# Spencerville, Christchurch

368 council reports since April 2016, the 93rd busiest suburb in the city. 278 photographs on record.
790 people at the 2023 Census, 278 to the square kilometre across 2.8 km².

https://www.chch.live/spencerville

## 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

Spencerville is a semi-rural village on the east coast of Canterbury, New Zealand north of Christchurch. The town backs on to Bottle Lake Forest and includes a large park and 80 hectare camping ground. These amenities, as well as wetlands and an animal and bird park make the town a popular camping area for Christchurch residents.

Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spencerville%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.

## 2023 Census snapshot

About 759 people and 264 occupied private households, grouped from 4 SA1 areas in Brooklands-Spencerville. This exact statistical-area match is close to this suburb’s outline, not exactly it.

- Under 15: about 19% (147 people)
- 65 and over: about 13% (99 people)
- Born overseas: about 19% of stated birthplace
- European ethnicity: about 89% of ethnicity responses
- Māori ethnicity: about 15% of ethnicity responses
- Pacific Peoples ethnicity: about 4% of ethnicity responses
- Asian ethnicity: about 5% of ethnicity responses
- Households with internet: about 93% of stated households
- Households with two or more vehicles: about 82% 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 (278 on record)
- [Canterbury](https://www.chch.live/report/9062815)
- [150 Heyders Road, Spencerville](https://www.chch.live/report/9062423)
- [2 Heyders Road, Spencerville](https://www.chch.live/report/9007573)
- [150 Heyders Road, Spencerville](https://www.chch.live/report/8957262)
- [705 Lower Styx Rd](https://www.chch.live/report/8895743)
- [46 Styx River Place, Spencerville](https://www.chch.live/report/8884257)

[278 photographs on the wall](https://www.chch.live/wall?suburb=spencerville)

## The record on Spencerville
- Spencerville enters the written record in 14 August 1907, [“LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 14 August 1907)”](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19070814.2.34), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past).
- “Spencerville” appears somewhere in 15 of the archive’s records.
- A Papers Past search for the name surfaced 10 records, leads by provenance.
- The first report here: graffiti, 15 April 2016, at 15 Nautilus Pl.
- Its busiest day was 13 February 2022, 4 reports in a single day.
- The street that keeps coming up is [Heyders Road](https://www.chch.live/street/spencerville/heyders-road), reported on 100 separate days.
- For elections the suburb’s centre falls inside [Coastal ward](https://www.chch.live/wards/coastal), the [Coastal-Burwood-Linwood community board](https://www.chch.live/boards/coastal-burwood-linwood) is its local layer. The whole roll is at [/wards](https://www.chch.live/wards).

## How fast the council fixes things here (893 finished jobs on record)

The median council work order pinned in Spencerville took **14 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 5 months or longer.
29 tickets are open here now, the oldest was filed 19 January 2022.

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

**Spencer Park**, a public drinking ban (new Year’s Eve from 8:30pm on 31 December to 6am on 1 January each year), covers about 20% of Spencerville.

