SELWYN DISTRICT STATISTICAL PROFILE
AUGUST 2013
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
1
This profile was compiled in August 2013
by Family and Community Services, Ministry of Social Development, Wellington
using the latest statistics available at the time.
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
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CONTENTS
1. Land and people ........................................................................................................ 5
Location .................................................................................................... 5
Population ................................................................................................ 5
2021 and 2031 ......................................................................................... 6
Ethnic diversity ......................................................................................... 7
Iwi affiliation ............................................................................................ 11
Māori language speakers ....................................................................... 12
Birthplace ............................................................................................... 12
Age groups ............................................................................................. 13
Families .................................................................................................. 16
Household composition .......................................................................... 17
2. Economic Situation ................................................................................................. 18
Socio-economic deprivation .................................................................... 18
Personal income ..................................................................................... 20
Family income ........................................................................................ 21
Income support ....................................................................................... 22
Household facilities................................................................................. 26
3. Employment ............................................................................................................. 27
Location of employment.......................................................................... 27
Industry .................................................................................................. 28
Employment in 2012 ............................................................................... 29
Occupation ............................................................................................. 30
Travel to work ......................................................................................... 31
Hours of work ......................................................................................... 32
4. Housing .................................................................................................................... 33
Tenure .................................................................................................... 33
Sector of landlord ................................................................................... 34
State housing ......................................................................................... 34
Rents ...................................................................................................... 36
Accommodation Supplement (AS) .......................................................... 36
5. Education ................................................................................................................. 38
Educational qualifications ....................................................................... 38
Early childhood education....................................................................... 39
Selwyn District Schools .......................................................................... 41
Truancy .................................................................................................. 42
Stand downs and suspensions ............................................................... 43
Exclusions and expulsions ...................................................................... 44
School leavers with little or no formal attainment .................................... 44
Early leaving exemptions ........................................................................ 45
Tertiary destinations ............................................................................... 45
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6. Health ....................................................................................................................... 47
Births ...................................................................................................... 47
Plunket information ................................................................................. 48
Immunisation .......................................................................................... 49
Cigarette smoking................................................................................... 49
Road accidents ....................................................................................... 50
Public hospital discharges ...................................................................... 50
Mental health .......................................................................................... 52
Deaths .................................................................................................... 53
Suicides .................................................................................................. 54
7. Crime ........................................................................................................................ 55
Recorded criminal offences .................................................................... 55
Apprehensions ....................................................................................... 57
Resolution of apprehensions .................................................................. 59
Family violence investigations ................................................................ 60
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
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1. LAND AND PEOPLE
LOCATION
Selwyn District is located in the middle of the eastern coast of the South Island. With part
of its easterly boundary consisting of Pacific Ocean coastline, Selwyn District has six
territorial authority neighbours: Hurunui and Waimakariri Districts to the north-east,
Christchurch City to the east, Ashburton District to the south, and, beyond the Southern
Alps, Westland and Grey Districts.
POPULATION
2006
The 2006 Population Census recorded a resident population of 33,670 in Selwyn
District. Selwyn is a fast-growing area, with a 23.3% increase in population
between 2001 and 2006, compared with 7.8% growth nationally. That followed a
10.2% increase in the district between 1996 and 2001.
In 2006, West Melton was the most populous area unit in the district, with around
5,610 residents. Five area units (Rolleston, Springston, Selwyn-Rakaia, Kirwee and
Prebbleton) were each home to between 3,000 and 4,000 people.
2012
Statistics New Zealand estimates that in mid-2012, the resident population of
Selwyn District stood at 42,300. The 20 area units currently making up Selwyn
District are listed below with their 2012 usually-resident population estimates. West
Melton remained the district’s most populous area unit, with an estimated 6,440
residents, or 15% of the district’s total. That was followed by Selwyn-Rakaia (3,720
or 9%), Kirwee (3,280 or 8%), Lincoln (3,270, also 8%), Rolleston Central (3,140 or
7%), Springston (3,020, also 7%) and Malvern (2,920, also 7%).
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Selwyn District, May 2013
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E STIMATED USUALLY - RESIDENT POPULATION OF S ELWYN D ISTRICT
BY AREA UNIT , 2012
Area unit
Population
West Melton
Selwyn-Rakaia
Kirwee
Lincoln
Rolleston Central
Springston
Malvern
Prebbleton
6,440
3,720
3,280
3,270
3,140
3,020
2,920
2,430
Rolleston North East
Rolleston South West
Darfield
Trents-Ladbrooks
Rolleston North West
Leeston
Burnham Military Camp
Southbridge
Rolleston South East
Taitapu
Dunsandel
Inland Water-Lake Ellesmere North
2,010
1,940
1,790
1,660
1,450
1,400
1,390
810
600
520
450
0
Source: Statistics New Zealand
2021 AND 2031
Statistics New Zealand projects that Selwyn District’s population will keep on
increasing over the next 20 years. A resident population of 50,800 is projected for
2021, rising to 59,700 by 2031.1
1
These population projections assume medium rates of fertility, mortality and migration.
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Selwyn District, May 2013
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ETHNIC DIVERSITY
From an ethnic perspective, Selwyn District’s population is far less diverse than
nationally. At the 2006 Census, 79% of the district’s residents identified as
‘European’ (68% nationally) and 17% identified as ‘New Zealanders’ (11%
nationally).2
All other ethnic groups had a considerably smaller presence in the district than
nationally.

Māori accounted for 6% of residents compared with 15% nationwide.

Asian ethnic groups made up 2% of the population compared with 9%
across the country.

Pacific peoples made up 1% (7% nationwide).

Other ethnic groups accounted for around 0.5% of residents, around half
their national level.
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2006
2
Percentages total more than 100 because an individual can identify with more than one ethnic group
and all are counted.
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Selwyn District, May 2013
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The youth population of Selwyn is more ethnically diverse than the district’s
population as a whole. In 2006, all youth age groups were more likely to identify as
Māori (9% of 12-14 and 15-19 year-olds and 10% of 20-24 year-olds). Asian ethnic
groups made up 3% of 12-14 year-olds, 4% of 15-19 year-olds, and 10% of 20-24
year-olds.
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Selwyn District, May 2013
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IWI AFFILIATION
The table below lists the 11 iwi identified by more than 50 people of Māori descent
in Selwyn at the 2006 Census. Ngāi Tahu / Kāi Tahu was by far the largest iwi.
MAIN IWI IDENTIFIED BY 50 OR MORE PEOPLE OF MĀORI DESCENT IN
S ELWYN D ISTRICT , 2006
Iwi
Count
Ngäi Tahu / Käi Tahu
741
Ngäpuhi total
Ngäpuhi
Ngäpuhi ki Whaingaroa-Ngäti Kahu ki Whaingaroa
321
318
3
Ngäti Porou
234
Ngäti Kahungunu total
Ngäti Kahungunu, region unspecified
Ngäti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa
Ngäti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa
Ngäti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga
Ngäti Kahungunu ki Te Whanganui-a-Orotu
Ngäti Kahungunu ki Tamakinui a Rua
183
75
57
24
18
6
3
Te Atiawa total
Te Atiawa (Taranaki)
Te Atiawa (Te Waipounamu/South Island)
Te Atiawa, region unspecified
Te Atiawa (Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington)
96
57
18
15
6
Ngäti Tüwharetoa
93
Tühoe
78
Waikato total
Waikato
Waikato/Te Rohe Pötae (Waikato/King Country) Region, not further defined
60
57
3
Ngäti Raukawa total
Ngäti Raukawa (Horowhenua/Manawatü)
Ngäti Raukawa, region unspecified
Ngäti Raukawa (Waikato)
60
33
15
12
Whakatöhea
54
Te Arawa
Te Arawa
Te Arawa/Taupö (Rotorua/Taupö) Region, not further defined
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2006
54
51
3
In 2006, 21% of the Māori descendants in Selwyn District who answered the iwi
question in the census did not know their iwi (17% nationally).
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Selwyn District, May 2013
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M ĀORI LANGUAGE SPEAKERS
In 2006, around 440 Selwyn District residents reported being able to hold a
conversation in te reo Māori. Speakers of te reo equated to 1% of the district’s
population (4% nationally).
Selwyn District Māori are considerably less likely to speak te reo than Māori
nationally. In 2006, 13% of the district’s Māori residents could speak Māori
compared with 24% across the country. Around 1% of Selwyn’s non-Māori
residents were Māori speakers – the same proportion as nationally.
The graph below shows the proportion of Māori people in each age group who
were Māori speakers. Compared with the Māori population nationally, all age
groups of Selwyn Māori were less likely to speak te reo. The age group closest to
the national proportion was Māori people in their 30s, 19% of whom were Māori
speakers compared with 23% of Māori in that age group nationwide.
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2006
BIRTHPLACE
In 2006, 15% of Selwyn’s residents were born overseas compared with 23%
nationally. New Zealand’s two most common overseas birthplaces – the UK and
Ireland, and Asia – each accounted for 7% of the country’s population. In Selwyn,
the same proportion of residents was born in the UK and Ireland, but Asia
accounted for just 2%.
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Selwyn District, May 2013
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AGE GROUPS
Selwyn’s population is slightly older than average, with a median age of 36 years in
2006 compared with 35 across New Zealand. In particular, young adults (aged 1529 years) were under-represented in the district compared with their national
presence. At the time of the 2006 Census:

