Canterbury Region facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Canterbury Waitaha  (Māori)
Region of New Zealand
Canterbury Region
Canterbury Region in New Zealand
Country	New Zealand
Island	South Island
Established	1989
Seat	Christchurch
Territorial authorities	List Kaikōura District Hurunui District Selwyn District Waimakariri District Christchurch City Ashburton District Mackenzie District Timaru District Waimate District Waitaki District (59.61%)
Government
• Body	Canterbury Regional Council
Area
• Land	44,503.60 km2 (17,182.94 sq mi)
Population  (June 2023)
• Region	666,300
Demonym(s)	Cantabrian
GDP
• Total	NZ$ 44.032 billion (2021)
• Per capita	NZ$ 67,400 (2021)
Time zone	UTC+12 (NZST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+13 (NZDT)
HDI (2021)	0.938 very high · 4th

A map showing population density in the Canterbury Region at the 2006 census

Canterbury (also known as Māori: Waitaha) is a large region in New Zealand. It's located in the central-eastern part of the South Island. Canterbury is the biggest region in the country by size, covering about 44,500 square kilometers. Many people call this region home.

The Canterbury region as we know it today was created in 1989. This happened during a big change in how local governments were set up across New Zealand. Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island, is the main center of the region. It's where most of the people in Canterbury live. Other important towns and cities include Timaru, Ashburton, Rangiora, and Rolleston.

History of Canterbury

This section explores the long history of Canterbury, from its natural beginnings to the arrival of people.

Natural History of Canterbury

The land, water, plants, and animals of Canterbury have a very long story. It starts with the ancient rocks that form the Southern Alps. This history is connected to how Earth's tectonic plates moved and changed over millions of years.

Canterbury is part of a larger landmass called Zealandia. This land sits on the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates. The powerful forces of these plates created the mountains and land. Over time, rain, snow, ice, and rocks grinding together shaped the landscape. They formed huge gravel plains that stretch out from the mountains. There were also volcanoes that pushed through the ground. On this strong foundation, unique plants and animals slowly developed over billions of years. You can still see some of these special species in protected areas today.

The plants and animals of Waitaha/Canterbury adapted to the different climates and landscapes. These range from the coast to the highest mountain peaks. They also adapted to the warmer northern areas and the colder southern parts.

Before European Settlers Arrived

For many centuries, different Māori groups lived in Canterbury. When European settlers first arrived, the Ngāi Tahu people lived here. Their numbers had become much smaller due to wars. These wars were fought among themselves and with Te Rauparaha and his Ngāti Toa tribe from the North Island in the early 1800s.

European Colonisation of Canterbury

In 1848, two British men, Edward Gibbon Wakefield and John Robert Godley, started the Canterbury Association. Their goal was to create a new colony in the South Island for people from the Anglican church.

Because of their connections to the University of Oxford, they managed to raise enough money. They also found many middle-class and upper-class settlers. In April 1850, a first group led by Godley arrived at Port Cooper. This is now known as Lyttelton Harbour / Whakaraupō. They set up a port, houses, and shops for the main group of settlers. In December 1850, the first 750 settlers arrived in Lyttelton on four ships. These ships are famously known as the First Four Ships.

After 1850, the region's economy grew thanks to sheep farming. Canterbury's wide, grassy plains were perfect for raising many sheep. Settlers valued sheep highly for their meat and wool. By the early 1850s, there were over half a million sheep in the region. By the 1860s, this number had grown to three million! During this time, the architect Benjamin Mountfort designed many important buildings. He used the Gothic Revival style.

Canterbury Province (Old Boundaries)

The Canterbury Province was created in 1853. It was part of the old New Munster Province. This province covered the middle part of the South Island, from the east coast to the west coast. All New Zealand provinces, including Canterbury, were removed on November 1, 1876. The Canterbury Region we know today has slightly different borders. For example, it includes some areas from the old Nelson Province in the north.

Earthquakes of 2010–2011

Canterbury experienced a series of powerful earthquakes in 2010 and 2011.

September 2010 Earthquake

Building damage in Worcester Street, Christchurch, after the September 2010 earthquake.

A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 hit the region on Saturday, September 4, 2010, at 4:35 AM. Its center was about 40 kilometers west of Christchurch. It was also 10 kilometers south-east of Darfield, and 10 kilometers deep. The earthquake caused a lot of damage to buildings and power cuts. Luckily, no one died directly from this quake. Sewers, gas, and water pipes were broken. Power was lost to up to 75% of Christchurch. People reported chimneys falling through roofs and cracked walls.