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
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/report/9062815), 9 Oct 2026 · Canterbury, “Dumped rubbish”
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/report/9062423), 9 Oct 2026 · 150 Heyders Road, “Rubbish dumping with recycling medicines, food, and other assorted rubbish. Was a few sharp blades from an exacto…”
- [Pothole](https://www.chch.live/report/9007573), 30 Sept 2026 · 2 Heyders Road, “The pot holes are on the bend depicted on the map. Approximate location 6 Arthur St Oamaru 9401, they are worsening and…”
- [Trees - General](https://www.chch.live/report/8957262), 21 Sept 2026 · 150 Heyders Road, “This tree seems to be leaning much more than I remember. can the Rangers check it out to see if they agree.”
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/report/8895743), 10 Sept 2026 · 705 Lower Styx Rd, “Car parts thrown here”
- [Damaged Asset – CCC contractor](https://www.chch.live/report/8884257), 8 Sept 2026 · 46 Styx River Place, “Confirmed private leak just after connection found during survey in water loss zone BK1. Showing usage of 0.5lpm and…”
- [Damaged Asset – CCC contractor](https://www.chch.live/report/8884161), 8 Sept 2026 · 23 Styx River Place, “Confirmed LAC found in water loss zone BK1. Pumped out the chamber to confirm if council or private. No indication…”
- [Damaged Asset – CCC contractor](https://www.chch.live/report/8884017), 8 Sept 2026 · 4 Heyders Road, “Leak found and confirmed on lateral / saddle during survey in water loss zone BK1. This was initially picked up on…”
- [Damaged Asset – CCC contractor](https://www.chch.live/report/8883762), 8 Sept 2026 · 45 Heyders Road, “Small private leak found during survey in water loss zone PK3. Letter and leak information leaflet left in letter box.”
- [Damaged Asset – CCC contractor](https://www.chch.live/report/8879730), 7 Sept 2026 · 61 Heyders Road, “Private leak found during survey in water loss zone BK1. Not showing signs of usage, but there is very good noise…”
- [Damaged Asset – CCC contractor](https://www.chch.live/report/8879577), 7 Sept 2026 · 13 Heyders Road, “Private leak found during survey in water loss zone BK1.”
- [Damaged Asset – CCC contractor](https://www.chch.live/report/8879518), 7 Sept 2026 · 5 Heyders Road, “Private leak found during survey in water loss zone BK1”

## Reports per year
- 2016, 4
- 2017, 6
- 2018, 19
- 2019, 23
- 2020, 17
- 2021, 39
- 2022, 39
- 2023, 57
- 2024, 52
- 2025, 58

## What gets reported
- Trees & parks, 115
- Rubbish & dumping, 76
- Roads & footpaths, 56
- Water & drains, 41
- [Graffiti & vandalism](https://www.chch.live/problems/graffiti), 34
- Everything else, 31
- [Animals & pests](https://www.chch.live/problems/animals-pests), 9
- Vehicles & parking, 5

## Exactly what people say
- [Parks](https://www.chch.live/problems/parks-maintenance), 47
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/problems/dumped-rubbish), 43
- [Roading/Streets](https://www.chch.live/problems/road-damage), 24
- [Trees - General](https://www.chch.live/problems/trees), 19
- [Rubbish/Recycling](https://www.chch.live/problems/bins-recycling), 19
- [Overgrown Vegetation](https://www.chch.live/problems/overgrown-vegetation), 18
- [Park - General Request](https://www.chch.live/problems/parks-maintenance), 17
- [Graffiti](https://www.chch.live/problems/graffiti), 17

## On the heritage register (1)
- [Dwelling and Setting](https://www.chch.live/place/223), 27 Spencerville Road

## The streets that keep coming up
- [Heyders Road](https://www.chch.live/street/spencerville/heyders-road), reported on 100 separate days
- [Lower Styx Road](https://www.chch.live/street/spencerville/lower-styx-road), reported on 58 separate days
- [Styx River Place](https://www.chch.live/street/spencerville/styx-river-place), reported on 17 separate days
- [Hemingway Place](https://www.chch.live/street/spencerville/hemingway-place), reported on 16 separate days
- [Seabrooke Drive](https://www.chch.live/street/spencerville/seabrooke-drive), reported on 12 separate days
- [Nautilus Place](https://www.chch.live/street/spencerville/nautilus-place), reported on 8 separate days
- [Spencerville Road](https://www.chch.live/street/spencerville/spencerville-road), reported on 6 separate days
- [Calypso Place](https://www.chch.live/street/spencerville/calypso-place), reported on 4 separate days

Zoned for [Christchurch Adventist School](https://www.chch.live/school/317-christchurch-adventist-school) · [Emmanuel Christian School](https://www.chch.live/school/1168-emmanuel-christian-school) · [Mairehau High School](https://www.chch.live/school/320-mairehau-high-school) · [Marian College](https://www.chch.live/school/343-marian-college) · [Middleton Grange School](https://www.chch.live/school/335-middleton-grange-school) · [Ōuruhia Model School](https://www.chch.live/school/3464-ouruhia-model-school) · and 5 more zones, the drawn zone is indicative; the Ministry’s written scheme is the legal boundary.