children under the age of 15 years made up 23% of the population locally
and 22% nationally

young adults (15-29 year-olds) made up 17% of the population compared
with 20% nationwide

those aged 30-44 years accounted for 24% of the district’s population (22%
nationally), and

45-59 year-olds made up 22% of the district’s residents (19% nationally).
People aged 60 and over were under-represented in Selwyn’s population:
 60-74 year-olds accounted for 10% locally and 11% nationally
 those aged 75 and over made up 3% in the district and 6% across the
country.
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2006
The median age of the population varied markedly across the district. It was
highest in West Melton, Darfield and Leeston (all 40 years), followed by Springston,
Kirwee, Malvern, Dunsandel and Taitapu (all 39), Southbridge (38), Prebbleton (37)
and Selwyn-Rakaia (36). The youngest median ages were recorded in Burnham
Military Camp (22), Lincoln (31) and Rolleston (32).
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Selwyn District, May 2013
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Selwyn District, May 2013
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The following graph shows that Selwyn District’s Māori population has a young age
profile. In 2006, 39% were aged under 15 years and another 20% were aged 1524. Only 3% of the district’s Māori population were aged 60 years and over,
compared with 14% of the non-Māori population.
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Selwyn District, May 2013
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Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2006
Across the whole of Selwyn District, the 2006 Census recorded 7,740 children
under the age of 15 years:

2,400 children under 5 years

2,560 aged 5 - 9 years, and

2,780 aged 10 - 14 years.
FAMILIES
In 2006, Selwyn District was home to almost 9,610 families3 living in private
households.
3

The most numerous family type in the district was couples with children –
around 4,740 such families, making up 49% of the total (a considerably
larger proportion than the 42% nationally). Around 3,970 of Selwyn’s
couples with children contained dependent children at the time of the 2006
Census. Selwyn’s couples with children were most numerous in the West
Melton area unit (830 such families), followed by Rolleston (620),
Springston (550), Prebbleton (500), Selwyn-Rakaia (490), Kirwee (440),
and Malvern and Lincoln (320 each).

Couples without children numbered around 4,010 in Selwyn in 2006 (42%
of all families compared with 40% nationwide). Couples without children
were most numerous in West Melton (690), Springston (470), Selwyn-
In the Census, a family is defined by the presence, in one household, of a ‘family nucleus’ (a couple, or
parent(s) and child(ren)). Child dependency is not a component of the definition. This means that a
90 year-old woman living with her 60 year-old daughter, who does not have children of her own in
the same household, would be classified as ‘one parent with children’.
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Selwyn District, May 2013
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Rakaia (430), Kirwee (410), Rolleston (390), Malvern (380) and Prebbleton
(340).

Families consisting of one parent and children numbered around 860 in
2006 (just 9% of Selwyn families compared with 18% nationwide). Of the
one-parent families in the district, around 620 contained dependent
children. Selwyn’s one-parent families were most likely to live in West
Melton (130), Rolleston (110), Selwyn-Rakaia (90), Kirwee and Springston
(80 each), and Malvern (75).
Source: Statistics New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings, 2006
Statistics New Zealand suggests that couples without children have now become
the most numerous family type in Selwyn District. Their number is projected to
reach 7,900 by 2021 and 9,800 in 2031. At that stage, in 2031, couples without
children are projected to make up 58% of the district’s families. Two-parent families
are projected to increase only slightly (5,200 in 2021 and 5,500 in 2031). Oneparent families are projected to number 1,300 in 2021, rising to 1,600 in 2031.
HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION
In 2006, there were 11,500 private households in Selwyn District.

Around 81% of them were one-family households – a much larger
proportion than the 69% nationally.

One-person households were considerably less common in Selwyn than
around the country (15% compared with 23% nationwide).

Other multi-person households, the majority of which would be flats
containing unrelated people, accounted for 3% locally and 5% nationally.

Multi-family households made up 2% compared with 3% nationwide.
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Selwyn District, May 2013
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2. ECONOMIC SITUATION
SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEPRIVATION
The NZDep2006 index of deprivation4 shows that Selwyn District is far less socioeconomically deprived than the country as a whole. Across New Zealand, around
equal numbers of people live in areas at each of the 10 levels of deprivation. That
means that 30% of the New Zealand population lived in decile 1 to 3 areas at the
time of the 2006 Census (ie the 30% least deprived areas in the country). In
Selwyn District, 70% of residents lived in areas judged to be in those deciles.
Source: NZDep 2006 Index of Deprivation
The profile above shows an over-representation of Selwyn’s population in areas
classified as being in deciles 1, 2 and 4. In particular, people living in decile 1 areas
(among the 10% least deprived in the country) were markedly over-represented in
the district at 36% of the population. In 2006, the district had no residents living in
decile 10 areas. Around 380 people (1% of the population) lived in decile 8 and 9
areas.
4
Salmond C, Crampton P, Atkinson J, NZDep 2006 Index of Deprivation. The NZDep2006 index of
deprivation was created from data from the 2006 Census of Population and Dwellings. The index
describes the deprivation experienced by groups of people in small areas. Nine deprivation variables
were used in the construction of the index, reflecting eight dimensions of deprivation. The variables
used were the proportions of people: aged 18-64 receiving a means-tested benefit; living in
households with income below an income threshold adjusted for household size; not living in own
home; aged less than 65 living in a single-parent family; aged 18-64 unemployed; aged 18-64
without any qualifications; living in households below a bedroom occupancy threshold adjusted for
household size; with no access to a telephone; and with no access to a car.
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Selwyn District, May 2013
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Although the process of averaging can mask some substantial variation in
deprivation among small areas, it can be useful to look at average deprivation
scores for census area units. In 2006, Selwyn District had 14 habited area units –
six of which had average deprivation scores of 1 (West Melton, Rolleston,
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
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Springston, Kirwee, Prebbleton and Taitapu). Another two area units SelwynRakaia and Dunsandel) had average scores of 2. Darfield had an average
deprivation score of 5. No other area units in the district recorded a higher average
deprivation score.
PERSONAL INCOME
In 2006, Selwyn District had a higher median personal income than nationally
($28,100 compared with $24,400 around the country). The distribution of income in
the district explains that high median. Smaller-than-average proportions of Selwyn
residents had incomes of $30,000 or less. In particular, a considerably smaller
proportion had incomes between $10,001 and $20,000 (18% compared with 22%
nationally). Conversely, incomes above $30,000 were more common than
nationally.
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2006
In Selwyn District in 2006, a slightly larger proportion of Mäori than non-Mäori had
personal incomes under $10,000 (21% compared with 20%). That was reversed in
the $10,001 to $20,000 income bracket (16% versus 15%). Mäori were ahead in
income groups between $20,001 and $50,000, whereas non-Mäori surpassed
Mäori in income bands above $50,000. The largest difference was evident in the
$70,001 to $100,000 income category (2% of Mäori and 5% of non-Mäori).
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Selwyn District, May 2013
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Source: Statistics New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings, 2006
In 2006, Selwyn Mäori had higher incomes than Mäori across the country. In the
district, 26% of Mäori adults had incomes over $40,000 compared with 18%
nationwide.
FAMILY INCOME
Family incomes in Selwyn are considerably higher than nationally. In 2006, the
district’s families living in private households had a median income of $67,400,
compared with a national median of $59,000. Selwyn families were less likely than
nationally to have incomes of $50,000 or less (31% of families compared with 42%
nationwide). Conversely, they were more likely to have incomes over $50,000. The
proportion with incomes between $70,001 and $100,000 showed the greatest
difference from the country as a whole (23% of Selwyn families compared with
18%).
The highest median family incomes in the district were recorded in Rolleston and
Springston ($70,800 and $70,300 respectively). They were followed by Lincoln
($67,900), Selwyn-Rakaia ($62,700) and Dunsandel ($60,600). The remaining nine
area units all had median family incomes below the national measure, but there
was a large spread across those areas. The district’s lowest median family
incomes were recorded in Darfield ($23,000) and Malvern ($23,900). They were
followed by Kirwee, West Melton and Taitapu (all between $28,300 and $29,700),
Prebbleton ($31,600) and Burnham Military Camp ($31,800). Southbridge recorded
$54,700 and Leeston $56,700.
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Selwyn District, May 2013
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INCOME SUPPORT
PEOPLE AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER
At the end of May 2013, around 4,250 Selwyn District residents5 aged 65 years
and over were in receipt of New Zealand Superannuation.6 That number was 690
higher than two years earlier. Of those New Zealand Superannuitants in 2013, just
over 640 were also receiving a Disability Allowance and almost 110 were in receipt
of an Accommodation Supplement.
PEOPLE AGED 18 TO 64 YEARS
At the end of May 2013, around 1,110 Selwyn residents aged 18-64 years were
receiving some form of income support. That was just over 310 fewer than two
years earlier. In 2013, the largest groups of income support recipients aged 18-64
in Selwyn District consisted of:

