# Sumner, Christchurch

4,623 council reports since May 2015, the 32nd busiest suburb in the city. 3,590 photographs on record.
3,490 people at the 2023 Census, 291 to the square kilometre across 12 km².

https://www.chch.live/sumner

## 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

Sumner is a coastal seaside suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, and was surveyed and named in 1849 in honour of John Bird Sumner, the newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury and president of the Canterbury Association. Originally a separate borough, it was later amalgamated with the city of Christchurch as communications improved and the economies of scale made small-town boroughs uneconomic to operate.

Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumner%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 **$620 a week** in the April–June 2026 quarter, the middle half $500–$793, across 27 bonds, up 3% on a year ago. That’s about **$70 a week above** the city’s own quarter median of $550. Tenancy Services counts these under the “Sumner” statistical area, close to this suburb’s outline, not exactly it.
- 3-bedroom house, $725 a week · 12 new bonds
- 1-bedroom house, $560 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 3,414 people and 1,344 occupied private households, grouped from 25 SA1 areas in Sumner. This exact statistical-area match is close to this suburb’s outline, not exactly it.


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 (3,590 on record)
- [147 Esplanade](https://www.chch.live/report/9071150)
- [18 Finnsarby Pl](https://www.chch.live/report/9065577)
- [110 Esplanade, Sumner](https://www.chch.live/report/9065025)
- [27 Esplanade](https://www.chch.live/report/9064422)
- [97 Wakefield Avenue, Sumner](https://www.chch.live/report/9063184)
- [83 Wakefield Avenue, Sumner](https://www.chch.live/report/9063167)

[3,590 photographs on the wall](https://www.chch.live/wall?suburb=sumner)

## The suburb, back then (188 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.*
- [Sumner Clock Tower at Scarborough Park](https://www.chch.live/then/1930s#p-46097595), 1930 · Canterbury Stories
- [Sumner Scarborough Clock Tower and beach](https://www.chch.live/then/1940s#p-46098377), 1940 · Canterbury Stories
- [Popular Christchurch seaside suburb](https://www.chch.live/then/1940s#p-38525626), 1942 · Kura Heritage Collections Online
- [Cave Rock in Sumner](https://www.chch.live/then/1850s#p-59372950), 1858 · Canterbury Stories
- [Day's Hotel in Sumner](https://www.chch.live/then/1850s#p-59372953), 1858 · Canterbury Stories
- [Sumner Road, Christchurch](https://www.chch.live/then/1860s#p-52912798), 1867 · Hocken Digital Collections
- [Sumner Road, Christchurch](https://www.chch.live/then/1860s#p-52912783), 1868 · Hocken Digital Collections
- [Cave Rock at Sumner](https://www.chch.live/then/1870s#p-63330926), 1870 · Kura Heritage Collections Online
- [Shag Rock, Sumner Road, looking towards Christchurch](https://www.chch.live/then/1870s#p-51853354), 1870 · Te Papa Collections Online
- [Sumner](https://www.chch.live/then/1870s#p-56043751), 1873 · Hocken Digital Collections

[…and 178 more across the archive](https://www.chch.live/then)

## The record on Sumner
- Sumner enters the written record in 22 August 1849, [“THE "Wellington Independent." Wednesday, August 22, 1849. (Wellington Independent, 22 August 1849)”](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WI18490822.2.5), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past).
- “Sumner” appears somewhere in 3,125 of the archive’s records.
- A Papers Past search for the name surfaced 30 records, leads by provenance.
- The first report here: wastewater/stormwater, 27 May 2015, at 12.
- Its busiest day was 20 June 2023, 49 reports in a single day.
- The street that keeps coming up is [Nayland Street](https://www.chch.live/street/sumner/nayland-street), reported on 218 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 sea front](https://www.chch.live/walks/sumner-front) and [The bach row](https://www.chch.live/walks/taylors-mistake-baches), a heritage walks over this ground.

## How fast the council fixes things here (6,206 finished jobs on record)

The median council work order pinned in Sumner took **5 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.
239 tickets are open here now, the oldest was filed 13 October 2021.

