Christchurch, the Garden City

Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, sited on the Canterbury Plains between the Southern Alps and the Pacific Ocean. The city occupies flood plain, sand dunes, wetlands, river banks, tidal estuary and part of a volcanic crater rim known as the Port Hills. The soils vary from river gravel through fertile silts to sand and peat. Vegetation patterns change according to soil type and local climate.

Early writing by Christchurch's European settlers refers to the drab vegetation, the poorly drained land, the lack of amenities and even the lack of the basic essentials of living. The early decision makers were, however, people of vision. In the 1850s an area of 161 hectares (500 acres) was set aside for a vast central park known as Hagley Park, and the first trees were planted there in 1863. The inner city was defined by four avenues where deciduous trees such as oak, lime and chestnut were planted.

The legacy of this early planning forms the framework of Christchurch today. The scale is large and links are strong and orderly. Beautiful old buildings and majestic trees provide some of the attractive features of the city now extending far beyond the original boundaries.

The city has expanded to cover 46,000 hectares, and the population of 310,000 enjoys a high proportion of land to each person. The main streets are laid out on a geometric grid system, through which the natural spring-fed waters of the Avon and Heathcote Rivers make their way to the Estuary and the sea.

Christchurch has been known since early this century as the Garden City. The theme now strongly forms part of the city's style and is incorporated in its logo - Christchurch the Garden City. The city that shines. The logo theme embodies the Christchurch Cathedral on a backdrop of our clear blue skies, the green of our parks and city environs, and our shining rivers.