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Christchurch has a population of about 3,50,00 and is the largest city in the southern part of New Zealand. It was founded by the British. The city is also known for Gothic architecture, which is visible here in important buildings like the Canterbury Museum and the Christchurch Cathedral.
The city was named by the Canterbury Association on 27th March 1848. However, in Maori, the place is called Otautahi, which literally translates to “the place of tautahi.” Tautahi was originally a place near the river Avon.
According to archaeological evidence, Christchurch was discovered in 1250 and the Maoris were the first settlers here. The Maori tribe was then followed by the Waihati tribe.
The city lies in Canterbury and is situated to the south of Pegasus Bay. Christchurch is one of the eight cities of the world which have a city lying exactly opposite it and near to it. There are four such pairs in New Zealand alone. The majority ethnic group here is the Europeans, while native New Zealanders take the second position. There are approximately 5% Asians in the city.
The city centre, which is the Cathedral Square has four avenues surrounding it and is together called the business district of the city. The Wizard of New Zealand is also situated here.
Christchurch hosts a number of festivals annually which include the New Zealand Cup and Show Week, the World Buskers Festivals and the Lyttelton Festival of Lights.
The city has a dry climate with the temperature staying around 24-25° Celsius during the summer months. The temperature is known to dip below zero frequently in the winter months.
Christchurch is known for its parks and gardens, some of which date back to the British era. Some of the parks which are a sightseeing attraction here are the Botanical Gardens, Hagley Park and Riccarton House and Bush. Other sightseeing attractions of the city include the Canterbury museum, the Ferrymead Heritage park, the Air Force Museum and the International Antarctic Centre.
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