Christchurch Is New Zealand’s Second Largest City
Christchurch is New Zealand’s second largest city, nestled between the Port Hills and the vast, fertile Canterbury Plains. It is also the largest city in the South Island. Ōtautahi is Christchurch’s name in Māori.
Often referred to as “The Garden City” because of the numerous public parks and gardens, Christchurch is home to a cosmopolitan population and boasts a rich assortment of arts, restaurants and heritage attractions.
The city is also home to many wonderful educational establishments, including the University of Canterbury, Lincoln University, Ara Institute of Canterbury and many prestigious private schools and training establishments such as Christ’s College.
The 2010-2011 earthquake sequence affected the city proper but has given us a unique chance to rebuild. Many modern buildings have risen between the remnants of the old city. The old city centre was influenced by a rich English heritage with some of the finest Gothic architecture outside of Britain, and examples such as the Arts Centre and Canterbury Museum still demonstrate this architecture. The slow-moving Avon River winds its way through the city and enhances the city.
The new city centre is exciting, modern and vibrant, with plenty of eateries, sights, shops, and more.
Our city is a friendly one, home to people who will make you feel welcome and will happily discuss their city and way of life with you.
In-Depth Information about Christchurch, New Zealand
According to the Christchurch City Council’s Web site:
- Christchurch City was named after Oxford University’s Christ Church College, attended by John Robert Godley, long regarded as one of the founders of Christchurch.
- The Māori name for Christchurch is Ōtautahi.
- Christchurch City is known as the Garden City due to its expansive parks and public gardens. The largest park in Christchurch’s metropolitan area is Hagley Park.
- As of June 2024, it was estimated 412,000 people lived in Christchurch. These people were:
- 76% – European
- 13% – Māori
- 4.3% – Pacific Peoples
- 17% – Asian
- 1.9% – Middle Eastern, Latin American or African
- Christchurch’s temperature ranges between a mean annual maximum of 33.0 degrees Celsius and a mean annual minimum of -5.0 degrees Celsius.
Christchurch has a lot of exciting places to visit in the city and the surrounding Canterbury area, including, but not limited to:
- Downtown – shopping on Cashel Street and so on
- The Terrace – bars, restaurants and taverns on Oxford Terrace, overlooking the Avon
- Riverside Market – a large market area on Oxford Terrace, overlooking the Avon
- Botanic Gardens on Rolleston Avenue
- Christchurch Art Gallery, Corner of Worcester and Montreal Streets, in the city
- Arts Centre on Worcester Street in the city
- Various parks and beaches, including the New Brighton Pier
- Lyttelton, a port town on Lyttelton Harbour
- Akaroa, a small French-influenced settlement on Banks Peninsula
- Mount Hutt, Mount Dobson and other mountains for skiing
- Events and festivals in Christchurch
- Shopping at Northlands, The Palms, Westfield Riccarton, the Tannery and other malls
- Willowbank and Orana Park, both wildlife experiences
- Tranz Scenic Train Journeys (to the West Coast)
A site with a lot of information is Find:Chch, or if you would like some in-depth information, visit www.ccc.govt.nz for the Christchurch City Council or www.ecan.govt.nz for Environment Canterbury (the Canterbury Regional Council). Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org) and Google (www.google.co.nz) have further information on Web sites as well.
External Sites about Christchurch, New Zealand
- Ōtautahi Christchurch – About our wonderful city
- Bethere.co.nz – Official events guide
- Christchurch City Council