almost 270 Invalid’s Beneficiaries (24% of the district’s total) – almost 10
fewer than in 2011, but 10 more than in 2012

265 DPB Sole Parent7 recipients (also 24%) – around 40 fewer than in both
2011 and 2012

almost 180 Sickness Beneficiaries8 (16%) – around 20 fewer than in 2011,
but around 30 more than in 2012

155 Non Beneficiaries9 (14%) – around 80 down on the number in 2011

almost 110 New Zealand Superannuitants10 (10%) – almost 20 fewer than
in 2011
5
The statistics included in this section have been produced by the geocoding of MSD client addresses.
The figures represent all clients who lived within Selwyn District boundaries at the end of May 2011,
2012 or 2013. This method of assigning a geographic location to a client based on their address is
different from the method used to produce figures for many earlier reports. Those earlier reports relied
on identifying service centres within territorial authority boundaries and assigning a geographic location
to clients with claims managed in those relevant service centres.
6
New Zealand Superannuation is not income tested for recipients aged 65 years and over.
Supplementary benefits (eg Accommodation Supplement, Disability Allowance) are, however, subject to
an income test, so their receipt indicates clients with low incomes.
7
Includes DPB Sole Parent and Emergency Maintenance Allowance
8
Includes Sickness Benefit and Sickness Benefit Hardship
9
Non Beneficiaries are low-income people who are not receiving an income-tested benefit or a pension
from Work and Income, but who do receive a Work and Income supplementary benefit (eg an
Accommodation Supplement, a Childcare Subsidy).
10
Individuals under the age of 65 years whose spouse qualifies for New Zealand Superannuation by
meeting the age and residency criteria may be eligible to receive New Zealand Superannuation as a
‘non-qualified spouse’.
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
almost 70 Unemployment Beneficiaries11 (6%) – around 130 fewer than in
2011 and almost 50 down on the 2012 number.
Source: Ministry of Social Development
At the end of May 2013, Selwyn District’s income support recipients aged 18-64
years were responsible for around 760 children, of whom 430 were in the families
of DPB Sole Parent12 recipients. Of the DPB recipients with children:

42% had youngest children aged under 5 years

31% had youngest children aged 5 to 9 years

19% had youngest children aged between 10 and 13 years, and

8% had youngest children aged 14 and over.
PEOPLE AGED 17 YEARS AND UNDER
At the end of May 2013, 15 Selwyn District teenagers under the age of 18 were
receiving income support. The majority (four fifths) were Invalid’s Beneficiaries,
with the remainder consisting of Youth Payment or Young Parent Payment13
recipients.
11
Includes Unemployment Benefit and Unemployment Benefit Hardship
12
Includes DPB Sole Parent and Emergency Maintenance Allowance
13
From 20 August 2012, young people aged 16-18 applying for financial assistance or disengaged from
education have been referred to Youth Service if they met the qualifying criteria. Clients receiving YP
and YPP are subject to activity obligations and money management, and are required to engage
with a service provider or specialist case worker.
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HOUSEHOLD FACILITIES
In 2006, the percentages of Selwyn households with access to a telephone, the
Internet, or a vehicle were as follows:

97% had a landline telephone compared with 92%

79% had access to a cell phone or mobile phone (74% nationally)

71% had Internet access (61% nationally), and

98% had access to a motor vehicle (92% nationwide).
In 2006, Selwyn’s youth age groups were considerably more likely than their
counterparts across the country to live in households with access to the Internet.
Around 87% of 12-14 year-olds, 85% of 15-19 year-olds and 70% of 20-24 yearolds had Internet access at home, compared with 71%, 68% and 61% respectively
nationwide.
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3. EMPLOYMENT
At the time of the 2006 Census, around 19,040 Selwyn residents were employed.
That was 75% of the population aged 15 and over compared with 65% nationally.
Around 77% of the district’s employed residents worked full time, the same
proportion as nationally.
The 2006 Census recorded 2.3% of the Selwyn labour force as unemployed, a
considerably smaller proportion than the 5.1% national rate at the time. In March
2006, that equated to 450 people unemployed in the district.
In 2006, 75% of Selwyn’s Mäori adults were employed, the same proportion as
non-Mäori. Full-time employment was undertaken by 62% of the district’s Mäori
aged 15 years and over, compared with 57% of non-Mäori. The Mäori
unemployment rate (the unemployed as a percentage of the employed plus the
unemployed) in Selwyn in 2006 was 3.7% compared with 2.2% for non-Mäori.
Compared with the country as a whole, the district’s Mäori had a much lower
unemployment rate (11.0% nationally), and the non-Mäori rate was also lower in
the district (4.2% nationally). In 2006, both Mäori and non-Mäori had higher
employment rates than across the country (75% of both groups of adults in Selwyn
District were in employment compared with 62% of Mäori and 66% of non- Mäori
nationwide).
In 2006, Selwyn’s 15-19 year-olds were also more likely to be employed than their
counterparts across the country. Around 25% of the district’s 15-19 year-olds were
recorded as working full time at the time of the 2006 Census (21% nationally), and
another 29% were working part time (26% nationwide). The district’s 20-24 yearolds were also more likely to be employed than their age group nationally (65%
worked full time compared with 53% across the country, and 15% were employed
part time compared with 16% nationally). Around 6% of Selwyn’s 15-19 year-olds
and 4% of the 20-24 year-olds were unemployed at the time of the Census,
compared with 10% and 7% respectively across the country.
LOCATION OF EMPLOYMENT
In 2006, 7,970 Selwyn residents (49% of those who answered the workplace
question in the Census) were employed in the district. Christchurch City was the
next most popular work location, attracting almost as many (48%).
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MAIN LOCATIONS FOR S ELWYN D ISTRICT RESIDENTS TO BE
EMPLOYED , 2006
Location of employment
Number of Selwyn District
residents employed
Selwyn District
7,968
Christchurch City
7,767
Ashburton District
132
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2006
In 2006, 10,940 people were employed within Selwyn District’s boundaries. As well
as the 7,970 workers sourced locally, Selwyn attracted 2,430 workers from
Christchurch City, 150 from Ashburton District and 130 from Waimakariri District.
INDUSTRY
The main industries employing Selwyn District residents reflect its rural nature and
the importance of agriculture to its economy. In 2006, the largest employers were:

agriculture, forestry and fishing, which together employed 18% of Selwyn’s
working residents – more than twice the 7% nationally

