Northern Suburbs

Churton Park Wellington: Modern Family Suburb in the Northern Hills

Last updated October 2026

Churton Park is a modern, family-oriented suburb located 1.5 km north of Johnsonville in Wellington’s northern hills. It is one of Wellington’s younger residential areas, having been established in the 1970s on former farmland.

The suburb features spacious homes on generous sections, cul-de-sac streets, small parks, and connecting walkways. Residents value its quiet character, local schools, and convenient access to Johnsonville’s rail link and the Northern Motorway.

Official Suburb Facts

The official Churton Park boundary. Boundary: LINZ, CC BY 4.0.
Population (2023 Census)
About 7,840, up 16% since 2018
Land area
3.94 km²
Location
9.9 km north of central Wellington
Council
Wellington City Council
Neighbouring suburbs
Ohariu, Glenside, Johnsonville, Tawa, Paparangi
Local details
Ward or local board
Takapū/Northern General Ward (Wellington City Council)
Getting there
Metlink buses to Johnsonville station for trains to the city; Northern Motorway access
Main shopping
Johnsonville Shopping Centre, in nearby Johnsonville
Schools
Amesbury School, Churton Park School
Boundary, area and neighbours: LINZ, CC BY 4.0. Population: Stats NZ 2023 Census usually resident population, CC BY 4.0, summed from the statistical areas inside the boundary.

Who Lives in Churton Park

About 7,840 residents in 2,510 households. From the 2023 Census, with the New Zealand figure alongside for comparison.

Homes
Owned or in a family trust
79%NZ 66%
Rented
22%NZ 34%
Standalone houses
87%NZ 79%
Townhouses, units and flats
14%NZ 21%
Damp (always or sometimes)
12%NZ 18%
Mould larger than A4
9%NZ 14%
Getting to work
Drive or get a lift
57%NZ 70%
Bus, train or ferry
16%NZ 5%
Walk or cycle
2%NZ 6%
Work from home
24%NZ 18%
People
Moved here in the last 5 years
48%NZ 53%
Disabled (aged 5 and over)
4%NZ 8%
Regular smokers (aged 15 and over)
3%NZ 8%
Rainbow/LGBTIQ+ (aged 15 and over)
4%NZ 5%
Ethnicity
European
52%NZ 68%
Māori
6%NZ 18%
Pacific Peoples
4%NZ 9%
Asian
43%NZ 17%
Middle Eastern, Latin American and African
3%NZ 2%
Other (including New Zealander)
1%NZ 1%
People can choose more than one ethnicity, so these add up to more than 100%.
Religion
No religion
48%NZ 52%
Christian
32%NZ 32%
Hindu
9%NZ 3%
Buddhist
3%NZ 1%
Muslim
2%NZ 2%
Other religions
2%NZ 3%
Source: Stats NZ 2023 Census, CC BY 4.0. Figures are summed from the census areas inside the official Churton Park boundary. Percentages are of the people or homes that answered each question; a figure is left out when fewer than 100 answered.

About Churton Park

Churton Park occupies a hillside setting that provides many properties with views across the northern Wellington landscape. The suburb developed steadily after the initial subdivision of rural land in the 1970s, growing into a well-established residential area with a mix of housing styles from later decades.

Local amenities include the Churton Park Reserve, which features a recreational sports field alongside the schools and kindergarten. Residents typically supplement everyday needs at the nearby Johnsonville Shopping Centre, a short drive or bus ride away.

The suburb maintains a quiet, family-friendly atmosphere with walkways linking neighbourhoods and small parks providing green space. Its position offers straightforward connections to central Wellington via public transport or road.

Transport and Access

Churton Park is served by Metlink bus routes that connect directly to Johnsonville, where the train station provides frequent services into Wellington city centre. The Northern Motorway is readily accessible for drivers heading north or south.

Walking and cycling options exist within the suburb via the network of walkways, though the hilly terrain influences route choices for longer journeys.

Schools and Community Amenities

Two primary schools and a kindergarten are located within Churton Park itself. Secondary schooling is available at institutions in the Johnsonville area, which falls within the relevant catchment zones.

The suburb supports a range of community activities centred around the reserve and local parks. Its newer housing stock and layout appeal to families seeking space and modern facilities.

Near Churton Park

Just outside Churton Park, within 10 km of its centre, nearest first.

Places

Businesses

Where to Learn More

Wikipedia — Churton Park: Overview of the suburb’s history, demographics and facilities.

Wellington City Council: Official information on suburbs, planning and local services.

Stats NZ: Census data and demographic profiles for Churton Park.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Churton Park?
Churton Park lies 1.5 km north of Johnsonville in Wellington’s northern hills, approximately 15 km from the central business district.

When was Churton Park developed?
The suburb was established in the 1970s on land that had been farmland until 1970.

What is the housing like in Churton Park?
The area features modern homes on generous sections, with many properties built from the 1990s onward, arranged along cul-de-sac streets connected by walkways.

Is Churton Park good for families?
Yes. It offers two primary schools and a kindergarten on site, local parks, a quiet residential setting, and easy bus access to Johnsonville’s rail services.

How do residents travel to central Wellington?
Most use buses to Johnsonville station followed by train services, or drive via the Northern Motorway.

What facilities are available locally?
Churton Park Reserve provides a sports field and green space. Full retail and additional services are available at the Johnsonville Shopping Centre nearby.

Are there views from the suburb?
Many properties enjoy views across the northern Wellington hills thanks to the elevated, hillside location.

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Explore Wellington only lists suburbs officially recognised by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), and Churton Park is one of them. Suburb boundary: LINZ, CC BY 4.0.