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ABOUT CHRISTCHURCHNew Zealand's garden city and capital of the South Island acts as the perfect gateway to discovering some of the country's most spectacular scenery and National Parks; and there is plenty to explore in the city itself, with acres of parks and gardens, stunning Gothic architecture and a wide choice of restaurants and bars. Christchurch, located in the province of Canterbury, is the largest city in the South Island, yet remains a friendly and welcoming city, compact enough to easily explore on foot or bicycle. The city was originally founded by English settlers in the 19th century, and retains a British feel due to its Victorian architecture, tree lined avenues and open parklands. Today historic buildings such as the cathedral and the Canterbury Museum, sit side by side with innovative, modern architecture such as the Christchurch Art Gallery. Much of the city landscape is devoted to parks and open spaces, resulting in the Christchurch's reputation as the 'Garden City of New Zealand'. Two of the most impressive gardens - Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens, are within easy reach of the city centre. To the west of Christchurch are the Southern Alps - home to Australasia's highest mountain - Mount Cook; and to the east is the Pacific Coast, where visitors can swim with dolphins or join whale watching excursions. Internationally famed 'The Garden City', Christchurch's well-established expansive parks and public gardens owe much to the planning and foresight of the city's founding fathers. The centrally-located 161 hectare Hagley Park, the Botanic Gardens, the four leafy inner-city avenues, Victoria Square and spectacular gardens such as Mona Vale on the banks of the River Avon bear testimony to this legacy. It is a vision which is embraced and perpetuated today by proud residents right throughout the city. The Floral Festival held in February each year is certainly one of the most popular festivals on the annual calendar...a time when the city is a blaze of color. In 1996, Christchurch was acknowledged as the outstanding garden city from 620 international entries and in 1997, was judged Overall Winner of Major Cities in the Nations in Bloom International Competition to become 'Garden City of the World'! Maori oral history suggests that people first inhabited the Canterbury area about a thousand years ago. These first inhabitants were moa-hunting tribes and these were followed by the Waitaha who are thought to have migrated from the east coast of the North Island in the 16th century. This migration was joined by the Ngati Mamoe and Ngai Tahu and continued until about 1830. The first European landed in Canterbury in 1815, 45 years after Captain James Cook sighted what he named "Banks Island", later found to be a peninsula. In 1840 the first Europeans settled on the plains and whaling ships were operating out of Lyttelton by 1850. During 1850-1851 the first organized groups of English settlers, the founders of Christchurch, arrived on the 'first four ships' into Lyttelton Harbour. Christchurch became a city by Royal Charter on July 31, 1856, making it officially the oldest established city in New Zealand. In 1893 New Zealand women achieved a first in the world when they won the right to vote. This significant event was honored in 1993 when the Kate Sheppard memorial, a commemoration to Women's Suffrage was unveiled on 19th September 1993. Canterbury's economy was built on primary products and Canterbury has long been recognized as living "off the sheep's back". Although its economic beginnings were in refrigerated sheep and dairy meats and in other dairy products, Canterbury now has a diversified regional economy with growth across a range of "new economy" sectors. Sister Cities programs foster communications across borders - a mutual exchange of ideas, people and materials in cultural, educational, youth, sports, municipal, professional and technical projects. Christchurch has six sister city links: Adelaide, Australia; Christchurch, England; Gansu Province, People's Republic of China; Kurashiki, Japan; Seattle, United States of America and Songpa-Gu, Korea. |
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