Redwood, Christchurch

Māori collected food from several areas in the Styx River catchment, but there appear to have been no permanent settlements in the area before European colonisation.^[3][4] The area was covered in low-lying raupō swamp and marshland.^[5]

Before the area was settled the original forest cover was Tōtara^[6][7] and Kahikatea. Like much of Christchurch, the early settlers drained the swamps and cut the bush to create useful farmland.^[8]

By the late 1950s many of the rural sections were being subdivided into residential houses. The row of shops near Prestons Road began opening in 1957.^[9]

The suburb was first named Styx but renamed following a popular vote of local residents in the 1960s.^[10] Voters were asked to choose between Caselwood, Clearview, Northpark, Redpark and Redwood.^[11] The name comes from a large protected redwood tree still standing on Prestons Road.^[12][13] The tree was planted in the late 19th century by Thomas Preston, who was an early settler in the area and after whom Prestons Road is named.^[13][14]

The site of Redwood Park was purchased in 1960 to be used for a secondary school.^[15] By 1963 the plan for a high school had been abandoned. The land was made the Sturrocks Road Reserve, and was being prepared for a sports ground and kindergarten.^[16] By 1964 the plans had been extended to include a community centre.^[17] By the end of the year the sports field had been levelled and sown with grass. A bonfire was lit on Guy Fawkes Night to raise money for the project.^[18] In 1965 the industrial park on the corner of Sturrocks and Cavendish roads was established.^[19] In 1967 the reserve was renamed to Redwood Park.^[20]

The Redwood Public Library opened on 9 November 1968.^[21] The octagonal^[21] building was designed by Waimairi County Council architect Len Wooding.^[22] The library building also contains a child care centre.^[23] A public toilet and plunket rooms were also built in front of the library.^[22] The plunket rooms are now used by a community group.^[24]

The suburb underwent a rapid expansion beginning in the 1970s.^[25][26] The Redwood scout hall was constructed between 1978 and 1980.^[27] In 1986 a refuse transfer station was opened^[28] on the northern side of Styx Mill Road.^[29] The refuse station was the subject of some community pushback.^[30][31][32]

The area was originally part of the Waimairi County but was amalgamated into Christchurch City Council as part of the 1989 New Zealand local government reforms.^[33]

The suburb saw further growth in the 2000s, with the Regent's Park subdivision in the north-west, and the Redwood Springs subdivision in the north-east.^[34]

Redwood has its own community radio station called Classic Gold Radio Redwood 107.5FM.^[35]

Redwood covers 3.32 km² (1.28 sq mi).^[1] It had an estimated population of 8,400 as of June 2025, with a population density of 2,530 people per km².

Redwood had a population of 8,076 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 108 people (−1.3%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 36 people (−0.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 3,921 males, 4,125 females, and 30 people of other genders in 3,105 dwellings.^[38] 3.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 38.5 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,419 people (17.6%) aged under 15 years, 1,563 (19.4%) aged 15 to 29, 3,768 (46.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,326 (16.4%) aged 65 or older.^[36]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 81.2% European (Pākehā); 12.8% Māori; 3.7% Pasifika; 12.0% Asian; 1.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.0%, Māori by 2.6%, Samoan by 1.1%, and other languages by 11.9%. No language could be spoken by 2.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.9%. The percentage of people born overseas was 19.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[36]

Religious affiliations were 32.9% Christian, 1.5% Hindu, 0.5% Islam, 0.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.6%, and 6.9% of people did not answer the census question.^[36]

Of those at least 15 years old, 1,254 (18.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 3,624 (54.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,773 (26.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $40,500, compared with $41,500 nationally. 537 people (8.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 3,393 (51.0%) full-time, 903 (13.6%) part-time, and 189 (2.8%) unemployed.^[36]

Redwood is part of the Christchurch Central parliamentary electorate.^[42] The currently elected member of parliament is Duncan Webb of the Labour party.^[43][44]

Redwood is part of the Papanui Ward for Christchurch City Council local body elections.^[45] The currently elected councillor is Victoria Henstock.^[46] The area is also represented by the Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central community board.^[47]

The Main North Road is a major four-lane arterial road that runs north-south through the middle of Redwood, connecting it to both the Christchurch Central City and suburbs further north including Belfast and Kaiapoi.^[10] The Christchurch Northern Motorway runs north-south just to the east of Redwood,^[48] allowing traffic to bypass the suburb. Environment Canterbury operates several bus services that serve Redwood, including the 1,^[49] 95,^[50] 107^[51] and 125.^[52]

The Styx overbridge on Main North Road was first constructed in the mid 1930s.^[53] A second bridge was added alongside the first in 2004 to widen the road.^[53]

The Main North Railway passes through Redwood. Redwood was the location of the Styx railway station which was open to passengers between 1872 and 1977.^[54] The station was located in the area of the Redwood Springs subdivision, near the Styx overbridge. The station was finally closed in 1984.^[54]

Alongside the rail tracks west of Main North Road is the Christchurch Northern Line Cycleway that connects Redwood to the central city.^[55] The cycle path extends north through Redwood to connect to Main North Road in Belfast.^[56][57]

Redwood School and Northcote School are contributing primary schools catering for years 1 to 6.^[58][59] They have rolls of 290 and 156, respectively. Redwood School opened in 1969,^[60]: 156 and Northcote in 1960.^[60]: 119 Papanui High School is the major public high school zoned for the area.^{[10]: 8 [61][62]} St. Bedes College, a special-character integrated Catholic boys boarding school is also located in Redwood.^[63]