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, Ko Taku Reo - Deaf Education New Zealand, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Sumner 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 playground or in a park](https://www.chch.live/report/9071150), 11 Oct 2026 · 147 Esplanade, “The app said this was reported last week, when we took these photos. The graffiti (not really child friendly) remains…”
- [Park - General Request](https://www.chch.live/report/9065577), 10 Oct 2026 · 18 Finnsarby Pl, “Kids building jumps in new planting. Could a better spot be found to let them build without damaging planting?”
- [Animal - Deceased](https://www.chch.live/report/9065025), 10 Oct 2026 · 110 Esplanade, “dead seal up against rocks between Hardwick and Menzies streets, sumner”
- [General Request](https://www.chch.live/report/9064422), 10 Oct 2026 · 27 Esplanade, “The Cave Rock Georgian cross lights have been lit after 11pm since the clocks changed. As this is in breach of the…”
- [Damaged Road](https://www.chch.live/report/9063184), 9 Oct 2026 · 97 Wakefield Avenue, “Toby cap raised a lot - big hazard for cyclists”
- [Pavement - Damaged](https://www.chch.live/report/9063167), 9 Oct 2026 · 83 Wakefield Avenue, “Toby cap raised - hazard to cyclists”
- [Graffiti on a playground or in a park](https://www.chch.live/report/9059946), 9 Oct 2026 · 147 Esplanade, “Offensive graffiti in very public place next to children’s playground.”
- [Water General](https://www.chch.live/report/9055332), 8 Oct 2026 · 61 Nayland Street, “water meter lid missing”
- [Rubbish and Bins - General](https://www.chch.live/report/9052824), 8 Oct 2026 · 147 Esplanade, “All bins are overflowing along the esplanade walkway and have been for 2 days.”
- [Rubbish and Bins - General](https://www.chch.live/report/9052785), 8 Oct 2026 · 27 Esplanade, “Rubbish bins overflowing in Sumner likely due to influx of people over school holidays and warmer weather. This won’t…”
- [Park - General Request](https://www.chch.live/report/9048432), 7 Oct 2026 · 2 Scarborough Rd, “Latch and hinge of gate broken.”
- [Rubbish and Bins - General](https://www.chch.live/report/9045877), 7 Oct 2026 · 27 Esplanade, “bin overflowing next to cave rock”

## Reports per year
- 2015, 73
- 2016, 93
- 2017, 115
- 2018, 204
- 2019, 330
- 2020, 375
- 2021, 503
- 2022, 549
- 2023, 720
- 2024, 544
- 2025, 619

## What gets reported
- Trees & parks, 1,015
- Water & drains, 1,004
- Roads & footpaths, 881
- [Graffiti & vandalism](https://www.chch.live/problems/graffiti), 809
- Rubbish & dumping, 592
- Everything else, 143
- Vehicles & parking, 116
- [Animals & pests](https://www.chch.live/problems/animals-pests), 61

## Exactly what people say
- [Parks](https://www.chch.live/problems/parks-maintenance), 483
- [Graffiti](https://www.chch.live/problems/graffiti), 479
- [Water Leak](https://www.chch.live/problems/water-leaks), 466
- [Roading/Streets](https://www.chch.live/problems/road-damage), 453
- [Rubbish/Recycling](https://www.chch.live/problems/bins-recycling), 207
- [Dumped Rubbish](https://www.chch.live/problems/dumped-rubbish), 180
- [Overgrown Vegetation](https://www.chch.live/problems/overgrown-vegetation), 172
- [Water Supply](https://www.chch.live/problems/water-leaks), 171

