Hei Hei

Suburb in Christchurch, New Zealand

Hei Hei
Suburb
Coordinates: 43°31′59″S 172°31′34″E / 43.533°S 172.526°E / -43.533; 172.526
Country	New Zealand
City	Christchurch
Local authority	Christchurch City Council
Electoral ward	Hornby[1]
Community board	Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton
Area [2]
• Land	124 ha (306 acres)
Population  (June 2024)[3]
• Total	3,710

	Broomfield
	Hei Hei	Sockburn
Islington	Hornby	Wigram

Hei Hei is a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is located in the west of Christchurch 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from the central city,^[4] and is bisected by State Highway 1. The area was subdivided for poultry farming after World War I for returning serviceman, but the venture failed due to the poor soil conditions.^[5] The place name is related to the Māori word for chicken (heihei) due to the area's poultry farming history.^[6]

Hei Hei covers 1.24 km² (0.48 sq mi).^[2] It had an estimated population of 3,710 as of June 2024,^[3] with a population density of 2,992 people per km².

Hei Hei had a population of 3,471 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 81 people (2.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 357 people (11.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,182 households, comprising 1,794 males and 1,677 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.07 males per female. The median age was 34.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 696 people (20.1%) aged under 15 years, 774 (22.3%) aged 15 to 29, 1,632 (47.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 372 (10.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 67.8% European/Pākehā, 14.4% Māori, 9.6% Pasifika, 18.2% Asian, and 3.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 25.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 49.4% had no religion, 35.5% were Christian, 1.0% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.8% were Hindu, 1.0% were Muslim, 0.9% were Buddhist and 2.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 354 (12.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 693 (25.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $32,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 261 people (9.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,563 (56.3%) people were employed full-time, 330 (11.9%) were part-time, and 123 (4.4%) were unemployed.^[7]

Gilberthorpe School is a contributing primary school catering for years 1 to 6.^[8] It has a roll of 217. The school opened in 1957.^[9]

St Bernadette's School is a Catholic full primary school for years 1 to 8,^[10] with a roll of 147. It opened in 1962.^[11]

Both schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of August 2024.^[12]