Christchurch

Christchurch Ōtautahi  (Māori)
City
Christchurch Central City in February 2020
Nickname:  The Garden City
Motto(s):  Fide Condita Fructu Beata Spe Fortis English: Founded in Faith, Rich in the Fulfillment thereof, Strong in Hope for the Future[1]
Coordinates: 43°32′S 172°37′E / 43.533°S 172.617°E / -43.533; 172.617
Country	New Zealand
Island	South Island
Region	Canterbury
Communities	Banks Peninsula Coastal-Burwood Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Linwood-Central-Heathcote Papanui-Innes Spreydon-Cashmere
Wards	Banks Peninsula Burwood Cashmere Central Coastal Fendalton Halswell Harewood Heathcote Hornby Innes Linwood Papanui Riccarton Spreydon Waimairi
Named for	Christ Church, Oxford
Government
• Mayor	Phil Mauger
• MPs	Matt Doocey (National) Nicola Grigg (National) Vanessa Weenink (National) Hamish Campbell (National) Tākuta Ferris (Te Pāti Māori) Duncan Webb (Labour) Reuben Davidson (Labour) Megan Woods (Labour)
Population  (June 2023)[2]
• Territorial	396,200
Time zone	UTC+12:00 (NZST)
Website	ChristchurchNZ.com

Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the second largest urban area in the country. Christchurch is located on the South Island’s east coast. The population is approximately 403,000 (2024).

The name ‘Christchurch’ was decided upon at the first meeting of the Canterbury Association (made up of settlers of the surrounding province of Canterbury) on March 27, 1848. The city’s name came from the Christ Church, Oxford College and was suggested by John Robert Godley, who attended the college. Earlier, the name of the town was Christ Church. On July 31, 1856, Christchurch became a city by Royal Charter and is officially the oldest established city in New Zealand.

1. ↑ "Civic coats of arms". Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
2. ↑ "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)