manufacturing (12% both locally and nationally)

the retail trade (8% in the region and 10% nationally)

public administration and safety (8% - twice the national proportion)

three industries (construction, education and training, and health care and
social assistance), which each employed 7% (8%, 8% and 9% across the
country)

professional, scientific and technical services (6% of all employed residents
in Selwyn compared with 8% nationally)

transport, postal and warehousing (5% compared with 4% nationwide), and

the wholesale trade (5% both locally and nationally).
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Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2006
In 2006, the largest employers of Selwyn District’s 15-19 year-olds were the retail
trade (22% of all employed in that age group), agriculture, forestry and fishing
(16%), accommodation and food services (13%) and public administration and
safety and manufacturing (9% each). The employment of Selwyn’s 20-24 year-olds
was a little different. Just over one-fifth (21%) were employed in public
administration and safety, agriculture, forestry and fishing accounted for 16%, the
retail trade employed 11%, and 10% were employed in manufacturing.
EMPLOYMENT IN 2012
Statistics New Zealand’s Business Directory shows that in February 2012, the
largest industries in terms of the number of ‘employees’14 in Selwyn District were:
agriculture, forestry and fishing (19% of all employees), public administration and
safety (17%), education and training (13%), manufacturing (9%), and construction
and professional, scientific and technical services (7% each).
In terms of the number of ‘geographic units’15 operating in the district, the largest
numbers were in agriculture, forestry and fishing (41% of total units in the district),
rental, hiring and real estate services (18%), construction (9%) and professional,
scientific and technical services (5%).
The following table shows the number of geographic units and employees in
Selwyn District over the last five years, since the global recession took effect in
2008. The number of geographic units in the district rose slightly between 2008 and
14
Wage and salary earners
15
Individual work locations (e.g. a supermarket, a factory, a petrol station, a warehouse)
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
29
2009, stayed at around that level in 2010, fell slightly in 2011 and then rose in
2012. The number of employees fell between 2008 and 2009, but rose in each of
the following three years.
N UMBER OF GEOGRAPHIC UNITS AND EMPLOYEES IN S ELWYN
D ISTRICT , F EBRUARY 2008 - 2012
Year
Geographic Units
Number of employees
2008
5,343
12,650
2009
5,359
12,440
2010
5,358
12,710
2011
5,349
12,820
2012
5,407
13,920
Source: Statistics New Zealand Business Directory
OCCUPATION
In 2006, the distribution of occupations in Selwyn was different from the country as
a whole. Professionals were under-represented, while occupation types associated
with primary industry made up larger-than-average proportions of the workforce.

Managers (the occupation to which farmers are coded) accounted for 23%
of all employed in the district compared with 18% nationally.

Professionals accounted for 16% compared with 20% nationally.

Labourers made up 13% (12% nationally).

Technicians and trades workers made up 12% locally and 13% country
wide.

Clerical and administrative workers also accounted for 12% of employed
residents locally and 13% nationwide.

Community and personal service workers made up 10% (8% nationally).

Sales workers accounted for 7% locally and 10% nationally.

Machinery operators and drivers made up 6% both in the district and
across the country.
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
30
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2006
In 2006, the largest proportion (27%) of Selwyn’s employed 15-19 year-olds were
labourers, with another 21% working as sales workers, 18% as community and
personal service workers, and 12% as technicians and trades workers. The most
common occupations for the district’s employed 20-24 year-olds were community
and personal service workers (24%), labourers (20%), technicians and trades
workers, and managers (both 12%), and sales workers (10%).
TRAVEL TO WORK
Employed people in Selwyn District have a reasonably similar travel-to-work
pattern to workers nationally. In 2006:

driving a private vehicle was the single most common way for people to
travel to work on Census Day (50% of all employed residents in Selwyn
district and 51% nationally)

15% of employed residents worked at home – a larger proportion than the
9% nationally, undoubtedly because of the large number of farmers

12% drove a company vehicle to work (11% across the country)

11% did not go to work on Census Day, the same proportion as nationally,
and

5% walked or jogged to work (6% nationwide).
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
31
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2006
HOURS OF WORK
At the 2006 Census, Selwyn District residents were as likely to work part time as
workers across the country – with 22% of the district’s employed reporting fewer
than 30 hours per week. Among those employed full time, longer working hours
were more common than nationally. Around 11% of the district’s employed worked
30-39 hours per week (13% nationally) and 36% reported working 40-49 hours per
week (43% nationally). The 15% reporting 50-59 hours of work per week was
larger than nationally, as was the 15% working 60 or more hours (12% and 10%
respectively across the country). Those longer working hours were no doubt
related to the relatively high proportion of workers employed on the land.
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2006
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
32
4. HOUSING
TENURE
In 2006, Selwyn District households had a considerably higher rate of home
ownership than households across the country. Two-thirds (67%) of the district’s
private households owned their dwelling (55% nationally), and 11% had their
homes held in family trusts (12% nationally). Just over one-fifth (21%) of Selwyn
households did not own the dwelling in which they lived, compared with 33% of
households nationwide.
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2006
In 2006, Selwyn’s youth were considerably more likely than their counterparts
across New Zealand to live in homes owned by their household. Among 12-14
year-olds, 70% lived in dwellings owned by household members compared with
54% nationally, and 12% lived in homes held in family trusts (13% nationwide).
Just over two-thirds (68%) of 15-19 year-olds lived in dwellings owned by their
household and another 12% lived in homes held in family trusts (51% and 12%
respectively). Among the district’s 20-24 year-olds, 45% lived in homes owned by
their household and 10% lived in homes held in family trusts (34% and 8%
nationwide).
In 2006, 55% of Selwyn Mäori owned or partly owned their usual residence, and a
further 6% held their dwellings in family trusts. By comparison a larger 69% of nonMäori owned their homes and 12% held them in trusts. Selwyn Mäori had a
different pattern of home ownership from nationally. Across the country, 55% of
Mäori lived in homes that were not owned by household members compared with
39% of Selwyn Mäori.
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
33
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2006
SECTOR OF LANDLORD
The 2006 Census showed that, as is the case across the country, the private
sector owns the overwhelming majority (81%) of the properties rented by Selwyn
households (82% nationwide). State-owned corporations, enterprises, departments
or ministries (other than Housing New Zealand Corporation) were in second place
with 17% of rented properties. The District Council and Housing New Zealand
Corporation each accounted for 1%.
STATE HOUSING
At the end of 2012, Housing New Zealand Corporation managed 16 properties in
Selwyn District. Six of those were located in the West Melton area unit while the
remainder were scattered across Lincoln, Leeston, Dunsandel, Springston and
Darfield.
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
34
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
35
RENTS
The 2006 Census showed that rents in Selwyn District were lower than average (a
mean weekly rent of $190 compared with $225 across the country, and a median
weekly rent of $160 compared with $201 nationwide).
More recent Tenancy Services data shows a different picture. Over the six months
ending June 2013, houses with three-bedrooms were the most common type of
rental property in Selwyn. The average weekly rent for a three-bedroomed house in
Banks Peninsula/Selwyn Districts was $394 compared with $364 across the
country. Four-bedrooom properties were the second most common type of rental.
Such properties were rented in Banks Peninsula/Selwyn for an average $463 per
week compared with $470 nationwide.
ACCOMMODATION SUPPLEMENT (AS)
At the end of May 2013, just over 790 Selwyn District residents16 were being paid
the Accommodation Supplement – just over 200 fewer than two years earlier. In
2013, the largest groups of AS recipients in Selwyn District were:

just over 220 DPB Sole Parent17 recipients (28% of all AS recipients in the
district) – around 40 fewer than two years earlier

around 130 Invalid’s Beneficiaries (17%) – a fall of around 20 on the
number in 2011

a little under 130 Non-beneficiaries18 (16%) – just over 70 fewer than two
years earlier

around 120 Sickness Beneficiaries19 (15%) – 20 fewer than in 2011 but
around a dozen up on the 2012 number