## On the heritage register (39)
- [34 Taylors Mistake Bay](https://www.chch.live/place/534), 34 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [48 Taylors Mistake Bay](https://www.chch.live/place/535), 48 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [51 Taylors Mistake Bay](https://www.chch.live/place/536), 51 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [52 Taylors Mistake Bay](https://www.chch.live/place/537), 52 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [53 Taylors Mistake Bay](https://www.chch.live/place/538), 55 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [58 Taylors Mistake Bay](https://www.chch.live/place/539), 58 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [60 Taylors Mistake Bay](https://www.chch.live/place/540), 60 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [69 Taylors Mistake Bay](https://www.chch.live/place/541), 69 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [70 Taylors Mistake Bay](https://www.chch.live/place/542), 70 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Dwelling and Setting](https://www.chch.live/place/163), 62 Nayland Street
- [Dwelling and Setting](https://www.chch.live/place/462), 58 Colenso Street
- [Dwelling and Setting](https://www.chch.live/place/288), 1 The Spur
- [Godley Head](https://www.chch.live/place/485)
- [Sumner Clock Tower and Setting](https://www.chch.live/place/439), 147R Esplanade
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 1](https://www.chch.live/place/487), 68 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 10](https://www.chch.live/place/496), 30 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 11](https://www.chch.live/place/497), 28 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 2](https://www.chch.live/place/488), 59 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 3](https://www.chch.live/place/489), 57 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 4](https://www.chch.live/place/490), 56 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 5](https://www.chch.live/place/491), 49 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 6](https://www.chch.live/place/492), 46 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 7](https://www.chch.live/place/493), 33 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 8](https://www.chch.live/place/494), 32 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 9](https://www.chch.live/place/495), 31 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 35](https://www.chch.live/place/521), 35 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 36](https://www.chch.live/place/520), 36 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 37](https://www.chch.live/place/519), 37 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 38](https://www.chch.live/place/518), 38 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 39](https://www.chch.live/place/517), 39 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 40](https://www.chch.live/place/516), 40 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 41](https://www.chch.live/place/515), 41 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 42](https://www.chch.live/place/514), 42 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 43](https://www.chch.live/place/513), 43 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 44](https://www.chch.live/place/512), 44 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 45](https://www.chch.live/place/511), 45 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [Taylors Mistake Bach 46](https://www.chch.live/place/510), 46 Taylors Mistake Bay
- [The Esplanade War Memorials, Sea Walls and Setting](https://www.chch.live/place/420)
- [Tuawera/Cave Rock and Pilot/Signal Station, and Setting](https://www.chch.live/place/229)

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

On foot: [The sea front](https://www.chch.live/walks/sumner-front) · [The bach row](https://www.chch.live/walks/taylors-mistake-baches), heritage walks over this ground.

## The streets that keep coming up
- [Nayland Street](https://www.chch.live/street/sumner/nayland-street), reported on 218 separate days
- [Marriner Street](https://www.chch.live/street/sumner/marriner-street), reported on 186 separate days
- [Wakefield Avenue](https://www.chch.live/street/sumner/wakefield-avenue), reported on 164 separate days
- [Heberden Avenue](https://www.chch.live/street/sumner/heberden-avenue), reported on 121 separate days
- [Sumnervale Drive](https://www.chch.live/street/sumner/sumnervale-drive), reported on 96 separate days
- [Summit Road](https://www.chch.live/street/sumner/summit-road), reported on 82 separate days
- [Evans Pass Road](https://www.chch.live/street/sumner/evans-pass-road), reported on 77 separate days
- [Ocean View Terrace](https://www.chch.live/street/sumner/ocean-view-terrace), reported on 61 separate days

## Schools (3)
- [Ko Taku Reo - Deaf Education New Zealand](https://www.chch.live/school/903-ko-taku-reo-deaf-education-new-zealand), Specialist School · EQI 516
- [Our Lady Star of the Sea School (Christchurch)](https://www.chch.live/school/3544-our-lady-star-of-the-sea-school-christchurch), Full Primary · decile 10 · EQI 401
- [Sumner School](https://www.chch.live/school/3546-sumner-school), Full Primary · decile 10 · EQI 382

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 3 more zones, the drawn zone is indicative; the Ministry’s written scheme is the legal boundary.

## The green here (13)
- [Scarborough Hill Reserve](https://www.chch.live/park/1624-scarborough-hill-reserve), Regional · 217 ha
- [Sumnervale Reserve](https://www.chch.live/park/1105-sumnervale-reserve), 9 ha · playground, 14 pieces
- [St Leonards Park](https://www.chch.live/park/1618-st-leonards-park), Sports ground · 2 ha · playground, 61 pieces
- [Rapanui Bush](https://www.chch.live/park/1163-rapanui-bush), Regional · 2 ha
- [Wakefield Reserve No. 2](https://www.chch.live/park/1022-wakefield-reserve-no-2), 1 ha
- [Jollies Bush](https://www.chch.live/park/1368-jollies-bush), Regional · 1 ha
- [Scarborough Park](https://www.chch.live/park/1729-scarborough-park), Botanic · playground, 48 pieces
- [Cave Rock Reserve](https://www.chch.live/park/1443-cave-rock-reserve), Regional
- [Sumner Croquet Reserve](https://www.chch.live/park/1189-sumner-croquet-reserve)
- [Wakefield Reserve No. 1](https://www.chch.live/park/1707-wakefield-reserve-no-1)
- [Bernie Hansen Reserve](https://www.chch.live/park/1761-bernie-hansen-reserve)
- [Heritage Trail](https://www.chch.live/park/1118-heritage-trail)
- [Finnsarby Reserve](https://www.chch.live/park/1384-finnsarby-reserve)

