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Christchurch is the New Zealand South Island's largest city. The city is named after the cathedral college of Christ Church in the University of Oxford. Its Maori name is Otautahi, from the Maori chief Tautahi who had a settlement on the banks of the Avon River.
In the east coas, Christchurch is perfect as a pleasant jumping-off point for the mountains, ocean beaches, rivers, lakes and wide-open spaces less than an hour from the city centre. The city is set in an archetypal New Zealand setting of rural sheep-strewn fields stretching towards rugged alpine mountains. Over 150 years ago, Christchurch was planned as the perfect High Anglican town.
Facts in a glance
Area: 45,240 sq km
Population: 331,400
Country: New Zealand
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +12
Telephone Area Code: 03
See Also