## The green here (4)
- [Spencer Park](https://www.chch.live/park/1698-spencer-park), Regional · 47 ha · playground, 56 pieces
- [Spencer Park Beach](https://www.chch.live/park/1121-spencer-park-beach), Regional · 11 ha
- [Spencerville Reserve](https://www.chch.live/park/1139-spencerville-reserve), Sports ground · 1 ha · playground, 29 pieces
- [Styx Riverbank Reserve](https://www.chch.live/park/1592-styx-riverbank-reserve)

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

## The ground that moved
The February 2011 survey drew mapped ground failure over 12.9% of this outline, about 37 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 10.1% of this outline, about 29 hectares, mostly **TC3**. 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 45.8% of this outline, about 130 hectares, across 2 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 mapped tsunami extent covers **52%** of this outline, about 147 hectares. The sea’s modelled reach, not a prediction, the plan’s inundation line, not the evacuation zones; the share is read from a sampled join. The whole extent is at [tsunami](https://www.chch.live/tsunami).
The plan’s schedule of sites significant to Ngāi Tahu covers **35%** of this outline, about 99 hectares, ngā tūranga tūpuna, 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 **41%** of this outline, about 116 hectares across **3** scheduled sites, 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 **73%** of this outline, about 208 hectares across **7** scheduled areas, **25%** of it outstanding, the plan’s strongest landscape standing, and **59%** of it sits inside the coastal environment. 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 **12%** of this outline inside **high flood hazard** ground, about 33 hectares across **6** mapped areas. The broader flood-management watch covers **76%** of it, Lower Styx River. **1** ponding spot is mapped here, where the models expect water to sit. 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, **6** classified reaches, the plan calling **Styx River** and **Lower Styx Drain South**
           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 rebuild’s cameras filed **218** photographs on this ground, 2012–2016, 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 rulebook binds this ground, **8** drawn instruments, 7 of them dog rules, 1 alcohol ban; 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).
The files record **27** parcels of made or characterised ground inside this outline, mostly engineered fill, sand. 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).
The 2019 liquefaction study put **75%** of this outline in the **possible** class, 91% of the outline fell inside an assessed area. 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 **35** assets on this ground, 17 shelters, 6 boardwalks, 6 sets of steps, 5 viewing platforms, sited at Seafield Park, Spencer Park, Spencer Beach Holiday Park, Brooklands Spit. 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 **5** records inside this outline, bookable surfaces for 2 tennis, 1 golf, 1 volleyball, 1 basketball. 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 **278** living trees inside this outline, 2 carrying a protection, mostly Cabbage tree, Kowhai, Tarata / Lemonwood. The file remembers **225** 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 **28%** of this outline under **Rural Waimakariri**, **9%** residential, the rest mostly Open Space Community Parks 21%, Open Space Coastal 16%, 87% of the outline fell inside a mapped zone. 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 names on this ground (2)
- [Bird Hide](https://www.chch.live/summit/bird-hide), lookout
- [Styx River](https://www.chch.live/river/styx-river), waterway · 19.8 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.*
- [LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 14 August 1907)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19070814.2.34), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1907-08-14T00:00:00.000Z
- [PERSONAL. (Ashburton Guardian, 05 October 1911)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AG19111005.2.20), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1911-10-05T00:00:00.000Z
- [SUICIDE IN CHRISTCHURCH. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 29 December 1914)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AMBPA19141229.2.4.2), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1914-12-29T00:00:00.000Z
- [LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS (Marlborough Express, 13 May 1920)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MEX19200513.2.16), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1920-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
- [LOCAL AND GENERAL (Evening Post, 23 July 1920)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19200723.2.35), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1920-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- [DEATH UNDER ANAESTHETIC (Evening Post, 28 August 1925)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19250828.2.22), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1925-08-28T00:00:00.000Z
- [PERSONAL NOTES (Evening Post, 02 April 1937)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19370402.2.152.2), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1937-04-02T00:00:00.000Z
- [PERSONAL ITEMS (Evening Post, 09 April 1937)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19370409.2.141), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1937-04-09T00:00:00.000Z
- [PERSONAL NOTES (Evening Post, 09 April 1937)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19370409.2.150.2), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1937-04-09T00:00:00.000Z
- [MENACE TO PUBLIC (Evening Post, 20 December 1937)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19371220.2.125), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1937-12-20T00:00:00.000Z

