The Garden City
The Garden City

Christchurch, New Zealand's second largest city with a population of almost 400,000 has long been considered the most English of cities outside English itself; and we are talking old-school, middle class England as it used to be. While this maybe true in appearance - with punting on the river Avon, a plethora of excellent schools, and a cathedral to boot-underneath lies a very innovative, modern city boasting all that is great about being Kiwi.

Christchurch by virtue of its size and location is the commercial and economic hub of the South Island. The surrounding Canterbury region feeds into the Christchurch economy and vice versa making this a diverse and thriving economy - a kind of commercial ecosystem of its own that has weathered the global recession relatively unscathed. The region's economy is heavily influenced by what happens 'on the farm', and so it is to the benefit of Canterbury as a whole that the agribusiness sector has been able to adapt over time - with the move to more dairy farms in the region, the application of more research and technology to primary industry, and the emphasis on traceability and integrity of production as a commercial point of difference. It is no accident that 'dairy produce, eggs and honey' is still the most significant sector of Canterbury's exports, accounting for around $132 million of the total $466 million that left the region last year. This not insignificant level of exports is made possible by the international airport in Christchurch and two sea ports located in Lyttelton and Timaru.


Agribusiness isn't the only sector doing well in Christchurch and Canterbury. The region's strengths are also in information and communications technology, food innovation, nutraceuticals, international education, tourism, light engineering and specailised manufacturing. Christchurch is known as New Zealand's ICT capital, a hot-spot for emerging technologies. Many local businesses punch well above their weight in world markets through innovation and design. High-quality education and research facilities underpin the many success stories: with two universities and other excellent research and tertiary education facilities to choose from.


As is typical across New Zealand, the majority of local businesses are small to medium in size (i.e. with fewer than 25 staff). Many people choose to stay in the region for their whole working life, and you will often hear locals say that Christchurch is a village when it comes to relationships, employment opportunities and word-of-mouth business. In reality, Christchurch does have all the benefits of both a friendly, connected village and all the perks of big city life: world class theatre; international conferences and business opportunities; the art gallery, museum and other superior cultural attractions; excellent sporting venues; a wide choice of schools and further education options to name just a few.


While Cantabrians are considered to be a more conservative bunch than most New Zealanders, the locals are anything but boring. The city has a true heart in Cathedral Square, with funky redevelopments around the fringes offering something for everyone in terms of entertainment and city living. Businesses are generally small and flexible, offering more informal work environments while still delivering high quality results.


The central city shopping district has boutique retail outlets and New Zealand's longest established department store, bringing shoppers from all across the region. There are malls in the suburbs and any number of community hubs to choose from throughout the city. Although the mean house price for Christchurch sits at$328,200 this doesn't reflect the choices available - from much lower cost homes to suburbs where you can purchase a magnificent view of the Southern Alps and the Pacific Ocean, at a price that, while well above the mean, is still considerably lower than the equivalent location overseas. Outside the city, smaller towns such as Lincoln, Darfield, Kaiapoi and Rangiora offer a rural lifestyle close enough to commute.


Employment opportunities exist across all sectors, with Canterbury's unemployment sitting below the national average at 5.5%. Anecdotally, salaries are comparable with the rest of New Zealand, but there are industry differences.


Canterbury isn't all just work though. What brings most people to Christchurch is the access to the most fabulous play-ground-the South Island of New Zealand (otherwise known as The Mainland). In less than two hours you can travel to French Akaroa, a small, picturesque settlement on the Banks Peninsula where you can swim with the dolphins; head north to Kaikoura for whale watching; or inland to Hammer Springs, home of the region's thermal pools and outdoor adventure activities. Turn south and you can be skiing in less than two hours; or in the high country, home of our famous Merino sheep, and on to Queenstown, Milford Sound and some of New Zealand's most iconic tourist destinations. It is often images of these natural wonders that bring people to New Zealand, and you can plan to see them all from a base in Christchurch.


However our landscapes are not the only thing we're known for. Current All Whites Football Captain Ryan Nelsen, All Blacks Captain Richie McCaw, and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key all hail from around here.


The city is proud of its environmental attitude too. the local government's emphasis on clean air through the introduction of assistance to householders to put in cleaner burning fires, for example. The three-bin roadside collection encourages recycling. The Christchurch City Council's new office building itself is New Zealand's first renovated building to gain a 6 Green Star rating from the NZ Green Building Council, and is now officially New Zealand's greenest building. So the region intends to protect the Canterbury landscape for generations to come.


Locals and visitors alike enjoy the seasons in Christchurch. Hagley Park, a 158 hectare green space right in the centre of the city, displays the seasons: literally thousands of daffodils in the spring, thick greenery in the summer, piles of autumn leaves to kick through, and misty, frosty mornings in winter. With the Botanical Gardens located in Hagley Park. offering a lunch time sanctuary for city workers; and the country's premier gardening event, the Ellerslie Flower Show, held in the city each year, Christchurch truly lives up to its alternative name The Garden City.


It is all these things and more that make Christchurch and Canterbury home.