almost 110 New Zealand Superannuitants (14%) – around 20 down on
2011 but a similar number to 2012
16
The statistics included in this section have been produced by the geocoding of MSD client addresses.
The figures represent all clients who lived within Selwyn District boundaries at the end of May 2011,
2012 or 2013. This method of assigning a geographic location to a client based on their address is
different from the method used to produce figures for many earlier reports. Those earlier reports
relied on identifying service centres within territorial authority boundaries and assigning a geographic
location to clients with claims managed in those relevant service centres.
17
Includes DPB Sole Parent and Emergency Maintenance Allowance
18
Non Beneficiaries are low-income people who are not receiving an income-tested benefit or a pension
from Work and Income, but who do receive a Work and Income supplementary benefit (e.g. an
Accommodation Supplement, a Childcare Subsidy).
19
Includes Sickness Benefit and Sickness Benefit Hardship
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
36

just over 50 Unemployment Beneficiaries20 (7%) – almost 90 fewer than in
2011.
Source: Ministry of Social Development
In May 2013, a little under 1% of Accommodation Supplement recipients in Selwyn
District were under the age of 18 years, 85% were aged 18-64 years, and 15%
were aged 65 or over. People in rented accommodation accounted for more than
half (58%) of all AS recipients in the district, 21% were boarding and another 21%
owned their home.
20
Includes Unemployment Benefit and Unemployment Benefit Hardship
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
37
5. EDUCATION
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
The distribution of educational qualifications across Selwyn’s population aged 15
years and over is quite similar to the national picture. In 2006, a slightly smallerthan-average 23% of the district’s adult population had no educational qualification
(25% nationally). Around 38% had school qualifications (35% nationwide), and
26% had post-school certificates or diplomas (24% nationally). In contrast, a lowerthan-average 9% had a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent (11% nationwide). Both in
the region and across the country, 5% held post-graduate qualifications.
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2006
In 2006, Selwyn Mäori were more likely than non-Mäori to have no qualifications
(31% of those aged 15 and over compared with 22%), and slightly more likely to
have school qualifications (40% compared with 38%). They were less likely to have
any other form of qualification (21% had post-school certificates or diplomas, 6%
had Bachelor’s degrees or the equivalent, and 2% had post-graduate qualifications
compared with 26%, 9% and 5% respectively of non-Mäori).
Selwyn Mäori held more qualifications in 2006 than total Mäori across New
Zealand. In Selwyn, 31% had no qualification compared with 40% of Mäori
nationally. The main difference between the two groups was in the proportion with
school qualifications (40% of Selwyn Mäori compared with 32% of all Mäori).
The following graph shows the proportions of Mäori and non-Mäori in Selwyn with
each type of qualification as their highest educational achievement.
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
38
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2006
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
At 1 July 2012, there were around 2,240 children21 on the regular rolls of licensed
early childhood education service providers in Selwyn District. Excluding the small
number of enrolments of 5 year-olds, that was 74% of the estimated number of
children aged 0 to 4 years – a larger proportion than the 62% nationally.
At each year of age except 5, the proportion of Selwyn District children enrolled in
early childhood education was higher than the national proportion. The difference
was largest among 3 year-olds. More than the estimated number of children that
age were enrolled in Selwyn, compared with 94% nationally.
Both in Selwyn and across the country, 3 and 4 year-olds made up the bulk of early
childhood education enrolments (respectively 30% and 32% of enrolments in the
district). In Selwyn, both those age groups recorded more early childhood
education enrolments than the number of children of those aged estimated by
Statistics New Zealand to live in the district. Those statistics indicate a strong
likelihood of children from other areas being enrolled in Selwyn, or some Selwyn
children being enrolled with more than one provider.
21
Early childhood education statistics count enrolments and not children. It is possible for one child to
be enrolled in two services at the same time and be counted twice.
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
39
Source: Ministry of Education
In mid-2012, Selwyn District had a variety of types of early childhood education
providers, but education and care centres22 dominated enrolments.
22

31 education and care centres between them had just over three-quarters
(76%) of regular enrolments compared with 60% nationally.

10 Playcentres had 14% of enrolments in Selwyn – twice the national
proportion.

Two kindergartens accounted for 5% compared with a much larger 18%
across the country.

Two home-based services accounted for 4% of the district’s total (9%
nationwide)

Selwyn District had no Köhanga Reo in mid-2012, whereas across the
country 5% of enrolments were with that type of provider.
Education and care centres provide either sessional, all-day, or flexible hour programmes for children
from birth to school age. They can be privately owned, non-profit making, or operated as an adjunct
to the main purpose of a business or organisation.
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
40
Source: Ministry of Education
SELWYN DISTRICT SCHOOLS
Selwyn District contains 12 full primary schools, 11 contributing schools (offering
education up to intermediate school), and three secondary schools offering
education up to year 15. In May 2013, the roll totals of these schools were as
follows.
N UMBER OF S ELWYN D ISTRICT SCHOOLS BY TYPE AND ROLLS , MAY
2013
School type
Number of
schools
Years
Rolls
Full primary
12
1–8
3,277
Contributing
11
1–6
1,270
Secondary
3
7 or 9 – 15
2,796
Total
26
7,343
Source: Ministry of Education
Across the district’s student population, 85% were European / Pākehā, 8% were
Māori, 2% were Asian, 1% were Pasifika students and the remaining 3% were
other ethnicities, including international students.23
23
The Ministry of Education counts only one ethnicity for each student.
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
41
For funding purposes the Ministry of Education attaches a decile rating24 to each
school. This indicates the extent to which a school draws its students from low
socio-economic communities. Decile 1 schools are the 10% of schools with the
highest proportion of students from low socio-economic communities, whereas
decile 10 schools are the 10% of schools with the lowest proportion of these
students.
In April 2013, no schools in Selwyn District were assessed as being decile 1, 2 or
3. One school was assessed as decile 4 while all other schools were ranked decile
6 to 10. Eight of the district’s schools were decile 10 and nine were decile 9. Those
17 schools, among the 20% of New Zealand schools with the lowest proportions of
students from low socio-economic communities, between them had 72% of the
district’s school students on their rolls.
TRUANCY
In August 2006, the Ministry of Education surveyed all state and state integrated
schools to capture student attendance and absence over one week.25 The survey
showed that Selwyn District had a lower truancy rate than nationally (2.2%
compared with 4.1% across the country), resulting from all types of school
surveyed in the district recording lower-than-average rates of truancy.
The district’s full primary and contributing schools recorded truancy rates of less
than 1% (0.6% and 0.8% respectively compared with 1.6% and 1.9% across the
country). The district’s secondary schools also recorded truancy rates substantially
below the country as a whole. Schools offering year 7-15 education had a 2.8%
truancy rate compared with 5.0% nationally, and schools offering year 9-15
education recorded 5.2% (9.2% nationwide).
24
From 1 January 2005, five factors have been used in determining a school's socio-economic indicator:
household income, parents' occupations, household crowding, parents' educational qualifications,
and parents receiving income support. These are based on families with school-age children within
the catchment area of the school.
25
The survey achieved a 91% response rate among schools, representing 92% of the student
population in all state and state integrated schools. During the week under study, schools classified
absences into justified, unjustified and intermittent unjustified. Truancy was defined as the sum of the
last two categories, and a truancy rate was calculated as the average (mean) daily unjustified
absence for the week per 100 students.
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
42
Source: Ministry of Education
STAND DOWNS AND SUSPENSIONS
Schools have a variety of methods available to deal with student behaviour, and
stand downs and suspensions are just two of the choices available. Both are seen
as a last resort when other options have proved unsuccessful, and only a small
number of schools in any territorial authority stand down or suspend students in
any one year.
From 2000 to 2011, the number of stand down cases in Selwyn District varied from
just under 80 in 2008 to almost 240 in 2003 – an annual average of 137. From
2000 to 2003, the district’s stand down rate was higher than the national rate, but
from 2004 the reverse has been true. Most recently, in 2011, 16 stand down cases
were recorded per 1,000 students in Selwyn compared with 25 per 1,000
nationwide. Over the 12-year period, the most common reason for stand downs
from Selwyn schools was continual disobedience (30% of the total). Physical
assault on other students and verbal assault on staff each accounted for 18%,
‘other harmful or dangerous behaviour’ was the reason for 9%, and drugs
(including substance abuse) and alcohol were each behind 6%.
Suspensions are far less common than stand downs. From 2000 to 2011, Selwyn
schools between them averaged 28 suspension cases each year. In all years, the
suspension rate in Selwyn was equal to or lower than the national rate. Most
recently, in 2011, 3 suspension cases were recorded in the district per 1,000
students, compared with 5 per 1,000 nationwide. As with stand downs, the main
reason for suspension in Selwyn across the 12 years was continual disobedience
(25% of all cases). Other important reasons for suspension from the district’s
schools were drugs (including substance abuse) (19%), alcohol (15%), and
physical assault on other students (10%).
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
43
EXCLUSIONS AND EXPULSIONS
Following a suspension, a school’s Board of Trustees can lift the suspension (with
or without conditions), extend the suspension (with conditions), or terminate the
student's enrolment at the school. If the student is aged under 16, the board may
decide to exclude him or her from the school, with the requirement that the student
enrols elsewhere. If the student is aged 16 or over, the board may decide to expel
him or her from the school, and the student may enrol at another school.
From 2000 to 2011, Selwyn District recorded just a few cases of exclusion each
year – fewer than 5 in most years. The most common reasons for exclusion were
continual disobedience, drugs (including substance abuse), and physical assault
on other students or staff. Over the 12-year period, next to no expulsions were
recorded in the district.
SCHOOL LEAVERS WITH LITTLE OR NO FORMAL ATTAINMENT
In almost all of the years from 1993 to 2011, the proportion of students leaving
Selwyn secondary schools with little or no formal attainment was lower than
nationally. The largest gap of 16 percentage points occurred in 1998, when just 2%
of Selwyn school leavers had little or no formal attainment compared with 18%
nationally. Over the last few years, both the national rate and the local rate have
fallen as more students have been achieving under NCEA and efforts have been
made to reduce the number of early leaving exemptions. Most recently, in 2011, a
little under 2% of Selwyn school leavers had little or no formal attainment,
compared with 6% across the country.
Source: Ministry of Education
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
44
EARLY LEAVING EXEMPTIONS
From 2000 to 2006, early leaving exemptions were granted to an average of 23
Selwyn students each year. In 2010, the number dropped to 10, falling to fewer
than 5 in the following three years. Over those 11 years, around six in every 10 of
the district’s exempted students left to attend training provider courses. Almost
40% left for full-time employment and the remainder enrolled in polytechnic
courses.
TERTIARY DESTINATIONS
In almost all years from 2001 to 2011, the proportion of students leaving Selwyn
District’s secondary schools to enrol in tertiary education or training the following
year was similar to or higher than the national average. As the graph below shows,
the difference between the two proportions was slight in most years, but the
Selwyn proportion was noticeably higher than the national proportion from 2005 to
2008 and in 2010. In 2011, the Selwyn proportion fell below the national rate (48%
of the district’s previous years’ school leavers enrolled in tertiary education or
training, compared with 55% respectively across the country).
Source: Ministry of Education
The Selwyn District students who leave school for tertiary education tend to make
slightly different choices from students nationwide. Nationally, between 2001 and
2011, the largest proportions of first-year tertiary enrolments by people who were at
school the year before were at universities (48%), followed by polytechnics (32%)
and private training establishments (17%). The first-year tertiary enrolments of
Selwyn school leavers followed a different pattern, with polytechnic courses
proving more popular than nationally, and universities less popular. Over the 11
years, 44% of Selwyn school leavers’ first-year tertiary enrolments were at
polytechnics, 37% were at universities, and 17% were at private training
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
45
establishments. Wānanga and the former colleges of education accounted for the
remaining 2%.
Particular institutions stood out as attracting the district’s students.

