- Est. Median Value
- $835K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $400/wk
- Safety Score
- 63/100
- Green Space
- 26%
- Current Weather
- 1.7°C
- Median Age
- 48 yrs
~62 crimes/1k/yr
broken clouds
Living in Opawa
Ōpāwa sits in inner southeast Christchurch, around 4 km from the central city, where the Heathcote and its tributary streams gave the suburb its name and its character: a villa-and-garden quarter of around 4,500 people whose tree-lined streets carry some of the city's loveliest character housing at prices a notch below the equivalent northwest, a discount the residents accept with straight faces.
The suburb's heart is Risingholme, the historic homestead whose grounds became one of Christchurch's great community institutions: the Risingholme Community Centre's classes, workshops and gardens have been teaching the city pottery, languages and woodwork for generations, an adult-education empire run from a Victorian garden.
The river completes the setting, the Ōpāwaho Heathcote winding past with its walkways toward Beckenham one way and Woolston's reinventing precincts the other, while the Port Hills rise close enough to supply the green skyline and the weekend tracks.
Ōpāwa School, one of the city's older primaries, anchors the local years, with the secondary zones splitting toward Cashmere High and the city's colleges. Ōpāwa is southeast Christchurch's quiet classic: villas, river, homestead and hills, arranged as they were a century ago, and improved mainly by the trees having finished growing.
Is Opawa a good place to live?
Opawa is home to roughly 1,398 people across 0.8 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Opawa scores 69 out of 100, with a safety score of 63/100 and 26% green space.
Schools: Opawa has 47 schools in or near the suburb, spanning early-childhood through to secondary education. See the Schools tab below for the full list.
Housing: The estimated median value is around $835K, and weekly rent typically sits around $400.
Lifestyle: Opawa has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. The current temperature is 1.7°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Opawa is right for you depends on what you’re looking for. Use the data and community tips below to decide if it suits your lifestyle, family and budget.
Map
Livability Breakdown
- Safety63
- Amenities100
- Schools74
- Housing Affordability45
- Green space87
- Community78
- Transport19
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $835K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $400/wk
- Median HH Income
- $83K/yr
- Pop. Growth (5yr)
- +2.4%
- Data Year
- 2023
Key Financial Indicators (NZD)
† Est. Median Value is suburb.co.nz's own estimate, modelled from available public data. We aim for accuracy, but where data is limited, estimates may be imprecise.
Nearby Suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is Opawa?
- Ōpāwa is in inner southeast Christchurch, around 4 km from the central city, between Waltham, Woolston and St Martins, along the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River.
- What is Risingholme?
- Risingholme is the historic homestead and grounds in Ōpāwa housing one of Christchurch's main community centres, running classes, workshops and programmes for generations.
- What is the housing like in Opawa?
- Ōpāwa is known for character villas and bungalows on tree-lined streets, among the city's better-preserved heritage housing pockets in the southeast.
- What schools are in Opawa?
- Ōpāwa School is the local state primary, among the city's older schools, with secondary students splitting toward Cashmere High School and the central colleges depending on zone.
- How do I get from central Christchurch to Opawa?
- By car or bike, around 8 to 10 minutes via Ensors Road or Opawa Road. Buses run through Ōpāwa from the central Bus Interchange toward the southeast.
- Which schools are in zone for Opawa?
- Children living in Opawa are in zone for Christchurch Adventist School, Villa Maria College, St Thomas of Canterbury College, Middleton Grange School, Te Puna Wai o Waipapa - Hagley College, Te Aratai College, Hillview Christian School, Te Kura o Ōpāwaho – Opawa School, St Peter's School Te Kura Haoika. Living in a school's home zone gives a guaranteed right to enrol.
- How do I check my school zone in Opawa?
- Use the School Zone Checker on this page. Enter your address to check your school zone and see which schools you have a guaranteed right to enrol at.
Schools & Enrolment Zones in Opawa
Schools in zone for Opawa
Children living in Opawa have a guaranteed right to enrol at these schools, based on Ministry of Education home zones.