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

## The civic shelf (1)
- [Matuku Takotako / Sumner Library](https://www.chch.live/facility/library-53), Library · Nayland Street, Sumner

## Where the suburb worships (2)
- [Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish](https://www.chch.live/worship/our-lady-star-of-the-sea-parish), a Catholic church · 42 Dryden Street
- [St Paul's Union Church](https://www.chch.live/worship/st-paul-s-union-church), a church · 87 Nayland Street

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

## The tracks through here (9)
- [Walk and bike track through Sumner](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-190-sumner), 6.1 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sumner](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-171-clifton), 4.0 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sumner](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-189-sumner), 3.6 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sumner](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-187-sumner), 3.4 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sumner](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-193-sumner), 2.6 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sumner](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-188-sumner), 2.4 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sumner](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-194-sumner), 1.4 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sumner](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-191-sumner), 1.1 km · walk · bike
- [Walk and bike track through Sumner](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-192-sumner), 276 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 0.1% of this outline. 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 Crown’s 2011 classification drew 2.5% of this outline, about 30 hectares inside the residential red zone. A mapped area files under the suburb its middle sits in, and a classification is the record of a decision, not a finding about an address; the whole line is at [redzone](https://www.chch.live/redzone).
The 2011 grading filed 6.3% of this outline, about 76 hectares, mostly **TC2**. 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 2.5% of this outline, about 30 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 **10%** of this outline, about 114 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 slope-hazard bands cover **10%** of this outline, about 114 hectares, rockfall management area 1, rockfall management area 2. The broad remaining-instability overlay covers **80%** of it besides, the plan’s background watch over the hill country. Shares read from a sampled join; a management overlay, not a prediction. The whole watch: [slope](https://www.chch.live/slope).
The plan’s schedule of sites significant to Ngāi Tahu covers **55%** of this outline, about 657 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 landscape schedules cover **83%** of this outline, about 997 hectares across **7** scheduled areas, **82%** of it outstanding, the plan’s strongest landscape standing, and **45%** 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).
No high-hazard flood area covers this outline. The broader flood-management watch covers **6%** of it, Sumner. 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, **87** classified reaches, the plan calling **Sumner Stream** and **Richmond Hill Waterway**
           by name, **8%** of it inside the setback strips, the widest holding **20 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, **1** hill density line holds the high ground low, **9** numbered bach settlements sit inside. 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 **1,042** photographs on this ground, 2011–2017, 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, **2.4 km** of cycleway crosses the outline, [Te Ara Ihutai Coastal Pathway](https://www.chch.live/cycleway/te-ara-ihutai-coastal-pathway). 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, **24** inscribed plaques, [Scarborough Park](https://www.chch.live/plaque/114133-scarborough-park), [Port Hills 11 Rrz Land](https://www.chch.live/plaque/59007-port-hills-11-rrz-land), [King Edward Memorial](https://www.chch.live/plaque/118637-king-edward-memorial) 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, **29** drawn instruments, 25 of them dog rules, 1 alcohol ban, 3 bottle-store buffers; the outline sits inside the takiwā of Rapaki Runanga and 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 chemical manufacture, application and bulk storage, vehicle refuelling, service and repair, 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 **54** parcels of made or characterised ground inside this outline, about 6 hectares, mostly mixed fill with rubbish, topsoil, engineered fill, 2 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).
The rockfall survey mapped **6,354** rocks inside this outline across 1,908 survey pins, **3,792** came down, 1,176 still wobble easy. A pin may stand for a cluster and marks where the survey saw the rock, not where it is now; the survey is at [boulders](https://www.chch.live/boulders).
**1** parcel inside this outline carries a cleanup on the file. 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 **43%** of this outline in the **"unlikely"** class, 54% 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 register puts **47** engineered rockfall defences inside this outline, 34 rock cables, 9 mesh drapes, 3 catch fences. Nearly all are the emergency works the quake years left standing; the register is at [defences](https://www.chch.live/defences).
The council’s structure register stands **91** assets on this ground, 50 sets of steps, 13 shelters, 11 ramps, 9 boardwalks, sited at Scarborough Beach Developed, Scarborough Park, Greenwood Park, Port Hills 11 Rrz Land. 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 **4** records inside this outline, bookable surfaces for 2 cricket, 1 skateboard, 1 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 **683** living trees inside this outline, **5** veterans among them, 25 carrying a protection, mostly Pohutukawa, Manna Ash, Cabbage tree. The file remembers **444** 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 **68%** of this outline under **Open Space Natural**, **11%** residential, the rest mostly Rural Port Hills 12%, Transport 6%. 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 **16 hectares** of this outline, **1%** , under 2 designations, mostly power & signal, 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 exceptions touch **1%** of this outline, 3 qualifying matters, mostly section 6. A matter narrows how the density rule applies, it does not forbid; the mix is a sampled read, and the cultural-significance areas are the plan’s own unnamed ones. The register is at [matters](https://www.chch.live/matters).
The plan’s heritage schedule protects **13** places by name in this suburb, **2** graded highly significant, **The Esplanade War Memorials, Sea Walls and Setting**, **Tuawera/Cave Rock and Pilot/Signal Station, and Setting**, **Dwelling and Setting** 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 101 magnitude-3+ epicentres inside this outline since the sequence opened, the biggest a M5.3 in 2011. 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 (23)
- [Matuku-takotako / Sumner Beach](https://www.chch.live/beach/matuku-takotako-sumner-beach), beach · Matuku-takotako
- [Jane Fonda Workout Wall](https://www.chch.live/rock/jane-fonda-workout-wall), crag
- [Windsor Crag](https://www.chch.live/rock/windsor-crag), crag
- [Wobbly Wall](https://www.chch.live/rock/wobbly-wall), crag
- [Awaroa / Godley Head](https://www.chch.live/coast/awaroa-godley-head), headland · Awaroa
- [Port hills](https://www.chch.live/summit/port-hills), lookout
- [Armentieres](https://www.chch.live/memorial/armentieres), monument
- [Bapaume](https://www.chch.live/memorial/bapaume), monument
- [Canterbury Centenary 1850 - 1950](https://www.chch.live/memorial/canterbury-centenary-1850-1950), monument
- [Egypt](https://www.chch.live/memorial/egypt), monument
- [Gallipoli](https://www.chch.live/memorial/gallipoli), monument
- [Jutland](https://www.chch.live/memorial/jutland), monument
- [Le Quesony](https://www.chch.live/memorial/le-quesony), monument
- [Lest We Forget](https://www.chch.live/memorial/lest-we-forget), monument
- [Messines](https://www.chch.live/memorial/messines), monument

