Wigram

Coordinates: 43°32′59″S 172°32′50″E / 43.5496°S 172.5472°E / -43.5496; 172.5472
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For other uses, see Wigram (disambiguation).

Wigram
Suburb
The former Wigram Aerodrome, which has since been converted into the Wigram Skies development
The former Wigram Aerodrome, which has since been converted into the Wigram Skies development
Wigram is located in Christchurch, New Zealand
Wigram
Wigram
Coordinates: 43°32′59″S 172°32′50″E / 43.5496°S 172.5472°E / -43.5496; 172.5472
CountryNew Zealand
CityChristchurch
Electoral wardHalswell[1]
Area
[2]
 • Land1,940 ha (4,790 acres)
Population
 (2018)[2]
 • Total4,707
AirportsWigram Aerodrome (former)
Hei Hei Sockburn Upper Riccarton
Hornby
Wigram
 Middleton
Aidanfield Hillmorton

Wigram is a suburb in the southwest of Christchurch, New Zealand. The suburb lies close to the industrial estates of Sockburn and the satellite retail and residential zone of Hornby, and has undergone significant growth in recent years due to housing developments. It is seven kilometres to the west of the city centre.

Etymology

Named after Sir Henry Wigram, Mayor of Christchurch from 1902-1903[3] who established a flying school there in 1916.[4]

Sir Henry Wigram kept the aviation school going until March 1923, when the government decided to take over the company and run the airbase under a military umbrella. The final purchase price was £31,012.

In June 1923 the base was officially handed over and renamed Wigram Aerodrome. Sir Henry Wigram continued to support the base, gifting a further 81 acres of land in 1932.[5]

History

Wigram was home to RNZAF Wigram, one of the main bases of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, but this was closed in 1995 after cutbacks in military spending.[6] The majority of Wigram Aerodrome was purchased by Ngāi Tahu in 1997, and continued to be used as a private airfield until it was finally closed on 1 March 2009.[7] The RNZAF retained the original portion of the aerodrome which had been first gifted to the Crown for the purpose of an Air Force base in 1923, an area which includes the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.

The 21st century has seen several subdivision developments being undertaken in Wigram.

Wigram Skies

The remainder of the former airfield was subdivided by Ngāi Tahu Property into the Wigram Skies development following its closure. Street names in the new development reflect the area's aviation heritage, with names such as Corsair Drive, Kittyhawk Avenue and Skyhawk Road alongside The Runway - a road which follows the route of the former runway.[8]

Broken Run (East)

In 2005, this subdivision created six new roads and two new formed and sealed rights of way to provide access to 126 new residential allotments, and six new reserves totalling 2.8 hectares.

The subdivision has been named “Broken Run” by Brian Gillman Limited, as the land before development was a grazing farm with a natural valley and waterway splitting the farm into two halves, thus being a broken farm or run. The property is located at the headwaters of the Heathcote River.[9]

The road names in Broken Run share a common theme of high country stations, e.g. Longspur Avenue (Longspur is a high country station near the Rakaia Gorge)[10] and Highpeak Place (Highpeak Station is located at the head of the Selwyn River).[11]

Broken Run (West)

Surplus land from Christchurch's Southern Motorway extension was purchased in 2013 and subsequently developed by Gillman Wheelans in 2015. The Western part of Broken Run backs onto the original Broken Run subdivision[12] separated by the Heathcote River. The subdivision created sixty-one residential allotments, two allotments to vest in the Council as reserve, and a further four allotments vested as legal road.[13]

The road names for this stage continued the theme from the original Broken Run subdivision of high country farms e.g. Four Peaks Drive (Four Peaks Station, near Fairlie in South Canterbury).[14]

Geography

Wigram is north of Aidanfield, separated by the Christchurch Southern Motorway. Wigram also borders several other suburbs:

Middleton to the east, separated by Curletts Road.

Hornby to the west and northwest separated by Awatea Road (properties on Awatea road are not part of Wigram except a small number of properties on the east side of Awatea Road (numbers 65-135 inclusive),[15] Springs Road and Main South Road (properties located on these roads are not part of Wigram)[15]

Sockburn to the north separated by the Main South Line Railway

Hillmorton to the southeast separated by Curletts Road and the Heathcote River (Ōpāwaho)

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
200654—    
2013819+47.47%
20184,707+41.87%
Source: [2]

The recent development of the Wigram Aerodrome into housing has resulted in the suburb growing significantly in recent years. This has made Wigram one of the fastest-growing suburbs in post-earthquake Christchurch.[16]

According to the 2018 census,[17] Wigram is one of Christchurch's more affluent suburbs with residents earning, on average, over 10% more than the average Christchurch resident.[18]

Over 50% of people living in Wigram identify as Asian whilst 46.5% identify as European. Wigram has a significantly lower percentage of people identifying as Maori or Pacific Islanders compared to Christchurch City as a whole.

