Christchurch, New Zealand
Christchurch City is located just north of Banks Peninsula, about halfway down the east coast of the South Island. According to the most recent population estimates the city has a population of about 400,000.
Christchurch ranks second in size out of the 73 Territorial Authorities in New Zealand. and it has 8.7% of the population of New Zealand. The population dropped slightly following the earthquakes with many people moving from earthquake damaged areas to neighbouring local authority areas of Greater Christchurch. More detailed information can be found here.
Sadly, the city of Christchurch was badly affected by a series of earthquake events over a prolonged period starting on 4 September 2010. Much of the central business district was destroyed. Also, a phenomenon known as liquefaction has had a major effect on some of the eastern suburbs which means that several hundred homes have had to be dismantled as the land is no longer suitable to be built on. This is the Wikipedia article on the 2011 earthquakes. Here is an image of the aftershocks up until February 2016 taken from the March 2016 issue of Future Christchurch Update.
There are many videos on YouTube showing the devastation. Photographers Ross Becker and Moira Fraser were commissioned by the National Library of New Zealand to document the post-quake recovery. A large number of their superb photographs are available at low resolution to the public under a Creative Commons Licence at the University of Canterbury's Quakestudies website. They are beautiful shots of a horrible subject.
The University of Canterbury is compiling a digital record to preserve the knowledge, memories and experiences surrounding the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes. The archive brings together images, video, audio, and documents from a wide range of organisations and individuals, and makes them easily searchable. UC CEISMIC is the link.
The following was written before the earthquakes and the content and many of the photos below reflect what Christchurch was like prior to the earthquakes. For example the Cathedral below has been seriously damaged and after much debate it has been agreed to restore it. This will take many years. Several other buildings in this image have now been demolished.
Christchurch ranks second in size out of the 73 Territorial Authorities in New Zealand. and it has 8.7% of the population of New Zealand. The population dropped slightly following the earthquakes with many people moving from earthquake damaged areas to neighbouring local authority areas of Greater Christchurch. More detailed information can be found here.
Sadly, the city of Christchurch was badly affected by a series of earthquake events over a prolonged period starting on 4 September 2010. Much of the central business district was destroyed. Also, a phenomenon known as liquefaction has had a major effect on some of the eastern suburbs which means that several hundred homes have had to be dismantled as the land is no longer suitable to be built on. This is the Wikipedia article on the 2011 earthquakes. Here is an image of the aftershocks up until February 2016 taken from the March 2016 issue of Future Christchurch Update.
There are many videos on YouTube showing the devastation. Photographers Ross Becker and Moira Fraser were commissioned by the National Library of New Zealand to document the post-quake recovery. A large number of their superb photographs are available at low resolution to the public under a Creative Commons Licence at the University of Canterbury's Quakestudies website. They are beautiful shots of a horrible subject.
The University of Canterbury is compiling a digital record to preserve the knowledge, memories and experiences surrounding the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes. The archive brings together images, video, audio, and documents from a wide range of organisations and individuals, and makes them easily searchable. UC CEISMIC is the link.
The following was written before the earthquakes and the content and many of the photos below reflect what Christchurch was like prior to the earthquakes. For example the Cathedral below has been seriously damaged and after much debate it has been agreed to restore it. This will take many years. Several other buildings in this image have now been demolished.
Many people would argue that Christchurch is the most attractive city in New Zealand. It has extensive inner city public and private gardens and parks. The Avon River wanders gently though the city centre. There is particular emphasis on pedestrian traffic, centred on its two main central squares - Cathedral Square and Victoria Square. It has one of the two main international airports for the country.
Christchurch was a planned settlement founded by the English upper class. This “Englishness” is still apparent in the city's style and architecture, its traditional Gentlemen’s Clubs and activities such as punts on the Avon, and cricket and rugby in Hagley Park. Christ's College Boarding School also reflects those qualities most apparent in the English Public School system.
Christchurch, framed by hills and the Pacific Ocean, is situated on the edge of the Canterbury plains, which stretch to the Southern Alps. It is New Zealand's only predominantly flat major city.
Summers here are generally mild and sunny with low humidity. The city has an average of over 2,000 hours of annual sunshine. Residents are most likely to encounter frosts on crisp mornings followed by clear, calm days in Winter. Autumn usually has the longest period of settled weather and the city puts on an especially fine show in spring.
Much of the city’s area has been set aside for parks, natural reserves and recreation grounds. It is these, together with Christchurch’s splendid private gardens, which give the city much of its essential character. Right at the city’s heart is Hagley Park and the adjacent Botanic Gardens, which displays a wide variety of native plants and trees.
Christchurch’s special character is most obvious in its glorious parks and gardens, which led it to win the International Garden City Award. A huge range of recreation attractions offers a variety of things to do and see, and visitors can enjoy active or more leisurely pursuits the whole year round.
Christchurch is New Zealand’s leading festival city. Throughout the year it celebrates a wide ranging variety of festivals providing a wealth of cultural and entertainment activities. Festivals covering themes of the adventure, arts, books, buskers, dance, heritage and floral displays all provide a focus for the city’s celebrations. Spring brings Showtime Canterbury featuring national racing events and the region’s traditional agricultural and pastoral show. Summer welcomes the the Busker's Festival, the Garden City Festival of Flowers and the SummerTimes festival, with a vast range of free outdoor events, including the extremely popular Classical Sparks. Late summer and early autumn are the time to celebrate romance, food and drink. Winter brings KidsFest and the Winter Carnival.
Christchurch, sometimes affectionately (or scornfully, by more right-wing groups) known as the “Peoples Republic” is a city on the move. It is a top rate destination for international travellers, not only for its own merits but also as a gateway to the wider regions attractions such as the relatively close ski fields. It has an extensive range of excellent hotels and accommodation facilities. There is also a new sports and entertainment centre and a world-class convention centre with a performing arts complex adjacent. Christchurch now boasts a new Art Gallery, one of the best in New Zealand.
Much of the local economy depends on the primary produce of the surrounding area: vegetables, meat, dairy products, wool, grains, timber, grapes and specialist horticultural products. Processing operations adding value for this produce also make a significant contribution. But Christchurch is more than a community supporting its local farming community. Software development, light manufacturing industries, engineering, electronics, tourism and education all play an increasingly important role in Christchurch’s prosperity. There are two universities, a rapidly expanding Polytechnic as well as several research institutions. Christchurch is definitely a technologically advanced city. An international airport, deep harbour port, radial road and rail links make Christchurch the main distribution centre for the South Island. Enhanced international status and economic benefits also accrue from the city’s position as Gateway to the Antarctic.
Useful sites:
ChristchurchNZ is a very comprehensive site about Christchurch, its opportunities and attractions
Cinch is an online community directory of clubs, community organisations and continuing education course providers in the greater Christchurch area
The official Christchurch City Council web site
Christchurch's Sister Cities
Christchurch Bus Timetables
Text and most images copyright Allan Campbell
Last updated 14 June 2023