Christchurch is a city in the province of Canterbury in the South Island of New Zealand that is oftentimes often known as probably the most English city not being in England. It's also often called the Garden City because it has a lot of impressive gardens. The metropolis region contains a population of slightly below 400 000, which makes it the second largest city in New Zealand after Auckland. The Avon River flows via the center of the city with a lot of parks located along its banks with Hagley Park being a central characteristic of the city. In the middle of the city is Cathedral Square featuring the landmark Anglican cathedral that is at present being reconditioned because of earthquake damage.
The farming and agricultural market is the economical heart of Christchurch and the bulk of the original business there were established to support this. Tourism is now additionally a substantial factor for the local economic system, with the city selling itself being a gateway to the South Island with its stunning surroundings, snow skiing and adventure tourism. Christchurch is also the portal for the Antarctic, with the city having a long history of participation in Antarctic research. There's an International Antarctic Centre which offers both base services and a museum having a visitors center. The United States Navy utilizes Christchurch Airport as being the entry place for the primary supply path to its McMurdo and Scott Bases in Antarctica.
There does exist some information that individuals first settled in the Christchurch region in close to 1250. Settlement became popular at the start of 1840 following the acquisition of property in what has become Riccarton by the Weller siblings along with a group of European settlers encouraged by Herriott and McGillivray established themselves in what has become Christchurch, early in 1840. The Canterbury Association organized The First Four Ships to deliver 792 of the Canterbury Pilgrims to Lyttelton Harbour. The sailing vessels were the Randolph, Charlotte Jane, Sir George Seymour, and Cressy. The Charlotte Jane got here initially upon 16 December 1850. The Canterbury Pilgrims wished to develop a city around a cathedral dependant upon the model of Christ Church in Oxford, England, and so the name of Christchurch.
Several substantial events have shaped Christchurch. Back in 1947, a fire started at Ballantyne's Department Store in the central area with 41 individuals were killed in a blaze which ruined a group of properties. It remains New Zealand's most severe fire catastrophe. Between September 2010 and January 2012 Christchurch had a number of major earthquakes with the worst being on Tuesday 22 February 2011 with 185 people were killed and a huge number of buildings collapsing or experiencing considerable damages. After the earthquakes in excess of 1500 buildings in the city had been demolished, bringing about a still ongoing recuperation and rebuilding project. Christchurch did undergo some rapid growth after the recovery started. On 15 March 2019, 51 citizens were murdered in the course of two terrorist attacks in the Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre by a white supremacist who come in from from Australia. The terrorist violence were mentioned by the Prime Minister of NZ, Jacinda Ardern as being "One of New Zealand's darkest days".