Southbridge, New Zealand

Southbridge is a small town on the Canterbury Plains in the South Island of New Zealand. It is located 45 km southwest of Christchurch, between Leeston, Dunsandel and the Rakaia River.

The town serves mainly as a centre for agricultural services, but also has nearly 70 small to medium-sized businesses, a swimming pool, tennis courts, Southbridge Primary School, and many other attractions.

On 13 July 1875, a branch line railway was opened from Christchurch to Southbridge. Despite proposals to extend it further to Longbeach and Waterton, the line's terminus remained in Southbridge and it was thus known as the Southbridge Branch. Traffic was strong in the line's early decades; in 1914, two mixed trains and a goods-only train ran each way daily. However, the line entered into decline after the late 1920s. Passenger services to Southbridge were cancelled on 14 April 1951, and the line closed entirely on 30 June 1962. Few remnants of the line remain, though locations of level crossings can be discerned.

Ngāti Moki marae, a marae (tribal meeting ground) of Ngāi Tahu and its Te Taumutu Rūnanga branch, is located in Southbridge. It includes Ngāti Moki wharenui (meeting house).

Demographics
Southbridge is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 2.22 km2. It had an estimated population of as of  with a population density of  people per km2.

The settlement had a population of 906 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 48 people (5.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 168 people (22.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 327 households, comprising 456 males and 453 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.01 males per female, with 201 people (22.2%) aged under 15 years, 141 (15.6%) aged 15 to 29, 429 (47.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 138 (15.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 92.7% European/Pākehā, 8.3% Māori, 1.7% Pasifika, 2.0% Asian, and 3.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 57.0% had no religion, 32.1% were Christian, 0.3% were Buddhist and 2.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 75 (10.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 162 (23.0%) people had no formal qualifications. 117 people (16.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 372 (52.8%) people were employed full-time, 123 (17.4%) were part-time, and 18 (2.6%) were unemployed.

Southbridge statistical area
Southbridge statistical area surrounds and includes the settlement and covers 361.56 km2. It had an estimated population of as of  with a population density of  people per km2.

Southbridge had a population of 2,490 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 60 people (2.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 327 people (15.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 906 households, comprising 1,275 males and 1,218 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.05 males per female. The median age was 39.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 540 people (21.7%) aged under 15 years, 429 (17.2%) aged 15 to 29, 1,188 (47.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 333 (13.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 88.2% European/Pākehā, 8.9% Māori, 2.3% Pasifika, 5.8% Asian, and 3.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 17.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 52.8% had no religion, 35.8% were Christian, 0.1% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.3% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 2.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 297 (15.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 405 (20.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $38,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 357 people (18.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,137 (58.3%) people were employed full-time, 309 (15.8%) were part-time, and 36 (1.8%) were unemployed.

Education
Southbridge School is a contributing primary school catering for years 1 to 6. It had a roll of as of  The school was established in 1868.

Southbridge District High School opened in 1903 and shared space with the primary school until a fire in 1924 destroyed the buildings. It was rebuilt on the same site, while the primary school moved across the road. The high school closed in 1981.

Notable people

 * Colonel Allen Bell (1870–1936), politician born in Southbridge
 * Dan Carter (born 1982), rugby union player born Southbridge
 * George Howes (1879–1946), entomologist born in Southbridge
 * Pat McEvedy (1880–1935), rugby union player and administrator born in Southbridge
 * Francie Turner (born 1992), coxswain who grew up in Southbridge
 * Mabel Rose Wilson (1883–1962), domestic worker and community leader