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Governors Bay

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Governors Bay
View of Governors Bay from the Port Hills
View of Governors Bay from the Port Hills
Rural settlement area within Christchurch City Council boundaries
Rural settlement area within Christchurch City Council boundaries
Governors Bay is located in South Island
Governors Bay
Governors Bay
Location within South Island
Governors Bay is located in New Zealand
Governors Bay
Governors Bay
Location within New Zealand
Coordinates: 43°37′29″S 172°38′54″E / 43.62472°S 172.64833°E / -43.62472; 172.64833
CountryNew Zealand
RegionCanterbury
Local authorityChristchurch City Council
WardBanks Peninsula
CommunityTe Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityChristchurch City Council
 • Regional councilEnvironment Canterbury
 • Mayor of ChristchurchPhil Mauger[1]
 • Banks Peninsula MPVanessa Weenink[2]
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris[3]
Area
[4]
 • Total
3.24 km2 (1.25 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2025)[5]
 • Total
900
 • Density280/km2 (720/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)

Governors Bay is a small town in Canterbury, New Zealand.

Geography

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The settlement of Governors Bay is located on Banks Peninsula near the head of Lyttelton Harbour.[6] It is connected via Governors Bay Road to Lyttelton,[7] via Dyers Pass Road over the Port Hills to the Christchurch suburb of Cashmere, and via Main Road to the south side of the harbour basin and Banks Peninsula.

Demographics

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Governors Bay is described by Stats NZ as a rural settlement, which covers 3.24 km2 (1.25 sq mi).[4] It had an estimated population of 900 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 278 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006801—    
2013816+0.27%
2018864+1.15%
2023882+0.41%
Source: [8][9]

Governors Bay had a population of 882 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 18 people (2.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 66 people (8.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 420 males, 456 females, and 3 people of other genders in 348 dwellings.[10] 4.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 50.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 132 people (15.0%) aged under 15 years, 111 (12.6%) aged 15 to 29, 474 (53.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 165 (18.7%) aged 65 or older.[8]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 96.3% European (Pākehā); 5.4% Māori; 1.0% Pasifika; 2.0% Asian; 1.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.3%, Māori by 1.4%, Samoan by 0.7%, and other languages by 11.6%. No language could be spoken by 1.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 32.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.[8]

Religious affiliations were 25.9% Christian, 0.3% Hindu, 1.0% New Age, 0.7% Jewish, and 1.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 65.3%, and 5.1% of people did not answer the census question.[8]

Of those at least 15 years old, 330 (44.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 330 (44.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 87 (11.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $55,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 162 people (21.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 390 (52.0%) full-time, 132 (17.6%) part-time, and 12 (1.6%) unemployed.[8]

Amenities

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Te Kura o Ōhinetahi - Governors Bay School in Jetty Road caters for students from year 0 to year 8.[11][12] It had a roll of 92 as of July 2026.[13] The first school in the area was at Gebbies Flat, now called Teddington, which opened in 1864. A school opened on Governors Bay Road in 1868. The current school opened in 1963 to replace the 1868 one which did not have enough space and was not sufficiently central.[14]

From year 9 onwards, students attend Cashmere High School.[15]

Ōtoromiro Hotel (previously known as Governors Bay Hotel) is a 150-year-old hotel located in Governors Bay. The hotel recently dropped its connection with Sir George Grey, a controversial colonial former Governor of New Zealand.[16]

Cholmondeley Children's Centre in Cholmondeley Lane is a children's home providing short-term or emergency residential care for children, usually between the ages of 3–12 years, and support for their families.[17]

Governors Bay Jetty in November 2023

Governors Bay Jetty is a 300 m (980 ft)-long wooden jetty that juts out into the bay. It is open to the public and free to use. The jetty is generally used for walking, fishing, and jetty jumping. It provides a great view of the surrounding volcanic landscape and access to the water at tide times when it is not possible to access from the shore due to the mudflats. The original short jetty (approx. 20m long) was built in 1874 and extended to 300m in 1913. After the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, the jetty was closed to the public and the Council did not plan to repair it. However, a group of local volunteers set up Governors Bay Jetty Restoration Trust and raised money to rebuild the jetty. The rebuild project started in October 2022 and finished in September 2023 and was managed by the trust.[18]

