Christchurch

Christchurch (/ˈkraɪstʃɜːrtʃ/ ⓘ; Māori: Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island and the second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand.[a] Christchurch has a population of 396,200 and is located in the Canterbury Region, near the centre of the east coast of the South Island, east of the Canterbury Plains. It is located near the southern end of Pegasus Bay, and is bounded to the east by the Pacific Ocean and to the south by the ancient volcanic complex of the Banks Peninsula. The Avon River (Ōtākoro) winds through the centre of the city, with a large urban park along its banks. With the exception of the Port Hills, it is a relatively flat city, on an average around 20 m (66 ft) above sea level. Christchurch has a reputation for being an English city, with its architectural identity and nickname the 'Garden City' due to similarities with garden cities in England. Christchurch has a temperate oceanic climate with regular moderate rainfall. Māori have inhabited the Christchurch area since 1250 A.D. Initially, the area of modern-day greater Christchurch was mostly swamplands with patchworks of marshland. In the archaic period, Māori were to have been moa-hunters, who occupied coastal caves. Christchurch was an important foraging ground and contained numerous seasonal settlements before the arrival of European settlers. British colonial settlement began in the mid-nineteenth century. The First Four Ships were chartered by the Canterbury Association and brought the Canterbury Pilgrims from Britain to Lyttelton Harbour in 1850. It became a city by royal charter on 31 July 1856, making it officially the oldest established city in New Zealand. Christchurch was heavily industrialised in the early 20th century, with and the opening of the Main South Line railway and the development of state housing saw rapid growth in the city's economy and population.