll be doing our best to keep the focus on what the candidates might be…](https://www.reddit.com/r/chch/comments/1wzq127/banks_peninsula_meet_the_candidates/), r/chch · Excellent_Lake1681, 7 Oct 2026
- [Common Cotula seen — Somerfield, Christchurch 8024, New Zealand](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/406467728), iNaturalist · mikerodgers, 7 Oct 2026
- [Something seen — Somerfield St, Christchurch, Canterbury, NZ](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/405907737), iNaturalist · thomasjbrooks2005, 5 Oct 2026
- [Something seen — Somerfield St, Christchurch, Canterbury, NZ](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/404035682), iNaturalist · thomasjbrooks2005, 28 Sept 2026

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

## The crash record (165 injury crashes)

165 crashes that hurt somebody on record inside the suburb’s outline, 2 people killed, 32 seriously hurt.

The corner that keeps appearing: [Milton Street at Selwyn Street](https://www.chch.live/crashes?road=milton-st&suburb=somerfield), 19 injury crashes.

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

## The crime record (1,122 recorded victimisations)

1,122 victimisations on the NZ Police record inside the suburb’s outline, September 2022–August 2026, mostly theft, about 41 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=somerfield)
- [The city’s whole record](https://www.chch.live/crime)

## The buses through it (26 stops)

26 Metro stops inside the suburb’s outline, in ECan’s stop record, served by [route 44](https://www.chch.live/buses/44), [route 60](https://www.chch.live/buses/60), [the Orbiter (clockwise)](https://www.chch.live/buses/oc), [the Orbiter (anticlockwise)](https://www.chch.live/buses/oa), [route 120](https://www.chch.live/buses/120).
- Barrington St near Conway St near Barrington St
- Barrington St near Conway St near Barrington St
- Barrington St near Strauss Pl near Barrington St
- Barrington St near Strauss Pl near Barrington St
- Frankleigh St
- Frankleigh St
- Frankleigh St near Alvarez Pl near Frankleigh St
- Frankleigh St near Alvarez Pl near Frankleigh St
- Lyttelton St
- Lyttelton St near Conway St near Lyttelton St
- Lyttelton St near Conway St near Lyttelton St
- Lyttelton St near Glue Pl
- Lyttelton St near Rose St near Lyttelton St
- Lyttelton St near Rose St near Lyttelton St
- Milton St
- Milton St near Selwyn St near Milton St

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

## Businesses here (33 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.

- [Fast food](https://www.chch.live/businesses/fast-food#in-somerfield), 5
- [Restaurants](https://www.chch.live/businesses/restaurant#in-somerfield), 5
- [Bottle stores](https://www.chch.live/businesses/liquor#in-somerfield), 2
- [Cafés](https://www.chch.live/businesses/cafe#in-somerfield), 2
- [Clothing](https://www.chch.live/businesses/clothes#in-somerfield), 2
- [Dairies & convenience](https://www.chch.live/businesses/dairy#in-somerfield), 2
- [Doctors & clinics](https://www.chch.live/businesses/doctor#in-somerfield), 2
- [Hairdressers](https://www.chch.live/businesses/hairdresser#in-somerfield), 2
- [Bakeries](https://www.chch.live/businesses/bakery#in-somerfield), 1
- [Bars & pubs](https://www.chch.live/businesses/bar#in-somerfield), 1
- [Bike shops](https://www.chch.live/businesses/bike-shop#in-somerfield), 1
- [Cinemas & theatres](https://www.chch.live/businesses/cinema#in-somerfield), 1
- [Dentists](https://www.chch.live/businesses/dentist#in-somerfield), 1
- [Furniture](https://www.chch.live/businesses/furniture#in-somerfield), 1
- [Insurance](https://www.chch.live/businesses/insurance#in-somerfield), 1
- [Petrol stations](https://www.chch.live/businesses/fuel#in-somerfield), 1
- [Physio](https://www.chch.live/businesses/physio#in-somerfield), 1
- [Rental](https://www.chch.live/businesses/rental#in-somerfield), 1
- [Sports centres](https://www.chch.live/businesses/sports-centre#in-somerfield), 1

The ones the record says most about:

- [Commi](https://www.chch.live/business/commi-somerfield), Restaurants
- [Curry Junction](https://www.chch.live/business/curry-junction-somerfield), Restaurants
- [Moon Under Water](https://www.chch.live/business/moon-under-water-somerfield), Bars & pubs
- [Azalea Cuisine Souvlaki & Thai](https://www.chch.live/business/azalea-cuisine-souvlaki-thai-somerfield), Restaurants
- [Barrington Health Physiotherapy](https://www.chch.live/business/barrington-health-physiotherapy-somerfield), Physio
- [Challenge](https://www.chch.live/business/challenge-somerfield), Petrol stations
- [Denture South](https://www.chch.live/business/denture-south-somerfield), Dentists
- [Goat Cycles](https://www.chch.live/business/goat-cycles-somerfield), Bike shops
- [Malthouse Costumes](https://www.chch.live/business/malthouse-costumes-somerfield), Rental
- [Milton Street Takeaways](https://www.chch.live/business/milton-street-takeaways-somerfield), Fast food

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

## Next door
- [Spreydon](https://www.chch.live/spreydon)
- [Cashmere](https://www.chch.live/cashmere)
- [Beckenham](https://www.chch.live/beckenham)
- [Hoon Hay](https://www.chch.live/hoon-hay)
- [Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/sydenham)
- [Addington](https://www.chch.live/addington)

[Compare](https://www.chch.live/compare) Somerfield with [Spreydon](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=somerfield&b=spreydon) · [Cashmere](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=cashmere&b=somerfield) · [Beckenham](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=beckenham&b=somerfield) · [Hoon Hay](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=hoon-hay&b=somerfield) · [Sydenham](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=somerfield&b=sydenham) · [Addington](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=addington&b=somerfield), same record, side by side.

## Questions, answered briefly

**What is Somerfield?**

Somerfield is a suburb in the south of Christchurch, New Zealand. The public record holds 6,997 council reports for it, the first filed in June 2015.

**How many people live in Somerfield?**

7,080 people at the 2023 Census, 2,857 per square kilometre across 2.5 km².

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

About 6,813 people and 2,664 occupied private households (combined SA2s): grouped from Stats NZ SA1 areas through this site’s suburb join. Indicative, not a LIM.

**What gets reported in Somerfield?**

6,997 reports on record, most often graffiti & vandalism (1,608), water & drains (1,589), roads & footpaths (1,251). 974 of them in the year to 12 October 2026.

**How many crashes has Somerfield had?**

165 injury crashes on the police record inside the suburb’s outline, 2 people killed, 32 seriously hurt. [The suburb’s crashes, mapped →](https://www.chch.live/crashes?suburb=somerfield)

**What schools are in Somerfield?**

2 schools in the Ministry’s directory, Cashmere High School, Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo.

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