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.*
- [THE "Wellington Independent." Wednesday, August 22, 1849. (Wellington Independent, 22 August 1849)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WI18490822.2.5), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1849-08-22T00:00:00.000Z
- [Untitled (Daily Southern Cross, 28 September 1849)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18490928.2.8), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1849-09-28T00:00:00.000Z
- [No. I.—THE BRIDLE-PATH TO THE PERRY (Lyttelton Times, 18 January 1851)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18510118.2.12.1), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1851-01-18T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 25 January 1851)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18510125.2.2.3), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1851-01-25T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 01 February 1851)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18510201.2.2.3), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1851-02-01T00:00:00.000Z
- [WALKS ON THE ROADS. (Wellington Independent, 19 February 1851)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WI18510219.2.19), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1851-02-19T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 01 March 1851)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18510301.2.2.3), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1851-03-01T00:00:00.000Z
- [RURAL SECTIONS CHOSEN. (Lyttelton Times, 15 March 1851)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18510315.2.17), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1851-03-15T00:00:00.000Z
- [Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 12 April 1851)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18510412.2.8.1), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1851-04-12T00:00:00.000Z
- [RURAL SECTIONS CHOSEN. (Lyttelton Times, 03 May 1851)](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18510503.2.6), [Papers Past](https://www.chch.live/collection/papers-past) · 1851-05-03T00:00:00.000Z