Of the 1,110 first-year polytechnic enrolments by Selwyn students who left
school between 2000 and 2010, 52% were at the Christchurch Polytechnic
Institute of Technology and 24% were at Southland Institute of Technology.

Of the 920 first-year university enrolments by Selwyn school leavers over
the same period, 58% were at the University of Canterbury, 18% were at
the University of Otago, and 15% were at Lincoln University.
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
46
6. HEALTH
BIRTHS
From 2003 to 2012, around 4,760 live births were registered to women living in Selwyn
District – an average of 476 per year. The district exhibits a considerably older pattern of
childbearing than the country as a whole. Across New Zealand, women aged under 30
years were responsible for almost half (49%) of the live births registered between 2003
and 2012. In Selwyn, that age group produced 36% of the newborns.
Over the ten-year period, 30-34 year-old women produced the largest proportion (36%) of
babies in Selwyn, followed by 35-39 year-olds (23%) and 25-29 year-olds (22%). Across
the country, 30-34 year-olds also accounted for the largest proportion (29%), but 25-29
year-olds were in second place with 25%. The 20-24 and 35-39 year age groups each
accounted for 18% of the national total.
Source: Statistics New Zealand
From 2003 to 2012, teenagers accounted for 3% of live births registered to Selwyn
women compared with a 7% contribution nationwide. The graph below shows that
over the ten years, the district largely recorded a reasonably steady 2% to 4% of
births to teenage mothers, although in 2009 the rate climbed to a little under 5%.
Over the ten-year period, no live births were registered in Selwyn to girls under the
age of 15 years. Across the country, there were almost 330 such births – equating
to 0.1% of the total.
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
47
Source: Statistics New Zealand
PLUNKET INFORMATION
The Royal New Zealand Plunket Society estimates that it provides well-child
services to around 92% of the country’s newborns. In 2012, the society reported
almost 550 ‘new baby’ cases in Selwyn District – more than the total live births
registered to mothers in the district that year. Around 6% (35) of the Plunket babies
in the district were Mäori and just over a dozen (3%) were of Pacific ethnicity.
Plunket records show that in 2012, none of their newborn clients in Selwyn were
living in an NZDep decile 10 area (among the 10% most socio-economically
deprived in the country). Just 1% were living in decile 8 or 9 areas.
In 2012, the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society made almost 1,320 formal, written
referrals in Selwyn. The most common reasons for referral were dental health
(20%), growth issues (17%), nutrition (14%), breastfeeding (11%) and child
behaviour (9%). Recipients of the largest proportions of referrals in Selwyn were
Community Karitane26 (60%), dental services (19%) and General Practice teams
(7%).
Plunket also made almost 1,580 less formal recommendations in Selwyn in 2012.
The main reasons for these were immunisation (30%), dental health (16%),
26
A member of the Plunket Care delivery team who supports families in local communities to achieve
and maintain an optimum level of wellness. Interventions are delivered according to the health
and socio-cultural needs of the community.
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
48
community linkages27 (13%) and social needs28 (8%). The main recipients of these
recommendations were General Practice teams (41%), Plunket Group29 (24%),
and dental services (16%).
IMMUNISATION
Based on reports from parents and caregivers, Plunket assessed that, in 2012,
96% of the children in its client families in Selwyn were fully immunised. That was
higher than the 90% national estimate. Another 1% had incomplete immunisation
(7% nationally).
CIGARETTE SMOKING
The 1996 and 2006 censuses asked people aged 15 years and over about their
cigarette smoking habits. Nationally, smokers dropped from 24% of the adult
population in 1996 to 21% in 2006. In Selwyn District, the proportion of residents
aged 15 years and over who reported being regular cigarette smokers dropped by
the same amount, from 19% to 16%. In 2006, the district’s adult residents were:

considerably less likely than nationally to be regular cigarette smokers
(16% compared with 21% nationally)

as likely to be ex-smokers (22% locally and nationally)

