Oxford () is a small town serving the farming community of North Canterbury, New Zealand. It is part of the Waimakariri District and is a linear town, approximately long. Originally, it was served by the Oxford Branch railway, and had two stations, East Oxford and West Oxford. The line closed in 1959 and was dismantled. Some railway signs and the remnants of railway platforms can still be seen along Oxford Road on the way to Rangiora.
It was originally a logging town: trees were felled from forests in the area, and hauled by beast to Christchurch. A mural depicting life from that era is painted on the side wall of the butchers shop.
Oxford has won awards for the most beautiful village and the most beautiful toilet.
Geography
Oxford is located at the inland edge of the Canterbury Plains, approximately 50 km northwest of Christchurch. The township is about 30 km from Rangiora to the East, and the townships of Sheffield and Darfield to the west.
The climate of Oxford is warm and temperate. Snowfalls are rare, but surrounding hills get snowfall on an annual basis.
Naming
It is unclear whether the town is named after Oxford in England or after its university, but it is more probable that it was named after Samuel Wilberforce, who was the Bishop of Oxford from 1845 to 1870. It was named by the chief surveyor of the Canterbury Association, Joseph Thomas, in 1849.
The town of Tīrau in the North Island was originally also named Oxford, in a name pairing with Cambridge 30 km to the west. Owing to confusion between the two towns, the North Island town was later renamed Oxford North before adopting its current name in 1895.
Education
The town has one school, Oxford Area School. It is a state composite (Year 1–13) school with a role of
Demographics
Oxford covers . It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.
Oxford had a population of 2,214 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 285 people (14.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 486 people (28.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 858 households, comprising 1,068 males and 1,146 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.93 males per female. The median age was 45.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 456 people (20.6%) aged under 15 years, 309 (14.0%) aged 15 to 29, 909 (41.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 540 (24.4%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 95.3% European/Pākehā, 6.6% Māori, 0.9% Pasifika, 1.5% Asian, and 2.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 19.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 52.6% had no religion, 36.2% were Christian, 0.1% were Hindu, 0.1% were Buddhist and 2.0% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 234 (13.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 435 (24.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $26,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 228 people (13.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 729 (41.5%) people were employed full-time, 288 (16.4%) were part-time, and 54 (3.1%) were unemployed.
Community
The community saved hard during 2005 and 2006 to raise funds for projects such as the Oxford Community Pool, a community-based swimming pool in Burnett Street, and a first-response ambulance. The town prides itself on its ability to self-fund community projects through organizations such as the Lions.
Oxford has several Churches and organisations: Waimak Bible Chapel (Brethren) Oxford Union Church (Presbyterian) Oxford Baptist Church Sacred Heart Catholic Church Seventh Day Adventist Church Anglican Church Tawera Masonic Lodge Oxford Working Men’s Club West Oxford Hotel (Public House - The West)
Notable people
Joseph Pawelka (1887–?), New Zealand criminal and prison escaper
Bernard Sladden (1879–1961), farmer, wildlife ranger, historian and naturalist
Jo Seagar, chef
Transport
Oxford was linked to Christchurch in 1878 by the narrow-gauge Oxford Branch from Oxford West to Rangiora to meet the broad gauge from Christchurch. With the gauge conversion of 1878, it became easier to transfer passengers and freight from the branch line to Christchurch, though passengers still had to change at Rangiora from the Waipara train to the branch train. The branch stretched from Rangiora through Bennetts Junction (where the Eyreton Branch joined), Oxford and Sheffield. This necessitated a high road-rail bridge across the Waimakariri Gorge.