Christchurch Adventist School
Composite · roll 285 · decile 6
Villa Maria College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 835 · decile 9
St Thomas of Canterbury College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 708 · decile 8
Middleton Grange School
Composite · roll 1387 · decile 9
Te Puna Wai o Waipapa - Hagley College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 2123 · decile 3
Te Aratai College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 1277 · decile 3
Hillview Christian School
Composite · roll 545 · decile 7
Te Kura o Ōpāwaho – Opawa School
Full Primary · roll 355 · decile 4
St Peter's School Te Kura Haoika
Full Primary · roll 155 · decile 8
Check your school zone
School Zone Checker
Enter your address to check your school zone in Opawa. School enrolment zones (home zones) decide which schools your child has a guaranteed right to enrol at.
Address matching is approximate and based on OpenStreetMap geocoding — confirm an exact result near a zone boundary directly with the school.
Other nearby schools
Schools close to Opawa that you may be able to enrol at under open enrolment or by application (outside your home zone).
Rudolf Steiner School (Chch)
Composite · roll 280 · decile 8 · 0.3 km away
St Mark's School (Christchurch)
Full Primary · roll 229 · 0.5 km away
TKKM o Waitaha
Composite · roll 221 · decile 1 · 0.8 km away
St Martins School
Full Primary · roll 471 · decile 9 · 0.9 km away
Mastery Schools New Zealand - Arapaki
Full Primary · roll 108 · 1.2 km away
Waltham School
Full Primary · roll 246 · decile 3 · 1.3 km away
Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto
Full Primary · roll 463 · decile 8 · 1.4 km away
Te Waka Unua School
Full Primary · roll 485 · decile 2 · 1.6 km away
Kimihia Parents' College
Teen Parent Unit · decile 1 · 1.7 km away
Ngutuawa School
Full Primary · roll 133 · decile 3 · 2.1 km away
St Anne's School (Woolston)
Full Primary · roll 176 · decile 3 · 2.2 km away
Te Kura o Huriawa Thorrington
Contributing · roll 433 · decile 10 · 2.2 km away
Catholic Cathedral College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 598 · decile 8 · 2.5 km away
Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo
Contributing · roll 547 · decile 8 · 2.6 km away
Tamariki School
Full Primary · roll 48 · decile 4 · 2.6 km away
Te Huarahi Linwood Avenue School
Contributing · roll 328 · decile 2 · 2.7 km away
Christchurch South Karamata Intermediate School
Intermediate · roll 485 · decile 4 · 3.0 km away
Cashmere High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 2459 · decile 9 · 3.1 km away
Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery
Composite · roll 650 · decile 8 · 3.1 km away
Te Ahuwai Bromley School
Contributing · roll 356 · decile 3 · 3.1 km away
Cashmere Primary Te Pae Kererū
Full Primary · roll 476 · decile 9 · 3.1 km away
Te Pā o Rākaihautū
Composite · roll 209 · decile 2 · 3.3 km away
Christchurch East School
Full Primary · roll 289 · decile 3 · 3.3 km away
St Michael's Church School
Full Primary · roll 124 · decile 8 · 3.4 km away
Addington Te Kura Taumatua
Contributing · roll 335 · decile 3 · 3.6 km away
TKKM o Te Whanau Tahi
Composite · roll 229 · decile 3 · 3.8 km away
Whītau School
Contributing · roll 285 · decile 2 · 3.8 km away
Kingslea School
Specialist School · roll 125 · 4.0 km away
Te Ara Koropiko West Spreydon School
Contributing · roll 264 · decile 4 · 4.0 km away
Christ's College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 708 · decile 10 · 4.1 km away
Sacred Heart School (Christchurch)
Full Primary · roll 185 · decile 4 · 4.1 km away
The Cathedral Grammar School
Full Primary · roll 242 · decile 10 · 4.2 km away
St Mary's School (Christchurch)
Full Primary · roll 119 · decile 4 · 4.2 km away
Hoon Hay Te Kura Kōaka
Contributing · roll 428 · decile 10 · 4.4 km away
Our Lady of the Assumption School (Chch)
Full Primary · roll 324 · decile 10 · 4.4 km away
Mt Pleasant School
Full Primary · roll 372 · decile 10 · 4.5 km away
Heathcote Valley School
Full Primary · roll 186 · decile 9 · 4.6 km away
Pareawa Banks Avenue School
Contributing · roll 354 · decile 6 · 5.0 km away
Rubbish & Recycling
- Rubbish collection
- Tuesday (weekly)
- Recycling & organics
- Tuesday (fortnightly, Week 1)
- Next recycling
- 11 August
Rubbish bin
Non-recyclable general waste. Put out every Tuesday.
