Cust, New Zealand
Town in Canterbury, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cust is a rural village in the South Island of New Zealand. It is located in North Canterbury and comes under seat of the Waimakariri District Council. It is located approximately 16 km east of Oxford and 17 km west of Rangiora.[6][7] The town is named after General Sir Edward Cust, who was a member of the Canterbury Association which organised European settlement of the area around 1850. Earlier names for the town were Moeraki Downs and Middleton-on-the-Cust.[8]
Cust | |
|---|---|
Village | |
The main street of Cust - Cust Rd | |
 Interactive map of Cust | |
| Coordinates: 43°18′40″S 172°22′55″E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Canterbury |
| Territorial authority | Waimakariri District |
| Ward | Rangiora-Ashley Ward |
| Community | Rangiora-Ashley Community |
| Electorates |
|
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Waimakariri District Council |
| • Regional council | Environment Canterbury |
| • Mayor of Waimakariri | Dan Gordon[2] |
| • Waimakariri MP | Matt Doocey |
| • Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.75 km2 (0.29 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2025)[5] | |
• Total | 250 |
| • Density | 330/km2 (860/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode | 7471 and 7475 |
| Area code | 03 |
| Local iwi | Ngāi Tahu (Kāi Tahu) |
Education
Cust School is Cust's only school. It is a state co-educational full primary school[9] with a decile rating of 10 and a roll of 131 students (as of March 2026).[10] The principal is Miriam Bell. The school opened in 1867 as Cust Valley School, and moved to its present site in 1876.[11][12]
Summerhill School started as a side school of Cust in 1879 and became independent in 1883. It closed in 1943.[13]
Stoke School opened in 1870. It moved to Springbank in 1823 and closed in 1975.[11]
Demographics
Cust is described by Stats NZ as a rural settlement and covers 0.75 km2 (0.29 sq mi).[4] It had an estimated population of 250 as of June 2025[5], with a population density of 333 people per km2. Cust is part of the larger Starvation Hill-Cust statistical area.[14]
Cust had a population of 264 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 12 people (−4.3%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 24 people (−8.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 129 males, 132 females, and 3 people of other genders in 114 dwellings.[19] 1.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 59.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 39 people (14.8%) aged under 15 years, 24 (9.1%) aged 15 to 29, 105 (39.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 99 (37.5%) aged 65 or older.[15]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 98.9% European (Pākehā), and 4.5% Māori. English was spoken by 98.9%, Māori by 2.3%, and other languages by 5.7%. No language could be spoken by 1.1% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 18.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.[15]
Religious affiliations were 30.7% Christian, and 2.3% New Age. People who answered that they had no religion were 62.5%, and 4.5% of people did not answer the census question.[15]
Of those at least 15 years old, 48 (21.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 132 (58.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 45 (20.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $37,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 15 people (6.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 93 (41.3%) full-time, 45 (20.0%) part-time, and 3 (1.3%) unemployed.[15]
Starvation Hill-Cust statistical area
Starvation Hill-Cust statistical area covers 181.65 km2 (70.14 sq mi).[20] It had an estimated population of 2,410 as of June 2025,[21] with a population density of 13.3 people per km2.
Starvation Hill-Cust had a population of 2,397 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 180 people (8.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 447 people (22.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,191 males, 1,194 females, and 9 people of other genders in 870 dwellings.[24] 1.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 47.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 450 people (18.8%) aged under 15 years, 303 (12.6%) aged 15 to 29, 1,143 (47.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 498 (20.8%) aged 65 or older.[22]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 94.9% European (Pākehā); 6.0% Māori; 0.3% Pasifika; 1.8% Asian; 0.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 4.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.2%, Māori by 1.1%, Samoan by 0.1%, and other languages by 7.3%. No language could be spoken by 1.5% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 18.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.[22]
Religious affiliations were 29.3% Christian, 0.1% Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, and 0.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 60.1%, and 9.0% of people did not answer the census question.[22]
Of those at least 15 years old, 432 (22.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,110 (57.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 399 (20.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $42,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 285 people (14.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 945 (48.5%) full-time, 390 (20.0%) part-time, and 21 (1.1%) unemployed.[22]
Motorcycle racing
Between 1936 and 1963, Cust was a significant center for New Zealand motorcycle racing. The first New Zealand Grand Prix (organised road race) was held at Cust on Easter 1936, attracting approximately 6,000 spectators to the gravel-road circuit. The inaugural race featured 24 starters and was won by W. Nelson in 2 hours, 41 minutes, and 12.6 seconds.[25]
The annual Easter event grew significantly over the following decades, with crowds occasionally swelling the village population to 25,000. The races were held on a metalled-road circuit until 1963, when the Grand Prix was relocated to the Ruapuna race track in Christchurch.[26]
Cust Museum
The Cust Museum, located at 1725 Main Road, is a local history museum administered by the Cust and Districts Historical Records Society. It is housed in the former offices of the Waimakariri-Ashley Water Supply Board, a building noted for its connection to the region's early water management and engineering history.
The museum's collection focuses on the social and natural history of the district—an area bounded by Bennetts, Fernside, the Ashley River / Rakahuri, and the Waimakariri River. Key exhibits include:
- Heritage displays: Artifacts and narratives documenting the lives of early colonial and agricultural settlers in North Canterbury.
- Genealogical research: A repository of historical records curated for family history research, serving descendants of the area's original settler families.[27]
Local folklore
The township is known for reports of paranormal activity, particularly at the historic Cust Pub. Local tradition describes a spirit known as "Mary" who is said to inhabit the upper floor. In 2025, restaurateur Philip Kraal reopened the pub; despite initial skepticism, Kraal reported an unexplained late-night incident that contributed to the site's reputation as a local attraction for ghost stories.[28]
