Chartwell, Hamilton

Chartwell
Houses on River Rd, Chartwell along the Waikato River
Basic information
Local authority	Hamilton, New Zealand
Electoral ward	Hamilton East
Date established	1962
Surrounds
North	Rototuna
Northeast	Chedworth Park
East	Fairview Downs
South	Fairfield
Northwest	Queenwood

Chartwell is a suburb in north-eastern Hamilton, New Zealand. The suburb was named after Chartwell, the country home of Sir Winston Churchill. The area became a part of Hamilton in June 1962 and was officially defined as a suburb in 1974. Most of the housing is private single or 2 level dwellings with little state housing. Streets near the square are used for parking. Private dwellings are being purchased by professionals to be used as business premises close to the square. The streets are well planted with trees.

Chartwell's main shopping area is located on Lynden Court. Chartwell Shopping Centre is one of Hamilton's major malls. It has a 6 cinema multiplex as well as 126 retail shops, cafes and restaurants. The Chartwell Library and the Lynden Court Mall are located on the other side of the road. Lynden Court is one of Hamilton's major transport hubs, with bus routes heading into Hamilton Central, Rototuna and the city Orbiter route.

Chartwell Park is located in between the suburbs of Chartwell and Queenwood. It features a walkway connecting these two suburbs. Chartwell Park has five football (soccer) fields. These are the home ground playing fields for St. Joseph's Catholic School's football teams.

To the northern end of Hukanui Road, there is an archaeological kumara pit. The pit is 2m deep and 8m wide in a circle shape. The pits were made by Maori who used the dug out sand and gravel to cover growing kumara plants. The sand conducted heat to make an artificial tropical climate for the kumara plants which naturally grow in Southern America. Because of the archaeological significance of these pits, the construction of the Wairere Drive/Hukanui Road intersection was made so that the pits would not be affected.

The nearest secondary school is Fairfield College,a decile 4, co-educational state secondary school with a roll of about 1000. It is located immediately to the south of Chartwell in the same street as Bankwood Primary School. Its roll is about 50% Maori as of 2011. Between 2007 and 2010 the school had a new principal. In 2008 a vote of no confidence was taken in the principal and the board of trustees which resulted in student strikes and the beginning of an exodus of 140 staff over the next 3 years. Various enquiries were held by the MOE who appointed a limited statutory manager and then a full commissioner. A special inquiry was undertaken by an ERO team after official complaints about management practices at the school. A further investigation was undertaken of specific managers which resulted in the sudden departure of 2 deputy principals and shortly after the principal resigned without any public comment. In May 2011 the commissioner stated that the school now had an excellent management team, the finances had now been markedly improved and the staff were feeling more positive. A new principal was appointed in Term 3 2011. St Paul's Collegiate is a private (fee paying) secondary, co-educational (girls year 11 and above ), part boarding school, modeled along the lines of an English public school. It is on the border between Chartwell and Fairfield and its fields adjoin Fairfield Intermediate. Diocesan School for girls is a private decile 10 boarding college with day students. It has one of the highest NCEA pass rates in New Zealand. It is well known for its outstanding rowing achievements and since 2000 has become the premier school for girl's cycling in NZ. It adjoins Fairfield College.