|
The largest city on the South
Island and the third largest city in New
Zealand, Christchurch has a population of about 350,000. It
is located in Canterbury.
O¯tautahi means "the place of Tautahi" and was adopted
as the general Ma¯ori name for Christchurch City in the 1930s.
The name is derived from the Nga¯i Tahu chief Te Potiki Tautahi
who built a settlement on the banks of O¯takaro, the Avon river.
Market Square (known today as Victoria Square), was an important
trading and meeting place for Nga¯i Tahu from all over the
region. To commemorate the importance of this place a six metre
high poupou was erected on the banks of O¯ta¯karo. Carved
from a giant trunk of totara, it was crafted by local artist and
master carver Riki Manuel.
NATURAL WORLD
Christchurch is sited on the Canterbury Plains between the Southern
Alps and the Pacific Ocean. The city occupies flood plain, sand
dunes, wetlands, tidal estuary and part of a volcanic crater rim
known as the Port Hills. Soils vary from river gravel through fertile
silts to sand and peat. Vegetation patterns change according to
soil type and local climate creating a wide variety of eco-systems
within the city.
Christchurch is known as the Garden City and is justifiably proud
of its green areas. Urban areas contain 15% of the city's public
open space with the 161-hectare Hagley Park and the 30-hectare Botanic
Gardens established on the edge of the park in 1856. Hagley Park
is one of the largest city parks in the world. Created in the 1850s,
the park includes rugby and cricket pitches, tennis courts and jogging
tracks. The park's two lakes are popular with model boat enthusiasts.
There is punting on the tree-lined Avon River.
Another important area in the city and located in the midst of housing
is the Travis Wetlands, the largest (116-hectares) remaining freshwater
swamp in the region, The wetlands as a nature heritage park are
unique in New Zealand and contain a number of species now rare on
the Canterbury Plains. An estimated 650 to 800 different insect
species live in Travis Wetlands. Of the 467 recorded in one study,
87% were found naturally only in New Zealand. These include weta,
moths, flies, beetles and a flightless crane fly endemic to Christchurch.
There is strong community support for the Council's extensive native
planting schemes and over 250,000 local native plants go into Council
parks each year.
Forming the backdrop to the city are the Port Hills whose tussock,
grassland and rugged volcanic outcrops contrast with the flatness
of the Canterbury Plains. Remnants of podocarp forests are reminders
of the past.
BIRDING
This is a city where church bells in Christ Church Cathedral are
rung to celebrate the arrival of the godwits in July. The eastern
bar-tailed godwits head for Eastern Siberia and Alaska where they
breed in the Arctic summer. The Christchurch Estuary is an important
link in their pathway as a rich habitat that provides a resting
place.
ANTARCTICA CONNECTION
Christchurch has been the gateway for exploration and scientific
research of the world's most remote continent. The world's best
museum collection of objects from Antarctica
is at the International
Antarctic Centre. Its architecture was inspired by the icebergs,
ice shelves and glaciers. The museum is across from the international
airport at 38 Orchard Road.
CULTURAL WORLD
Cathedral Square is the must-visit plaza in the heart of the city.
Amid the market stalls, modern sculptures there is great people
watching. The square is dominated by a 63-meter spire of the Christchurch
Cathedral.
The Arts Centre
of Christchurch is a vibrant and exciting venue for a huge range
of New Zealand made art and crafts, shopping, education and entertainment.
PUBLIC MARKETS
Cathedral Square
Market features regional crafts, including pounamu
(jade), precious stones, jewelry, sheepskin and possum fur products.
There is special entertainment on Fridays and special events are
held throughout the year. The popular Kidsmarket takes place the
second week of July.
Riccarton
Rotary Sunday Market features 250 stalls including twenty stalls
providing a variety of local and ethnic foods. Public transport
is via the #83 bus to Hornby/Hei Hei which leaves platform A from
the Bus Exchange
ART
The Christchurch
Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu is located in the heart of the
city's cultural precinct, bounded by Worcester Boulevard, Gloucester
and Montreal Streets.
GONDOLA
The 945-meter Gondola
ride gently lifts visitors almost 500 meters (1500 feet) above sea
level. The crater rim complex provides views of Christchurch, the
Canterbury Plains and Lyttelton Harbour.
SPORTS
There are a number of local
rugby teams, including the Crusaders and community clubs.
Jade Stadium (Landcaster
Park) is home to the Crusaders Super 15 rugby and the Canterbury
team in the Air New Zealand Cup. The stadium in Phillipstown.
HISTORY
Christchurch was established in 1850 by English settlers and the
city is named after Christ Church, a college at the University
of Oxford. The Canterbury Association sent four ships to establish
the colony.
INDIGENOUS ROOTS
Maori oral tradition suggests that they occupied the area as early
as 1000 AD. The dominant tribe was the Ngai Tahu which today continues
to play a significant role in the region's economy and culture with
its 18 runanga (local councils).
NEARBY
The Travis
Wetland Nature Heritage Park lies northeast of the city and
has 116 hectares of wetlands with a healthy bird population (more
than 55 species) and well-maintained walking paths.
Christchurch City is often seen as the gateway to several national
parks, such as Arthur's Pass, notable for its walks, Mount Cook
for mountaineering, and the Main Divide between the west and east
coasts where activities include tramping, sight-seeing, caving and
rock climbing.
The city is attractive to residents and visitors because of its
close proximity to a wide range of outdoor and recreational activities.
Several skifields are only a few hours drive from the city, with
slopes usually open until September. A trans-alpine trip by rail
across the Southern Alps to the rugged West Coast has been named
as one of the top 10 train trips in the world.
WINE
The South Island of New Zealand has the southernmost vineyards
in the world, with climatic conditions that produce distinctive
wines that cannot be found anywhere else. The Waipara Valley, Canterbury's
wine growing region, is approximately 45 minutes north of town.
|