People living in Wigram compared to Christchurch City are 10% more likely to be managers and 16% more likely to be professionals. They are also 32% less likely to be machinery operators and drivers and 27% less likely to be labourers.

Economy

Commercial

The Landing, located at the heart of Wigram Skies, provides a convenient and modern retail and mixed use space for Wigram Skies residents and greater south west Christchurch.[19] Stage one of The Landing, which was completed in mid-2015, has a 8975 sqm site area, including 2000 sqm of retail and office space spread across three buildings and a 2600 sqm New World supermarket.[20]

Stage Two, which was completed in 2017 boasts a 3509sq m site area, including 1800sq m of retail, 600sq m of office space, and 451sq m of hospitality spread across three buildings.[21]

The latest development, a new Cimena Complex with eight cinema screens, each seating 48 people, is set to Open in July 2021[22]

Industrial

One of the hotspots in the Christchurch scene is Wigram Business Park, developed by Ngāi Tahu, with most of the properties sold to owner occupiers.[23] It is located on Hayton Road on approximately 25 hectares of zoned Business 4 and has 52 lots.[24] It adjoins Hayton Stream and multiple reserves which separate it from Wigram Skies.

The park is now home to a prestigious collection of occupiers and is very popular among businesses wanting to occupy modern, state-of-the-art premises on quality land to the west of Christchurch.[25]

Wigram Business Park provides for businesses in Christchurch who were expanding but also offered a safe alternative for operators who were looking at relocating or re-establishing their businesses after earthquakes.[24] One example is the purchase by NZX 50 listed Skellerup of a 3.4-hectare site in 2013 for $7.1 million which was subsequently developed into a $30 million, 18,900-square-metre purpose built manufacturing and office facilities to replace their quake-damaged Woolston site.[26]

Another NZX 50 company to have modern premesis in Wigram is Mainfreight with the development of their Hayton Road Logistics site completed in May 2015.[27]

Transport

Road

Wigram is well-connected for road transport, with direct access via Parkhouse Road/Curletts Road to the State Highway Motorway network:

File:Wigram Magdala Link CSM.jpg
Wigram Magdala Link Bridge to the Foreground crossing State Highway 73. The background shows State Highway 76 crossing State Highway 75.

Three Super-T bridges connect Wigram via local link roads with its neighbouring suburbs:

  • Wigram Magdala Link Bridge a three-span Super-T bridge which is 100 metres long passing over Curletts Road,[28] opened on 29 Jul 2016 it connects Wigram with Middleton and provides another direct link to the central city.[29]
  • Aidanfield Drive Bridge connecting Wigram to Aidanfield
  • Awatea Road Bridge connecting Wigram to Halswell

Public transport

Wigram is also well served by several bus services, known as Metro[30] which is subsidised by Environment Canterbury.[31]

The following routes pass directly through or on the border of Wigram:

  • Route 60 - Hillmorton/Southshore - Starting at The Landing via Corsair Drive and Skyhawk Road[32]
  • Route 80 - Lincoln/Parklands - Passing Springs Road[32]
  • Route 100 - Wigram/The Palms - via The Runway and Corsair Drive[32]
  • Route 125 - Redwood/Westlake - Passing Awatea Road[32]

National institutions

The Air Force Museum of New Zealand, formerly called The Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum, is the national museum for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) and New Zealand military aviation, and stands on the site of the former air base.[33]

The Archives New Zealand Repository on Harvard Ave which was officially opened on 9 October 2018.[34]

  • Entrance to the RNZAF Museum
    Entrance to the RNZAF Museum
  • Archives New Zealand on Harvard Ave
    Archives New Zealand on Harvard Ave

Parks, sports and recreation

Wigram has several large recreational parks plus local neighbourhood parks.

  • Parera Park on Kittyhawk Avenue, featuring a natural playground.[35]
  • Kahuku Park between The Runway and Limbrick Crescent, featuring a rock climbing sculpture.
  • Marama Park on the corner of Skyhawk Road and Kittyhawk Avenue, featuring a basketball court.
  • Harvard Park on Corsair Drive
  • Tautoru Park on Kittyhawk Avenue, featuring a tennis court as well as playground.[36]
  • Raukura Park bound by The Runway, Keene Street and Corsair Drive
  • Te Kāhu Park bound by The Runway, Curtis Street, Dalwood Drive and Porter Street - boasts a children’s playground and three sports pitches within walking distance of all residences.[37]
  • Mackinder Reserve bound by Skyhawk Road, Mackinder Drive, Valiant Street and Wigram Road.
  • Ngā Puna Wai Opened on 8th March 2019[38] and compromising 32 hectares of recreation, esplanade reserve and other park land as well as a new $53.65 million multi-sports facility.[39] Future plans include a new $20 million indoor sports centre.[40]
  • Canterbury Agricultural Park A large open space of around 130 hectares,[41] famous for the Canterbury A&P Show[42]
  • Motorway Park Playground on Highpeak Place featuring a tennis court as well as playground.
  • Bendrose Reserve on Bendrose Crescent, which includes Broken Run Playground
  • West Broken Run Reserve on Wigram Road, which has the upper limits of the Ōpawaho Heathcote River running through it[43]

Elderly housing and care

Wigram has two modern retirement villages.

