Christchurch

Christchurch, city (1996 pop. 309,027), E South Island, New Zealand, on the Avon River. It is the third largest city in New Zealand and the commercial center of the productive Canterbury Plains. Industries include food processing, meatpacking, woolens manufacturing, aquaculture, software development, and electronics; tourism is also important. Lyttelton, nearby, is the port for Christchurch. Perhaps the most English of New Zealand's cities, Christchurch was founded in 1850 and has such landmarks as Hagley Park and Christchurch Cathedral. Nicknamed “Garden City of the Plains,” it is also distinguished by its many public parks and botanical gardens. The Univ. of Canterbury (est. 1873) is in suburban Ilam.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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