Christchurch

Christchurch, city and district, England

Christchurch, city (1991 pop. 32,854) and district, Dorset, S central England, on Christchurch Bay at the confluence of the Avon and Stour rivers. The city's industries range from aircraft manufacturing to salmon fishing. Christchurch is also a resort. Its history dates back to Anglo-Saxon times; its name derives from the church that was part of the Augustinian priory founded there before the Norman conquest of England.

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Christchurch, city, New Zealand

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.

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Christchurch

City (pop., 2006: 360,768), South Island, New Zealand. Founded in 1850 as a model Church of England settlement, it was the last and most successful colonizing project inspired by Edward Gibbon Wakefield and his New Zealand Co. It is the country's second largest city and an important industrial centre; its port is Lyttelton. Called the “Garden City of the Plains” for its numerous parks and gardens, it is home to the University of Canterbury, Christ's College, and Lincoln University.

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Christchurch

1. a city in New Zealand, on E South Island: manufacturing centre of a rich agricultural region. Pop.: 344 100 (2004 est.)

2. a town and resort in S England, in SE Dorset. Pop.: 40 208 (2001)