  • Lady Wigram Village[44] which opened in 2015[45]
  • Summerset at Wigram[46] which opened in 2016[47]

Education

File:Wigram Primary School – Te Piki Kāhu.jpg
Modern Architecture of the new Wigram Primary School

Wigram Primary School

Wigram Primary School - Te Piki Kāhu relocated to The Runway, Wigram, in January 2019, teaching children from years 1 to 6.[48]

Governance

Member of Parliament for Wigram, Dr Megan Woods

Community Board

Wigram is represented in the Waipuna/Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board[49] by two Halswell Ward Community Board members, Andrei Moore and Debbie Mora.[50]

Council Ward

Wigram is part of the Halswell Ward[49] represented by Councillor Anne Galloway since 2016.[51]

National Electorate

The Suburb of Wigram sits in the aptly named New Zealand parliamentary electorate of Wigram.[52]

The local MP representing the Wigram Electorate since 2011 is Dr Megan Woods.[53]

References

  1. ^ "Wards, Councillors and Community Boards map". ccc.govt.nz. Christchurch City Council. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  2. ^ a b c The population and area are the sum of the population and area in statistical areas of Wigram North, Wigram East, Wigram South, Broken Run and Wigram West.
  3. ^ "Christchurch Place Names: N - Z" (PDF). Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  4. ^ "North and west Christchurch". Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Wigram Air Base". Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Wigram Airbase Timeline". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  7. ^ "Historic Wigram Aerodrome closed". RNZ. Radio New Zealand. 28 February 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  8. ^ "About Wigram Skies". wigramskies.co.nz. Ngai Tahu Property. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  9. ^ "RW Agenda 12 July 2005" (PDF). Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Christchurch Street Names: L" (PDF). Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Christchurch Place Names: H" (PDF). Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Housing on land not needed for motorway". Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Riccarton Wigram Community Board Agenda 16 December 2014" (PDF). Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Christchurch Street Names: F to G" (PDF). Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Address and Postcode Finder". Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  16. ^ Canterbury: the rebuild by the numbers (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: Statistics New Zealand. February 2018. ISBN 978-1-98-852858-8.
  17. ^ The demographic details are the sum of the population and area in statistical areas of Wigram North, Wigram East, Wigram South, Wigram West and Broken Run.
  18. ^ "Place Summaries Christchurch City". Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  19. ^ "The Landing". Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  20. ^ "The Landing at Wigram moves ahead". Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  21. ^ "Christchurch's Landing takes shape". Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  22. ^ "New Zealand-owned cinema to open in Christchurch in July". Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  23. ^ "Tenanted industrial property on sale as owner-occupier moves on". Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  24. ^ a b "Wigram Business Park". Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  25. ^ "Modern warehouse in Christchurch Business Park". Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  26. ^ "New Skellerup plant in Wigram". Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  27. ^ "2016 Annual Shareholders Meeting final" (PDF).
  28. ^ "Wigram Magdala Link Bridge". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  29. ^ "Wigram Magdala Link opens". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  30. ^ "Metro Christchurch". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  31. ^ "Greater Christchurch Metro". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  32. ^ a b c d "MetroInfo Interactive Network Map". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  33. ^ "About our Museum". Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  34. ^ "Archives NZ new Christchurch repository officially opened". Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  35. ^ "Parera Park". Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  36. ^ "Tautoru Park - Wigram Skies". Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  37. ^ "Wigram Skies". Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  38. ^ "Opening of Nga Puna Wai a milestone - Nga Puna Wai Sports Hub". Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  39. ^ "Sport Canterbury - Ngā Puna Wai Events". Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  40. ^ "New indoor Christchurch netball, futsul centre to go at Ngā Puna Wai". Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  41. ^ "CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL PARK". Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  42. ^ "The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association Show". Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  43. ^ "West Broken Run Reserve planting days". Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  44. ^ "Lady Wigram Village". Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  45. ^ "Unique model of retirement living: Lady Wigram Retirement Village". Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  46. ^ "Summerset at Wigram". Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  47. ^ "Summerset opens $80m retirement village in Christchurch". Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  48. ^ "About - Wigram Te Piki Kāhu". Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  49. ^ a b >"Wards, Councillors and Community Boards map". Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  50. ^ >"Christchurch City Council 2019 Election Results". Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  51. ^ "New Christchurch city councillor to focus on families". Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  52. ^ "2020 General Election electorates". Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  53. ^ "Hon Dr Megan Woods". Retrieved 19 June 2021.
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