Springfield, New Zealand

Springfield (Māori: Tawera), called Kowai Pass until 1880, is a small town in the Selwyn District of Canterbury, in the South Island, of New Zealand. Springfield is situated in the foothills of the Southern Alps as the most westerly town of the Canterbury Plains. Springfield is 65 kilometres (40 mi) west of Christchurch on State Highway 73 (The Great Alpine Highway), 9.7 kilometres (6.0 mi) northwest of Sheffield and 22.7 kilometres (14.1 mi) from Darfield. It is located close to Porters Ski Area, Mount Cheeseman, Broken River, Temple Basin and Craigieburn ski fields.[3] Springfield has a long association with the Midland railway line.

For the suburb of Rotorua, see Springfield, Rotorua.

Springfield
Tawera (Māori)
Village
State Highway 73 passing through Springfield, with the Southern Alps beyond
State Highway 73 passing through Springfield, with the Southern Alps beyond
Coordinates: 43°20′07″S 171°55′39″E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionCanterbury
Territorial authoritySelwyn District
WardMalvern
CommunityMalvern
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial authoritySelwyn District Council
 • Regional councilEnvironment Canterbury
 • Mayor of SelwynSam Broughton
 • Selwyn MPNicola Grigg
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris
Area
[1]
 • Total1.89 km2 (0.73 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total370
 • Density200/km2 (510/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode
7681
Area code03
Local iwiNgāi Tahu

History
Springfield Hotel (2021)

The development of the town started around 1860. With the discovery of gold on the West Coast, Springfield saw more traffic.[4] The Springfield Hotel was first built in 1862. Rooms were added to it on a number of occasions enlarging the hotel so that it had 40 rooms.[4] The hotel was an important coaching stop on the route to the west coast. [5]

In the 1870s, water from the nearby Kowai River was used to develop one of the earliest stock water races in Canterbury.[5]

St Peter's Church

The town has a Gothic Revival architecture church dedicated to Saint Peter, designed by the architect Cyril Mountfort. It was the birthplace of Rewi Alley, notable for his work in China in the mid 20th century. There is an extensive memorial dedicated to him, located in a small reserve off the main road. It includes a large stone carving and a number of panels giving details of his life.

On 15 July 2007, a statue of a giant pink doughnut was erected to promote the upcoming movie, The Simpsons Movie. It was subsequently set alight and destroyed by an arsonist on 25 September 2009. A tyre painted pink was used as a substitute until it was replaced with a concrete version unveiled on 1 July 2012.[6][7]

In 2016, the start of a new subdivision called Alpine View Estate began. A new road, called Princes Street was built next to Queen and King St with a link to Victoria St.

In 2019, the town gained unwanted attention in the national and international media when the Springfield Store and Café was dubbed the rudest café in New Zealand and the police visited offering customer service advice.[8][9][10] It is now under new ownership.[11][12]

On 29 May 2021, most of the township of Springfield was evacuated due to flooding from continuous heavy rain. Bishops Gully, in the centre of the town overflowed as well as the water race. A number of properties were flooded.[13][14]

Midland Line
A Mainline Steam KA Class Locomotive at Springfield Railway Station for the 2013 Midland Mountaineer, with the Torlesse Mountain range in the background.

Springfield is a significant stop on the TranzAlpine train journey across the Southern Alps on the Midland Line. The town is also home to the Midland Rail Heritage Trust a rail preservation group that has established a base in the former NZR locomotive depot opposite the railway station.[15] The Springfield Hotel was a stop on the road west from Christchurch for horse-drawn coaches. When trains became the usual way to travel between Canterbury and the West Coast, the train station refreshment rooms were a popular stop.[16]

As of 2021, the Mainline Steam Heritage Trust's Christchurch depot will be moving to the Midland Rail Heritage Trust's land and will build a new depot from there.