## The wire on Spencerville
- [Southern Brown Tree Frog seen — Spencerville, Christchurch 8083, New Zealand](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/407381394), iNaturalist · stuart186, 11 Oct 2026
- [Coprinellus seen — Spencerville, Christchurch 8083, New Zealand](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/407180946), iNaturalist · melwhiting, 10 Oct 2026
- [New Zealand Looper seen — Spencerville, Christchurch 8083, New Zealand](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/407107271), iNaturalist · melwhiting, 10 Oct 2026
- [Porina seen — Spencerville, Christchurch 8083, New Zealand](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/407107033), iNaturalist · melwhiting, 10 Oct 2026
- [Moss-eating Crambid Snout Moths seen — Spencerville, Christchurch 8083, New Zealand](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/407106816), iNaturalist · melwhiting, 10 Oct 2026

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

## The crash record (9 injury crashes)

9 crashes that hurt somebody on record inside the suburb’s outline, 5 seriously hurt, nobody killed.

The corner that keeps appearing: [Lower Styx Road at Styx River Place](https://www.chch.live/crashes?road=lower-styx-rd&suburb=spencerville), 5 injury crashes.

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

## The crime record (134 recorded victimisations)

134 victimisations on the NZ Police record inside the suburb’s outline, September 2022–August 2026, mostly theft, about 44 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=spencerville)
- [The city’s whole record](https://www.chch.live/crime)

## Businesses here (5 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.

- [Campgrounds](https://www.chch.live/businesses/campground#in-spencerville), 2
- [Cafés](https://www.chch.live/businesses/cafe#in-spencerville), 1
- [Mini golf](https://www.chch.live/businesses/mini-golf#in-spencerville), 1
- [Sports centres](https://www.chch.live/businesses/sports-centre#in-spencerville), 1

The ones the record says most about:

- [Adrenalin Forest Christchurch](https://www.chch.live/business/adrenalin-forest-christchurch-spencerville), Sports centres
- [Spencer Beach Holiday Park](https://www.chch.live/business/spencer-beach-holiday-park-spencerville), Campgrounds

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

## Next door
- [Ouruhia](https://www.chch.live/ouruhia)
- [Bottle Lake](https://www.chch.live/bottle-lake)
- [Brooklands](https://www.chch.live/brooklands)
- [Kainga](https://www.chch.live/kainga)
- [Parklands](https://www.chch.live/parklands)
- [Marshland](https://www.chch.live/marshland)

[Compare](https://www.chch.live/compare) Spencerville with [Ouruhia](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=ouruhia&b=spencerville) · [Bottle Lake](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=bottle-lake&b=spencerville) · [Brooklands](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=brooklands&b=spencerville) · [Kainga](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=kainga&b=spencerville) · [Parklands](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=parklands&b=spencerville) · [Marshland](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=marshland&b=spencerville), same record, side by side.

## Questions, answered briefly

**What is Spencerville?**

Spencerville is a semi-rural village on the east coast of Canterbury, New Zealand north of Christchurch. The public record holds 368 council reports for it, the first filed in April 2016.

**How many people live in Spencerville?**

790 people at the 2023 Census, 278 per square kilometre across 2.8 km².

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

About 759 people and 264 occupied private households: grouped from Stats NZ SA1 areas through this site’s suburb join. Indicative, not a LIM.

**What gets reported in Spencerville?**

368 reports on record, most often trees & parks (115), rubbish & dumping (76), roads & footpaths (56). 70 of them in the year to 13 October 2026.

**How many crashes has Spencerville had?**

9 injury crashes on the police record inside the suburb’s outline, 5 seriously hurt, nobody killed. [The suburb’s crashes, mapped →](https://www.chch.live/crashes?suburb=spencerville)

**What stood in Spencerville before?**

The heritage register holds 1 place here, [Dwelling and Setting](https://www.chch.live/place/223). The written record goes back further: [the shelf, for the name →](https://www.chch.live/documents?q=%22Spencerville%22)

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