A local state of emergency was declared. The city center was closed and people were asked to leave. A curfew was put in place from 7 PM to 7 AM. The New Zealand Army helped police enforce the curfew. In the first two days, there were 63 aftershocks. Three of them were over magnitude 5. The total cost of damage was estimated to be up to $11 billion.

February 2011 Earthquake

ChristChurch Cathedral after the February 2011 earthquake.

A very strong aftershock, magnitude 6.3, happened on February 22, 2011, at 12:51 PM. It was centered just north of Lyttelton, 10 kilometers south-east of Christchurch. This quake was only 5 kilometers deep. Even though it was a lower magnitude than the 2010 quake, the shaking was incredibly strong. It was one of the strongest ever recorded in a city. This was because it was so shallow and close to the city center.

The quake hit on a busy weekday afternoon. This, along with its strength and closeness to the city, led to 181 deaths. Many buildings and famous landmarks were badly damaged. These included the well-known Shag Rock and Christchurch Cathedral. New Zealand declared its first-ever National State of Emergency right away.

June 2011 Earthquake

On June 13, 2011, at about 1:00 PM, Christchurch was shaken again. First, a magnitude 5.7 quake hit, followed by a magnitude 6.3 quake at 2:20 PM. These quakes were in a similar spot to the February quake, about 6 kilometers deep. Dozens of smaller aftershocks happened over the next few days.

Phone lines and power were lost in some areas. Liquefaction (where the ground acts like a liquid) appeared mostly in the eastern parts of the city. These areas were already badly affected by earlier quakes. Many people in the hillside suburb of Sumner left their homes for safety. More damage was reported to buildings in the city center. About 75 more buildings needed to be torn down. The Christchurch Cathedral was damaged even more, losing its famous rose window. There was one death and several injuries.

Geography of Canterbury

The Canterbury region is managed by the Canterbury Regional Council. It includes all the river areas on the east coast of the South Island. These stretch from the Waiau Toa / Clarence River in the north to the Waitaki River in the south. It is New Zealand's largest region, covering 45,346 square kilometers.

Canterbury has traditionally been divided into different parts. These include North Canterbury (north of the Rakaia River), Mid Canterbury (between the Rakaia and Rangitata Rivers), South Canterbury (south of the Rangitata River), and Christchurch City.

Climate in Canterbury

Canterbury has a varied climate. It can get very hot in summer and very cold in winter, especially in the inland areas.

People and Population

Canterbury Region covers about 44,500 square kilometers. As of 2023, about 651,027 people live there. This means there are about 14.6 people per square kilometer. Canterbury is home to about 12.6% of New Zealand's total population.

The population has been growing steadily. In 2023, the median age was 39.1 years. About 17.5% of the people were under 15 years old.

Main Towns and Cities

Here are some of the largest urban areas in Canterbury:

Culture and Background

In the 2023 census, most people in Canterbury identified as European/Pākehā (80.3%). Other groups included Māori (10.6%), Asian (13.3%), and Pasifika (3.7%). People can identify with more than one background.

About 23.2% of people in Canterbury were born overseas in 2018. This is a bit lower than the national average of 27.1%.

When it comes to religion, 51.0% of people said they had no religion in 2023. About 37.1% were Christian. Other religions like Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist were also present.

The Cardboard Cathedral in Christchurch opened in August 2013.

Economy of Canterbury

Crossing the Macauley River, Canterbury, New Zealand, 1977.

The total value of goods and services produced in Canterbury (called GDP) was estimated at NZ$44.2 billion in March 2022. This makes up 12.4% of New Zealand's total GDP.

Manufacturing is the biggest part of Canterbury's economy. This includes making products from raw materials. The construction sector and professional services also contribute a lot.

Agriculture in Canterbury

Farming is a very important part of Canterbury's economy. It added $3.26 billion to the region's economy in 2022. The agriculture sector includes dairy farming, sheep farming, and growing plants (called horticulture). This includes growing grapes for wine (called viticulture).

The strength of farming in the region is shown every November at the Canterbury A&P Show. This show happens at the same time as the regional holiday and Cup Week. Canterbury is also New Zealand's main producer of grains like wheat, barley, and oats. In 2002, the region produced over half of the country's wheat and barley.