Demographics

Springfield is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement, and covers 1.89 km2 (0.73 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 370 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 196 people per km2. It is part of the statistical area of Torlesse.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006213—    
2013234+1.35%
2018318+6.33%
Source: [17]

Springfield had a population of 318 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 84 people (35.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 105 people (49.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 120 households, comprising 171 males and 147 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.16 males per female, with 78 people (24.5%) aged under 15 years, 48 (15.1%) aged 15 to 29, 150 (47.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 39 (12.3%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 91.5% European/Pākehā, 15.1% Māori, 0.9% Pasifika, 1.9% Asian, and 1.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 63.2% had no religion, 29.2% were Christian and 1.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 39 (16.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 45 (18.8%) people had no formal qualifications. 33 people (13.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 123 (51.2%) people were employed full-time, 45 (18.8%) were part-time, and 9 (3.8%) were unemployed.[17]

Torlesse

Torlesse statistical area, which also includes Sheffield and Waddington, covers 413.96 km2 (159.83 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 1,320 as of June 2022,[18] with a population density of 3.2 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006900—    
20131,014+1.72%
20181,164+2.80%
Source: [19]

Torlesse had a population of 1,164 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 150 people (14.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 264 people (29.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 447 households, comprising 618 males and 543 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.14 males per female. The median age was 41.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 255 people (21.9%) aged under 15 years, 174 (14.9%) aged 15 to 29, 579 (49.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 153 (13.1%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 92.8% European/Pākehā, 10.1% Māori, 0.3% Pasifika, 3.6% Asian, and 3.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 15.2, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 55.7% had no religion, 33.5% were Christian, 0.3% were Hindu and 1.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 138 (15.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 183 (20.1%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $33,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 120 people (13.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 489 (53.8%) people were employed full-time, 171 (18.8%) were part-time, and 18 (2.0%) were unemployed.[19]

Government

Springfield is part of the Selwyn electorate.[20] The Selwyn District Council provides local government services for Springfield.[21]

Education

Springfield School is a contributing primary school catering for years 1 to 6.[22] It had a roll of 34 as of April 2023.[23] The school opened in 1872.[24]

Etymology

There are a number of accounts where the name Springfield may have come. It may have been named after an American Civil War battlefield by J Bell in 1868. It might have also been named in a similar style to Darfield and Sheffield and the final suggestion is that the post office was named in 1870 after a spring in the field beside the local hotel.[25]

  • The "Springfield Doughnut"
    The "Springfield Doughnut"
  • Rewi Alley memorial
    Rewi Alley memorial
  • Springfield Railway Station
    Springfield Railway Station

References
  1. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  2. "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
  3. "Four of New Zealand's most underrated ski towns". Stuff. 18 June 2021. Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  4. "Springfield | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  5. Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Darfield district". teara.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  6. Eleven, Beck (28 September 2009). "D'oh! Springfield's giant Simpsons doughnut gets toasted". The Press. Archived from the original on 25 November 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2009. Doughnut on display in Springfield, New Zealand at Wikinews
  7. "New doughnut for Springfield". The Press. 1 July 2012. Archived from the original on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  8. kurt.bayer@nzherald.co.nz @KurtBayerNZME, Kurt Bayer NZ Herald reporter based in Christchurch (1 July 2019). "Owners of NZ's 'rudest cafe' Springfield Store and Cafe in hiding". NZ Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Archived from the original on 5 January 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  9. "Police called over complaints about the café labelled New Zealand's rudest". au.news.yahoo.com. July 2019. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  10. "Police visit 'rudest cafe in New Zealand' after multiple complaints". Newshub. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  11. "'Rudest' cafe, Springfield Store & Cafe, under new ownership". Otago Daily Times Online News. 16 October 2019. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  12. "New Zealand's 'rudest' cafe gets new owners". Newshub. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  13. "Contracting firm saves Springfield homes after digging out raging water race". Stuff. 31 May 2021. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  14. "Selwyn District Council". Selwyn District Council. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  15. "Midland Rail Heritage Trust Website". Archived from the original on 14 May 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  16. Wilson, John (17 August 2015). "Te Ara, the encyclopedia of New Zealand". Te Ara. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  17. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7026673 and 7026674.
  18. "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  19. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Torlesse (333700). 2018 Census place summary: Torlesse
  20. "Selwyn Electorate Profile – New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  21. "Selwyn District Council". Selwyn District Council. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  22. Education Counts: Springfield School
  23. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  24. "Welcome - 150th Jubilee". Springfield School. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  25. "Springfield | NZHistory, New Zealand history online". nzhistory.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.

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