slightly more likely to have never smoked at all (61% compared with 57%
nationwide).
In 2006, Selwyn’s youth were also less likely than their counterparts across the
country to be cigarette smokers. Across the district, 13% of 15-19 year-olds and
27% of 20-24 year-olds were regular smokers. Nationally the proportions were 19%
and 30% respectively. The proportions of both age groups who were ex-smokers
were similar to nationally (5% and 12% respectively). However, there were
differences between the local and national proportions of each age group who had
never smoked (82% of 15-19 year-olds and 61% of 20-24 year-olds in Selwyn,
compared with 77% and 59% respectively across New Zealand).
Nationwide, Māori were much more likely than non-Māori to report regularly
smoking cigarettes in 2006 (42% of Māori adults compared with 18% of nonMāori). The same was true in Selwyn, although the proportions were lower (34% of
27
Includes facilitation of social networking, support and education for parents and/or caregivers
through identification of and access to appropriate, acceptable and available linkages as part of
building social capital. Includes interpreter services.
28
Includes housing issues, enrolment into early childhood educational facilities, access to finance /
budgeting services, access to food sources, clothing and other necessities.
29
Includes playgroups, education groups, parenting groups or support groups that are advertised and
facilitated by Plunket staff or volunteers.
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
49
Māori and 15% of non-Māori). At 18%, Selwyn Māori were less likely than the
district’s non-Māori to be ex-smokers (23%), but much less likely to have never
smoked regularly (48% compared with 62%).
ROAD ACCIDENTS
Over the ten years from 2002 to 2011, around 3,350 drivers were involved in road
accidents in Selwyn District. Around six in every ten (59%) of those drivers were
involved in non-injury accidents – a considerably smaller proportion than the 74%
nationally.
In comparison with the country as a whole, the district’s youngest drivers (15-19
year-olds) made slightly smaller contributions to all types of crash in the district.
They accounted for 10% of the drivers in fatal crashes, 12% of drivers in seriousinjury crashes and 13% of drivers in minor-injury crashes (12%, 14% and 14%
respectively across the country).
Young adults aged 20-24 years were generally closer to the contribution made by
their counterparts across the country, although they accounted for just 7% of
drivers in fatal crashes in the district (13% nationally). They made up 13% of
drivers in serious-injury crashes in the district and 14% of drivers in minor-injury
accidents compared with 14% for both types of crash nationwide.
Over the six years from 2006 to 2011, there were:

169 multi-vehicle, fatal and injury crashes at intersections in Selwyn District

86 fatal and injury crashes in the district involving drivers with alcohol, and

6 fatal and injury crashes in the district involving unlicensed drivers.
PUBLIC HOSPITAL DISCHARGES
In the financial year ending 30 June 2011, there were 7,350 public hospital
discharges of Selwyn District residents.30 That gave Selwyn a considerably lower
hospitalisation rate than nationally (179 discharges per 1,000 people compared
with 239 per 1,000 nationwide).
In 2010/11, the main reasons for Selwyn residents to be admitted to, and
discharged from, public hospital were reasonably similar to the country as a whole.
The 10 main reasons / diagnoses together accounted for 85% of Selwyn
discharges.

30
‘Factors influencing health status and contact with health services’
accounted for 18% of the Selwyn total (15% nationwide). This covers
circumstances other than a disease, injury or external cause, and includes
These statistics count all discharge events rather than individuals, so if a person was discharged from
hospital several times during the reference year they will count more than once in the statistics.
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
50
people encountering health services for examination, investigation, specific
procedures and health care.

Pregnancy and childbirth were behind 12% of the Selwyn total and 10%
nationally.

Accidental injury was responsible for 10% locally and 11% nationally.

Four diagnoses (diseases of the digestive system, ‘symptoms, signs and
abnormal clinical and laboratory findings’, neoplasms (cancers), and
diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue) were each
responsible for 7% of Selwyn discharges (8%, 9%, 6% and 5% respectively
countrywide.

Diseases of the respiratory system and the circulatory system were each
behind 6% of Selwyn discharges (7% for each nationally).

Diseases of the genitourinary system accounted for 5% of discharges, both
in the district and across the country.
nec = not elsewhere classified
Source: New Zealand Health Information Service
The age distribution of Selwyn’s public hospital discharges in 2010/11 was a little
different from the country as a whole. Under-20s accounted for slightly larger
proportions than nationally (16% of discharges related to under-5s, 7% were aged
5-14, and 5% were 15-19). Those aged 20-24 years made up 6% both locally and
nationally, while Selwyn’s 25-44 year-olds contributed 25% of the district total (21%
nationally). All age groups 45 and older made smaller-than-average contributions
to Selwyn discharges. Those aged 45-64 and 65-84 years each accounted for 19%
(20% and 24% nationwide). People aged 85 and over made up 3% – half the
national proportion.
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
51
The three main reasons for the hospitalisation of Selwyn children under the age of
5 were: ‘factors influencing health status and contact with health services’ (53% of
the discharges of that age group in 2010/11), diseases of the respiratory system
(11%), and certain perinatal conditions (9%). Nationwide, those reasons
respectively accounted for 44%, 13% and 11% of the discharges of under-5s.
MENTAL HEALTH
In 2010, 600 Selwyn District residents commenced mental health treatment in the
public health system. One in ten of those clients was Māori – a higher proportion
than the 6% of the population who identified as Māori in the 2006 Census.
The age distribution of the Selwyn residents who commenced mental health
treatment during 2010 was different from the country as a whole. The two main
differences related to people at both ends of the age spectrum. The youngest
clients (children under the age of 15) accounted for 17% of the district’s total
compared with 10% nationally. Young adults aged 15-29 years added 33% both
locally and nationally. The age groups from 30 to 74 years accounted for smaller
proportions than their counterparts nationally, but the district’s oldest clients (aged
75 and over) accounted for 12% of the total compared with 6% across New
Zealand.
Mental health teams had almost 740 Selwyn clients commence treatment during
2010.31 The use of mental health teams in Selwyn was a little different from
nationally. In 2010:

the Community Team32 saw 35% of the Selwyn clients commencing
treatment (39% nationally)

the Child, Adolescent and Family Team33 saw 18% of Selwyn clients and
11% nationally

Alcohol and Drug Teams, including those established to see specific age or
ethnic groups, saw 12% of Selwyn clients – a considerably smaller
proportion than the 21% nationwide

the Psychogeriatric Team34 saw 11% of Selwyn clients (5% nationwide)
31
One person can be seen by more than one team so the number of clients seen by teams will be larger
than the number of individual clients from a territorial authority.
32
Community teams provide non-residential assessment and treatment services, including outpatient
services.
33
Child, adolescent and family teams provide assessment and treatment services to people aged 0-19
years inclusive. Includes inpatient, residential or community based child, adolescent and family
teams.
34
Psychogeriatric teams provide assessment and treatment services to people aged 65 and older with
some flexibility based on the nature of the presenting problems. Includes inpatient, residential or
community-based psychogeriatric teams.
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
52

the Youth Specialty Team35 saw 6% of Selwyn clients – twice the national
proportion, and

the Inpatient Team36 saw 5%, both locally and nationally.
Source: New Zealand Health Information Service
DEATHS
From 2003 to 2012, an average of 130 Selwyn District residents died each year.
Over those 10 years, almost all age groups under the age of 80 made slightly
larger contributions to deaths in the district than they did nationally (under-40s
accounted for 8% locally compared with 5% nationally, and those aged 40-79
added 56% to the total compared with 46% nationwide). People aged 80 and over
made up 36% of the district’s deaths compared with 49% across the country.
From 1998 to 2010, the two main causes of death in Selwyn District were in
reverse order compared with the country as a whole. Neoplasms (cancers) were
the main cause of death, accounting for 39% of the 13-year total in Selwyn and
30% nationally. Diseases of the circulatory system, the main killer nationally,
accounted for 36% of deaths locally and 39% nationwide. Diseases of the
respiratory system added a further 6% of deaths in Selwyn and 9% nationwide.
35
Youth specialty teams provide assessment and treatment services to people aged 15-19 years
inclusive. Includes inpatient, residential or community-based youth specialty teams.
36
Inpatient teams provide services in a medical environment such as a hospital to eligible persons who
are in need of a period of close observation, intensive investigation or intervention.
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
53
SUICIDES
In the 18 years from 1992 to 2009, 50 Selwyn District residents took their own
lives. While that produced an average of almost 3 suicides per year, annual
numbers ranged from none to 7.
Between 1992 and 2009, 10 of those deaths (20% of Selwyn District’s suicide total)
were young people aged between 15 and 24 years. In nine of those 18 years, no
suicides of that age group were recorded in the district.
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
54
7. CRIME
RECORDED CRIMINAL OFFENCES
Selwyn District is served by several police stations: Arthurs Pass, Darfield, Hornby,
Leeston, Lincoln and Rolleston. Hornby station is located in and mainly serves
Christchurch City, so has been excluded from this analysis.37
Over the five-year period from 2008 to 2012, the catchment areas of Selwyn’s five
police stations were estimated to have contained a mean resident population of
39,586 (0.9% of New Zealand’s estimated population). Over those five years,
Selwyn police stations recorded an annual average of 1,333 criminal offences38
(0.3% of the country’s total).
The number of offences recorded by Selwyn police stations rose in 2009 and 2010,
then dropped in 2011 and fell slightly again the following year. From just over 1,250
in 2008, the total rose to around 1,360 in 2009, then to almost 1,480 in 2010. In
2011, the number of recorded offences fell to just under 1,300 and then dropped by
a further 20 in 2012.
Source: New Zealand Police
37
Police administrative boundaries do not necessarily match to territorial authority boundaries. The
statistics that follow are for the Arthurs Pass, Darfield, Leeston, Lincoln and Rolleston police
stations. These have been used as the ‘scene stations’ (i.e. the police stations within whose
boundaries criminal offences were recorded by police). This area may not correspond exactly to
Selwyn District but it is the best fit available.
38
It is possible that multiple offences will be recorded in association with a single incident. For example,
where an occupant is assaulted during a burglary, offences of burglary and assault will both be
recorded.
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
55
In each of the years from 2008 to 2012, the recorded offence rate in Selwyn was
considerably lower than nationally (33% to 38% of the national rate). Most recently,
in 2012, 304 offences were recorded per 10,000 people in the catchment area of
Selwyn’s five police stations compared with 848 per 10,000 across the country.
Source: New Zealand Police
From 2008 to 2012, five offence types together made up the large bulk (87%) of
offences recorded by Selwyn’s five police stations.