Recycling bin
Paper, cardboard, glass bottles & jars, metal cans, rigid plastic containers. Put out every second Tuesday.
Food scraps bin
All food scraps and garden organics. Collected every second Tuesday alongside recycling.
Collection data sourced from Christchurch City Council.
Explore Opawa
Things to do(24)
T-Rex Ride
Hillsborough Park
Hansen Park
Beckenham Park
Mount Vernon Farm Park
Radley Park
King George V Reserve
Alderson Reserve
Risingholme Park
Waltham Park
Saint Martins Park
Huntsbury Reserve
Woolston Park
Montgomery Spur Reserve
Radley Playground
Curries Reserve
Fifield Reserve
Thackeray Reserve
Monro Park
Mabel Howard Reserve
Centaurus Park
Opawa Tennis Club
Opawa Bowling Club
Dance Central Studios
Parks & green spaces(20)
Hillsborough Park
Hansen Park
Beckenham Park
Mount Vernon Farm Park
Radley Park
King George V Reserve
Alderson Reserve
Risingholme Park
Waltham Park
Saint Martins Park
Huntsbury Reserve
Woolston Park
Montgomery Spur Reserve
Radley Playground
Curries Reserve
Fifield Reserve
Thackeray Reserve
Monro Park
Mabel Howard Reserve
Centaurus Park
Healthcare(2)
St Martins Pharmacy
Helios Integrative Medical Centre
Eat & Drink in Opawa
Places to eat & drink(9)
Opawa Bakery & Cafe
Cocoa Black
Magic Masala
Insitu Cafe
Saket Indian Restaurant - Opawa
Waharoa Boutique Catering & Events
The Kawakawa Cafe
The Gelato Lab
Opawa Cafe
Tradies & Services in Opawa
Tradies & services(2)
Sandy Eagle Design Ltd
The Last Moa
Shops in Opawa
Shops(2)
Boutique Habits
Wai Kaha Jade
Beauty & Fitness in Opawa
Beauty & fitness(7)
Dance Central Studios
Fox Hair
IdunEir Beauty
Ninety Three Hair Studio
Opawa Bowling Club
Opawa Tennis Club
Soulstyle Organic Hair Salon
Professional Services in Opawa
Professional services(1)
SBA Small Business Accounting Opawa
Opawa Weather
Current conditions: 1.7°C, broken clouds
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 21.39 | 14 | 1.3 | 11.95 |
| ☀️ Feb | 21.52 | 13.52 | 1.92 | 10.37 |
| 🍂 Mar | 18.71 | 10.57 | 1.93 | 9.15 |
| 🍂 Apr | 16.83 | 9.63 | 1.54 | 8.34 |
| 🍂 May | 13.92 | 6.41 | 1.55 | 6.12 |
| ❄️ Jun | 12 | 6.42 | 1.82 | 5.44 |
| ❄️ Jul | 11.07 | 4.3 | 2.58 | 6.19 |
| ❄️ Aug | 11.82 | 4.02 | 1.48 | 7.68 |
| 🌸 Sep | 14.75 | 6.16 | 2.11 | 8.9 |
| 🌸 Oct | 16.44 | 7.55 | 1.94 | 10.44 |
| 🌸 Nov | 17.63 | 9.82 | 1.5 | 11.5 |
| ☀️ Dec | 20.71 | 12.56 | 1.85 | 10.94 |
Opawa Community
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