Canterbury has the largest area of land used for growing plants in New Zealand, about 25,000 hectares. The biggest crops are potatoes, peas, beans, wine grapes, berries, and onions. The region also produces half of New Zealand's mushrooms, nuts, and berries.

The wine industry in Canterbury was started by French settlers in Akaroa. Today, most wine is grown in two areas: Waipara and Burnham. Canterbury is known for its White wines like Riesling, Sauvignon blanc, and Chardonnay. Pinot noir has also had success, especially in Waipara.

Environment of Canterbury

Upper Akaroa Harbour

Canterbury Plains

The Canterbury Plains have changed a lot since people first settled here. They now support a large farming industry. Before Māori settlers arrived, much of Canterbury was covered in bushes and beech forests. Forest fires later destroyed many of these original forests. Grasslands then grew in their place. By the 1800s, only ten percent of the original forest remained. European settlers brought in new types of grass, lupin, and pine trees. These slowly replaced the native plants. Most native plants are now found only in the mountains and on Banks Peninsula. The amount of forest on Banks Peninsula has actually increased since 1900.

The amount of dairy farming is growing, which means more water is needed. Water use is now a big topic in Canterbury. Rivers and streams in low-lying areas are often polluted. Some underground water sources (aquifers) are being used too much. The Central Plains Water scheme is a plan for storing water that has caused a lot of discussion. The Canterbury Water Management Strategy is one way the region is trying to solve the water issue.

The Canterbury mudfish (kowaro) is an endangered fish species. The Department of Conservation works to protect it.

Transport in Canterbury

State Highway 1 runs through all of Canterbury. It connects the region north to Blenheim and the ferry terminal at Picton. To the south, it connects to Oamaru, Dunedin, and Invercargill.

Christchurch International Airport is the main airport for the region. It's located in Harewood, on the edge of Christchurch. You can fly from Christchurch to most major cities in New Zealand. There are also flights to Australia, the Pacific Islands, and eastern Asia. Timaru's Richard Pearse Airport serves South Canterbury with daily flights to Wellington.

Education in Canterbury

Canterbury has 292 primary and secondary schools. These schools teach about 94,000 students aged 5 to 18. Most students (82%) attend state schools. About 13% go to state-integrated schools, and 5% go to private schools. Christchurch and Timaru have separate schools for boys and girls.

Canterbury also has two universities. The University of Canterbury is in western Christchurch. Lincoln University is located in Lincoln.

Sport in Canterbury

Skiing at Mount Hutt

Sport has been an important part of community life in Canterbury since British settlers first arrived. Cricket and rugby union have been popular team sports for a long time. The first cricket club in Christchurch started in 1851, and the first rugby club in 1863. Today, people enjoy a wide range of sports. In 2022, the top five sports in Canterbury by club members were netball, touch rugby, rugby union, golf, and cricket.

There are about 1,200 sports clubs and groups in Christchurch. In 2022, there were 140,000 members. Most sports are still played by amateurs, and volunteers help run the clubs. However, there are some professional teams. Famous teams from Christchurch or Canterbury include the Mainland Tactix (netball), Crusaders (rugby), and the Canterbury Kings (cricket).

The Crusaders rugby team plays in the Super Rugby competition. They are based in Christchurch and represent Canterbury and other parts of the upper South Island. In local rugby, Canterbury is represented by three unions: Canterbury, Mid Canterbury, and South Canterbury. Other sports teams include the Canterbury United FC (football) and Canterbury Rams (basketball).

Christchurch has hosted many international sports events. A very important one was the 1974 Commonwealth Games.

The city has many outdoor sports fields and indoor venues. The Christchurch City Council looks after 110 sports grounds. Sadly, the sports venues Lancaster Park and Queen Elizabeth II Park were too damaged by the 2011 earthquake and had to be torn down. New facilities are being built to replace them. These include the Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub and the Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre, which will be an aquatic and indoor sports venue opening in 2025. A new multi-purpose covered stadium called Te Kaha will seat 30,000 people and is expected to be ready by April 2026.

Canterbury in Movies

Canterbury was used as a filming location for The Lord of the Rings movies. The fictional city of Edoras, in Rohan, was filmed on Mount Sunday. The backdrop for Helm's Deep was also filmed a few miles down the valley.

Images for kids

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  Christchurch City

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  Rolleston from the air

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  Timaru's Stafford Street

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  Ashburton from the air

See also

In Spanish: Región de Canterbury para niños