The Pines Beach
Human settlement in Waimakariri District, Canterbury Region, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Pines Beach is a small town situated roughly 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) east of Kaiapoi in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is 1 km (0.62 mi) north of the mouth of the Waimakariri River. It takes its name from its close proximity to both a pine forest and the beach.
The Pines Beach | |
|---|---|
Pines Beach after the 2010 Canterbury earthquake | |
 Interactive map of The Pines Beach | |
| Coordinates: 43°22′48″S 172°42′06″E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Canterbury |
| Territorial authority | Waimakariri District |
| Ward | Kaiapoi-Woodend Ward |
| Community | Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi Community |
| Electorates |
|
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Waimakariri District Council |
| • Regional council | Environment Canterbury |
| • Mayor of Waimakariri | Dan Gordon[1] |
| • Waimakariri MP | Matt Doocey[2] |
| • Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.60 km2 (0.23 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2025)[5] | |
• Total | 330 |
| • Density | 550/km2 (1,400/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode | 7692 |
| Area code | 03 |
| Local iwi | Ngāi Tahu |
The Pines Beach is a relatively small town. The majority of the area consists of residential housing and a park called "The Pines Beach Oval". The village store was demolished after the September 2010 Canterbury earthquake, along with a considerable number of the houses in the village, which were placed into a residential red zone by the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority.[6] Empty green spaces upon entering the village from Beach Road is all that remains of these earlier parts of the settlement.
The Oval is a small section of land in the centre of the town. It is in the shape of an oval and has a playground, basketball court, swings, a skate park and a BMX track. An annual gala is held on the Oval.
Demographics
The Pines Beach is described by Stats NZ as a rural settlement, which covers 0.60 km2 (0.23 sq mi).[4] It had an estimated population of 330 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 550 people per km2. The Pines Beach is part of the larger Pegasus Bay statistical area.[7]
The Pines Beach had a population of 324 in the 2023 New Zealand census, unchanged since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 27 people (−7.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 156 males, 162 females, and 3 people of other genders in 138 dwellings.[10] 4.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 44.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 48 people (14.8%) aged under 15 years, 48 (14.8%) aged 15 to 29, 183 (56.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 45 (13.9%) aged 65 or older.[8]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 88.9% European (Pākehā), 14.8% Māori, 2.8% Pasifika, 0.9% Asian, and 1.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 99.1%, Māori by 2.8%, and other languages by 3.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.[8]
Religious affiliations were 23.1% Christian, 0.9% Māori religious beliefs, 0.9% New Age, and 0.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 63.0%, and 12.0% of people did not answer the census question.[8]
Of those at least 15 years old, 42 (15.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 168 (60.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 63 (22.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $41,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 12 people (4.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 138 (50.0%) full-time, 30 (10.9%) part-time, and 9 (3.3%) unemployed.[8]
Pegasus Bay statistical area
Pegasus Bay statistical area, which also includes Woodend Beach and Kairaki, covers 23.53 km2 (9.08 sq mi).[11] It had an estimated population of 1,030 as of June 2025,[12] with a population density of 44 people per km2.
Pegasus Bay had a population of 990 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 18 people (−1.8%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 45 people (−4.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 525 males, 462 females, and 6 people of other genders in 468 dwellings.[15] 3.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 47.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 147 people (14.8%) aged under 15 years, 135 (13.6%) aged 15 to 29, 516 (52.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 189 (19.1%) aged 65 or older.[13]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 89.1% European (Pākehā); 14.5% Māori; 1.2% Pasifika; 1.2% Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.5%, Māori by 3.6%, and other languages by 4.5%. No language could be spoken by 1.5% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.[13]
Religious affiliations were 25.5% Christian, 0.6% Islam, 1.5% Māori religious beliefs, 0.9% New Age, 0.3% Jewish, and 0.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 60.6%, and 10.0% of people did not answer the census question.[13]
Of those at least 15 years old, 108 (12.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 483 (57.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 252 (29.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $36,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 48 people (5.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 396 (47.0%) full-time, 120 (14.2%) part-time, and 21 (2.5%) unemployed.[13]