Dunsandel is a small rural town in the Canterbury region of the South Island, New Zealand. The town is located on the Canterbury Plains just south of the Selwyn River / Waikirikiri and about 40 km south of Christchurch. Dunsandel is a junction town on SH1, halfway between Christchurch and Ashburton, with roads leading to Leeston, Southbridge and Hororata. The town provides an important refreshment stop for main road travellers with eateries and coffee shops, as well as acting as a support town for the rural hinterland.

The town was established to serve the local farming community which includes dairy, sheep and cropping and continues providing veterinary, transport and vehicle repair services. It was named after Dunsandle Castle, the home of Robert Daly, who had owned the land on which the town as established. It has one primary school for approximately 150 children. The town is the home to the Dunsandel Cricket Club. The club's 'A' team has a reputation as one of the premier teams in the Ellesmere district.

Dunsandel is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement, and covers 1.94 km (0.75 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 490 as of June 2024, with a population density of 253 people per km. It is part of the Bankside statistical area.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	399	—
2013	441	+1.44%
2018	438	−0.14%
Source:

Dunsandel had a population of 438 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 3 people (−0.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 39 people (9.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 156 households, comprising 210 males and 228 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.92 males per female, with 105 people (24.0%) aged under 15 years, 63 (14.4%) aged 15 to 29, 213 (48.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 57 (13.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 93.8% European/Pākehā, 9.6% Māori, 0.7% Pasifika, and 1.4% Asian. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 65.1% had no religion, 23.3% were Christian, 0.7% had Māori religious beliefs and 2.1% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 33 (9.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 63 (18.9%) people had no formal qualifications. 72 people (21.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 207 (62.2%) people were employed full-time, 45 (13.5%) were part-time, and 9 (2.7%) were unemployed.

The Bankside statistical area covers 359.56 km (138.83 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 1,920 as of June 2024, with a population density of 5.3 people per km.

Historical population for Bankside

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	1,365	—
2013	1,605	+2.34%
2018	1,656	+0.63%
Source:

Bankside had a population of 1,656 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 51 people (3.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 291 people (21.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 627 households, comprising 873 males and 783 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.11 males per female. The median age was 32.9 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 375 people (22.6%) aged under 15 years, 342 (20.7%) aged 15 to 29, 798 (48.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 144 (8.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 82.4% European/Pākehā, 6.3% Māori, 1.3% Pasifika, 11.8% Asian, and 3.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 24.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 53.6% had no religion, 33.0% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.9% were Hindu, 0.9% were Buddhist and 3.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 216 (16.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 216 (16.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $45,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 255 people (19.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 822 (64.2%) people were employed full-time, 180 (14.1%) were part-time, and 27 (2.1%) were unemployed.

Dunsandel School is a contributing primary school catering for years 1 to 6. It had a roll of 132 as of August 2024. The school opened in 1879. Selwyn and Upper Selwyn schools merged into Dunsandel School in 1936.