## The wire on Sumner
- [Psychidae seen — Sumner, Christchurch 8081, New Zealand](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/407481864), iNaturalist · seamusmoran, 11 Oct 2026
- [Something seen — Sumner, Christchurch 8081, New Zealand](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/407481863), iNaturalist · seamusmoran, 11 Oct 2026
- [Eastern Welcome Swallow seen — Sumner, Christchurch 8081, New Zealand](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/407471237), iNaturalist · seamusmoran, 11 Oct 2026
- [kiwakiwa seen — Sumner, Christchurch 8081, New Zealand](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/407469881), iNaturalist · seamusmoran, 11 Oct 2026
- [Police, fire, St John and the Sumner lifeboat are responding to an ‘incident’ at Christchurch’s Scarborough Beach.](https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/361096391/emergency-crews-respond-incident-christchurchs-scarborough-beach), The Press · Tina Law, 11 Oct 2026

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

## The crash record (75 injury crashes)

75 crashes that hurt somebody on record inside the suburb’s outline, 4 people killed, 22 seriously hurt.

The corner that keeps appearing: [Summit Road at Evans Pass Road](https://www.chch.live/crashes/evans-pass-road-and-summit-road), 11 injury crashes, 1 fatal.

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

## The crime record (427 recorded victimisations)

427 victimisations on the NZ Police record inside the suburb’s outline, September 2022–August 2026, mostly theft, about 31 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=sumner)
- [The city’s whole record](https://www.chch.live/crime)

## The buses through it (24 stops)

24 Metro stops inside the suburb’s outline, in ECan’s stop record, served by [route 3](https://www.chch.live/buses/3).
- Colenso St near Menzies St near Colenso St
- Colenso St near Menzies St near Colenso St
- Duncan St near Campbell St
- Duncan St near Truro St
- Head St near Dryden St
- Head St near Wiggins St
- Marriner St near Main Rd
- Marriner St near Richmond Hill Wlk
- Marriner St near Wakefield Ave
- Nayland St near Hardwicke St near Nayland St
- Nayland St near Hardwicke St near Nayland St
- Nayland St near Head St near Nayland St
- Nayland St near Head St near Nayland St
- Nayland St near Menzies St near Nayland St
- Nayland St near Menzies St near Nayland St
- Nayland St near Stoke St near Nayland St

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

## Businesses here (89 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.

- [Restaurants](https://www.chch.live/businesses/restaurant#in-sumner), 16
- [Fast food](https://www.chch.live/businesses/fast-food#in-sumner), 11
- [Cafés](https://www.chch.live/businesses/cafe#in-sumner), 10
- [Bars & pubs](https://www.chch.live/businesses/bar#in-sumner), 5
- [B&Bs](https://www.chch.live/businesses/bnb#in-sumner), 4
- [Attractions](https://www.chch.live/businesses/attraction#in-sumner), 3
- [Beauty](https://www.chch.live/businesses/beauty#in-sumner), 3
- [Supermarkets](https://www.chch.live/businesses/supermarket#in-sumner), 3
- [Bakeries](https://www.chch.live/businesses/bakery#in-sumner), 2
- [Cinemas & theatres](https://www.chch.live/businesses/cinema#in-sumner), 2
- [Clothing](https://www.chch.live/businesses/clothes#in-sumner), 2
- [Clubs](https://www.chch.live/businesses/club#in-sumner), 2
- [Doctors & clinics](https://www.chch.live/businesses/doctor#in-sumner), 2
- [Gift shops](https://www.chch.live/businesses/gift#in-sumner), 2
- [Ice cream](https://www.chch.live/businesses/ice-cream#in-sumner), 2
- [Markets](https://www.chch.live/businesses/market#in-sumner), 2
- [Architects](https://www.chch.live/businesses/architect#in-sumner), 1
- [ATMs](https://www.chch.live/businesses/atm#in-sumner), 1
- [Bottle stores](https://www.chch.live/businesses/liquor#in-sumner), 1
- [Campgrounds](https://www.chch.live/businesses/campground#in-sumner), 1
- [Delis](https://www.chch.live/businesses/deli#in-sumner), 1
- [Florists](https://www.chch.live/businesses/florist#in-sumner), 1
- [Galleries](https://www.chch.live/businesses/gallery#in-sumner), 1
- [Graphic Design](https://www.chch.live/businesses/office-graphic-design#in-sumner), 1
- [Hairdressers](https://www.chch.live/businesses/hairdresser#in-sumner), 1
- [Laundromats](https://www.chch.live/businesses/laundromat#in-sumner), 1
- [Library](https://www.chch.live/businesses/amenity-library#in-sumner), 1
- [Motels](https://www.chch.live/businesses/motel#in-sumner), 1
- [Museums](https://www.chch.live/businesses/museum#in-sumner), 1
- [Op shops](https://www.chch.live/businesses/op-shop#in-sumner), 1
- [Pharmacies](https://www.chch.live/businesses/pharmacy#in-sumner), 1
- [Physio](https://www.chch.live/businesses/physio#in-sumner), 1
- [Real estate](https://www.chch.live/businesses/real-estate#in-sumner), 1
- [Venues & events](https://www.chch.live/businesses/venue#in-sumner), 1