Theft and related offences accounted for 35% of offences recorded by
Selwyn police stations (32% nationally). Theft (except motor vehicles) was
the most common offence type in this category, with an average 254
recorded by Selwyn police stations each year. That was followed by motor
vehicle theft and related offences with an annual average of 191.

Property damage and environmental pollution made up 23% of the
Selwyn total (14% nationally). Almost all offences in that category consisted
of property damage (an average 301 recorded each year).

Unlawful entry with intent / burglary, breaking and entering made up
15% locally and 14% nationally. An average 201 such offences were
recorded by Selwyn police stations annually.

Public order offences made up 7% of the Selwyn total and 11%
nationally. Disorderly conduct was the most common offence in that
category (an average 85 recorded in the district each year).

Acts intended to cause injury also accounted for 7% of the local total
(10% nationally). Assault made up all offences in this category (an average
93 annually).
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
56
APPREHENSIONS
In 2012, Selwyn’s five police stations recorded 660 apprehensions39 (0.3% of the
country’s total). The age distribution of those apprehensions differed from the
country as a whole, with young people aged 14-20 years accounting for 50% of
Selwyn apprehensions. In 2012:

children under the age of 14 years made up 4% of apprehensions both
locally and nationally

14-16 year-olds accounted for 27% (more than twice the 12% nationwide)

17-20 year-olds contributed 23% compared with 22% nationally

people aged 21-30 years accounted for 20% of Selwyn apprehensions
(30% nationwide)

those aged 31-50 years accounted for 19% of the local total compared with
28% nationally, and

those aged over 50 contributed 7% locally and 5% across the country.
Source: New Zealand Police
In 2012, 75% of the apprehensions recorded by Selwyn’s five police stations
involved Caucasians, 21% involved Māori, 3% involved Pacific Islanders, and 2%
involved all other ethnicities.
39
The number of apprehensions is not the same as the number of offenders. Apprehensions do not
count distinct individuals as a person apprehended for multiple offences will be counted multiple
times in the data. An “apprehension” means that a person has been dealt with by police in some
manner to resolve an offence.
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
57
When compared with apprehensions across New Zealand in 2012, Selwyn police
stations had a considerably larger proportion relating to property damage and
environmental pollution, and smaller proportions relating to theft and related
offences and public order offences. In Selwyn, the largest proportions of
apprehensions in 2012 were for:

public order offences (18% of the Selwyn total compared with 22%
nationally)

acts intended to cause injury (16% locally and 17% nationally)

property damage and environmental pollution (also 16% in Selwyn – twice
the national proportion)

theft and related offences (11% locally and 17% nationwide)

illicit drug offences (9% compared with 11% nationally), and

unlawful entry with intent / burglary, break and enter (8% compared with
5% nationwide).
In the apprehension of adults (aged 17 and over) in 2012, the order of offences in
Selwyn was slightly different from nationally. The main offences behind adult
apprehensions by police stations in Selwyn were public order offences (21% of all
adult apprehensions), acts intended to cause injury, and property damage and
environmental pollution (both 15%), theft and related offences (10%), and unlawful
entry with intent / burglary, breaking and entering (9%). Across New Zealand, the
largest proportions of adult apprehensions were for public order offences (23%),
acts intended to cause injury (18%), theft and related offences (14%), and illicit
drug offences (12%).
Apprehensions of under-17 year-olds in Selwyn follow a different pattern from
nationally. In 2012, the most common reasons for the apprehension of that age
group by Selwyn police stations were:

acts intended to cause injury (20% of all apprehensions involving under-17
year-olds in Selwyn in 2012, and 11% across the country)

property damage and environmental pollution (also 20% locally compared
with 16% nationally)

illicit drug offences (17% compared with a much smaller 4% across the
country)

theft and related offences (13% as opposed to a much larger 32%
nationally)

public order offences (10% locally and 14% nationally)

unlawful entry with intent / burglary, breaking and entering (6% - half the
national proportion).
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
58
Source: New Zealand Police
RESOLUTION OF APPREHENSIONS
In 2012, Selwyn police stations recorded almost 460 apprehensions of adults (aged
17 and over). In that year, the resolution of those apprehensions followed a similar
pattern to nationally: 52% resulted in prosecution compared with 64% nationally,
43% were resolved through warning or cautioning (33% nationally), and 5%
through ‘other’ means40 (3% across the country).
In 2012, Selwyn police stations recorded just over 200 apprehensions of children
and young people under the age of 17 years. Their pattern of resolution was
somewhat different from nationally.
40

Warning or cautioning was the main method used by Selwyn police
stations, resolving 41% of apprehensions of under-17 year-olds in 2012
compared with a smaller 25% nationwide.

Referral to Youth Aid was used to resolve 32% in Selwyn, but was the main
resolution method nationally, accounting for 45% of the national total.

The proportions resolved through prosecution were similar locally and
nationally (21% in Selwyn and 22% across the country).

‘Other’ means of resolution accounted for 5% locally and 3% nationally.

Family Group Conferences Youth Justice were used to resolve 1% in
Selwyn and 4% nationwide.
These means include all the ways police may deal with an apprehension other than the formal
categories. For example, they may find that the offender has a mental condition, is already in
custody or has died. In those cases, no further action is taken other to document the offence.
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
59
FAMILY VIOLENCE INVESTIGATIONS
In 2013, Police released statistics from a new, dynamic, operational family violence
data set that is still under development. The data covers the number of family
violence investigations undertaken, including those where an offence was found to
have occurred and those where no offence was detected.41
From 2008 to 2012, Selwyn’s five police stations recorded just under 970 family
violence investigations – an average of 193 per year, although the number varied
over the five years. In 2008, Selwyn police stations undertook just over 170 family
violence investigations. The number rose slightly to just over 180 in 2009, then
increased again to almost 200 in 2010. A further increase was recorded in 2011, to
just under 220. In 2012, the number fell back to just under 200. It should be noted
that many factors influence police decisions to undertake family violence
investigations and these change over time. As a consequence, police advise
against using their family violence investigation statistics to draw any inferences
about trends in the incidence of family violence.
Source: New Zealand Police
The above graph shows the number of family violence investigations by Selwyn
police stations where an offence was found to have occurred and the number
where no offence was detected. Across the five years, 42% of Selwyn’s family
violence investigations resulted in an offence being found (50% across the
country). The graph shows that in Selwyn, 2012 was the only year in which the
number of investigations where an offence was found to have occurred was larger
than the number where no offence was detected.
41
Family violence investigations are jobs Police deal with as ‘family violence’. A family violence
investigation may relate to one or more offences and/or non-offence incidents.
Community Statistical Profile
Selwyn District, May 2013
60