Heritage buildings

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The Ohinetahi historic homestead, in Ohinetahi, is a Category I heritage building,[19][20] and the associated formal garden is considered to be one of New Zealand's finest.[21] A partnership of three purchased the property in 1977 [22] and one of them, prominent Christchurch architect Sir Miles Warren, has lived in the property since soon afterwards. Damage from the September 2010 quake forced changes to lighten the upper story of the building.[22] Sir Miles gifted the property "to the nation" in early 2013.[22]

St Cuthbert's Church (2023)

St Cuthbert's Church in Governors Bay Road, built in 1860, is also a Category I building.[23][24] It was significantly damaged in the September 2010 earthquake.[25] The local community worked with the Church Property Trust to repair and restore the church and it was reopened in 2017.[26] The church grounds contain the grave of Mary Elizabeth Small whose story is told in the children’s novel The Runaway Settlers.[27][28]

The original 1868 Governors Bay School and the associated school house are both Category II heritage structures, significant because there are very few remaining school buildings from provincial government times. The school is located on land donated by Thomas Potts.[29][30]

Notable residents

[edit]
  • Leslie Kenton (1941–2016) American-born writer, journalist and entrepreneur[31]
  • Margaret Mahy (1936–2012), author of children's and young adult books
  • Mary Elizabeth Small (1812–1908), market gardener and farmer, and the inspiration for Elsie Locke's 1965 children's novel The Runaway Settlers[32][33]
  • Mona Tracy (1892–1959), children's novelist, journalist, poet, short-story writer, and community worker

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "Banks Peninsula – Official Result". Electoral Commission. 6 November 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "Te Tai Tonga – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 18 September 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  6. ↑ Wilson, John (17 August 2015). "Lyttelton Harbour". Te Ara. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  7. ↑ Robertson, Jane (2016). Head of the Harbour: A History of Governors Bay. Christchurch, New Zealand: Philip King Publisher for the Governors Bay Heritage Trust. ISBN 9780473366711. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Governors Bay (2107). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  9. ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Governors Bay (332200). 2018 Census place summary: Governors Bay
  10. ↑ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  11. ↑ "Te Kura o Ōhinetahi - Governors Bay School". Te Kura o Ōhinetahi - Governors Bay School. Retrieved 18 September 2026.
  12. ↑ "Te Kura o Ōhinetahi - Governors Bay School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
  13. ↑ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  14. ↑ "School History". Te Kura o Ōhinetahi - Governors Bay School. Retrieved 18 September 2026.
  15. ↑ "CHS zone". Cashmere High School. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  16. ↑ "Canterbury pub cans colonial name for area's original te reo Māori name". Stuff. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  17. ↑ Pollock, Kerryn (6 July 2011). "Children's homes and fostering – Residential homes for children, early 2000s". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  18. ↑ "Governors Bay Jetty". Governors Bay Jetty Restoration Trust. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  19. ↑ "Ohinetahi". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  20. ↑ Wilson, John (2 March 2009). "Canterbury places – Lyttelton Harbour". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  21. ↑ Mackay, Janetta (25 February 2009). "Christchurch: Take a blooming lovely tour". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  22. 1 2 3 "Sir Miles Warren's Ohinetahi", Rosa sheils, February 2013, The Press
  23. ↑ "Governors Bay". Mount Herbert Parish. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  24. ↑ "St Cuthbert's Church". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  25. ↑ "St Cuthbert's" Archived 24 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Canterbury Earthquake Heritage Buildings Fund
  26. ↑ "St Cuthbert's Church, Governors Bay – Anglican Life". anglicanlife.org.nz. Archived from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  27. ↑ Locke, Elsie (2009). The runaway settlers. Auckland [N.Z.]: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-1-86950-769-5. OCLC 286929627.
  28. ↑ "Governors Bay Heritage walk" (PDF).
  29. ↑ "Governors Bay School". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  30. ↑ "Governors Bay School House". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  31. ↑ Cowdrey, Katherine (29 November 2016). "Health and beauty writer Leslie Kenton dies". The Bookseller. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  32. ↑ The time of the child : a sequence of poems. Dublin, OH: OCLC. OCLC 42004954 – via WorldCat.
  33. ↑ Hebley, Diane (1998). "Locke, Elsie". In Robinson, Roger; Wattie, Nelson (eds.). The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Literature. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-558348-9. OCLC 803233825. Retrieved 9 August 2012. Also available to subscribers at Oxford Reference Online.
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