The ones the record says most about:

- [Bohemian Bakery](https://www.chch.live/business/bohemian-bakery-sumner), Bakeries
- [Bonobo Café](https://www.chch.live/business/bonobo-cafe-sumner), Cafés
- [Burger Stop](https://www.chch.live/business/burger-stop-sumner), Fast food
- [Fire and Slice](https://www.chch.live/business/fire-and-slice-sumner), Restaurants
- [Le Xom](https://www.chch.live/business/le-xom-sumner), Restaurants
- [Miss Peppercorn](https://www.chch.live/business/miss-peppercorn-sumner), Restaurants
- [4 Shore Sumner](https://www.chch.live/business/4-shore-sumner), Bars & pubs
- [Beach Bar](https://www.chch.live/business/beach-bar-sumner), Restaurants
- [Clink Restaurant and Bar](https://www.chch.live/business/clink-restaurant-and-bar-sumner), Restaurants
- [Coffee Culture](https://www.chch.live/business/coffee-culture-sumner), Cafés

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

## Next door
- [Richmond Hill](https://www.chch.live/richmond-hill)
- [Scarborough](https://www.chch.live/scarborough)
- [Clifton](https://www.chch.live/clifton)
- [te-onepoto-taylors-mistake](https://www.chch.live/te-onepoto-taylors-mistake)
- [Moncks Bay](https://www.chch.live/moncks-bay)
- [Redcliffs](https://www.chch.live/redcliffs)

[Compare](https://www.chch.live/compare) Sumner with [Richmond Hill](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=richmond-hill&b=sumner) · [Scarborough](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=scarborough&b=sumner) · [Clifton](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=clifton&b=sumner) · [te-onepoto-taylors-mistake](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=sumner&b=te-onepoto-taylors-mistake) · [Moncks Bay](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=moncks-bay&b=sumner) · [Redcliffs](https://www.chch.live/compare?a=redcliffs&b=sumner), same record, side by side.

## Questions, answered briefly

**What is Sumner?**

Sumner is a coastal seaside suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, and was surveyed and named in 1849 in honour of John Bird Sumner, the newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury and president of the Canterbury Association. The public record holds 4,623 council reports for it, the first filed in May 2015.

**How many people live in Sumner?**

3,490 people at the 2023 Census, 291 per square kilometre across 12 km².

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

About 3,414 people and 1,344 occupied private households: grouped from Stats NZ SA1 areas through this site’s suburb join. Indicative, not a LIM.

**What gets reported in Sumner?**

4,623 reports on record, most often trees & parks (1,015), water & drains (1,004), roads & footpaths (881). 639 of them in the year to 12 October 2026.

**How many crashes has Sumner had?**

75 injury crashes on the police record inside the suburb’s outline, 4 people killed, 22 seriously hurt. [The suburb’s crashes, mapped →](https://www.chch.live/crashes?suburb=sumner)

**What schools are in Sumner?**

3 schools in the Ministry’s directory, Ko Taku Reo - Deaf Education New Zealand, Our Lady Star of the Sea School (Christchurch), Sumner School.

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