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Christchurch School Of Medicine And Health Sciences

Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences

The Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences is one of three medical schools that make up the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Otago. All Otago University medical students who gain entry after a first year "Health Sciences" program, or who gain graduate entry spend their second and third years studying at the Dunedin School of Medicine. In their fourth and fifth years, medical students can either continue to study in Dunedin, or at the Christchurch or Wellington Schools of Medicine.

History

From 1924, students could complete their last year of training at hospitals in either Auckland, Christchurch, or Wellington as well as Dunedin. In 1938, a branch faculty was established in Christchurch, Auckland, and Wellington. The Christchurch branch faculty became a 'clinical' school in 1973, the forerunner to the modern Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Departments

The Christchurch School of Medicine is structured into thirteen academic departments: Anaesthesia, Biostatistics, Postgraduate Nursing Studies, Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Paediatrics, Pathology, Psychological Medicine, Public Health and General Practice, Radiology, Surgery, and the Maori/Indigenous Health Institute (MIHI). Additional disciplines are taught in Dunedin and Wellington.

Links


- [http://healthsci.otago.ac.nz/division/medicine/home.htm Faculty of Medicine (includes Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington]
- [http://www.chmeds.ac.nz/ Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences] O, University of Otago Christchurch School of Medicine Category:University of Otago

University of Otago

The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university. It is the South Island's largest employer and claims to have the world's 2nd longest continuously running annual student revue (the Capping Show) and New Zealand's oldest ballet company (the Selwyn Ballet). Founded in 1869, the university opened in July 1871. Its motto is "Sapere aude" ("Dare to be wise"). (The University of New Zealand subsequently adopted the same motto.) The University of Otago Students' Association answers this with its own motto, "Audeamus" ("let us dare"). Between 1874 and 1961 the University of Otago functioned as a College of the University of New Zealand, and issued degrees in its name. However, as a full university in itself, it retained degree-granting powers, but chose not to exercise them. The dissolution of the University of New Zealand saw these degree-granting powers re-activated. The University is known throughout the country for its unique student lifestyle and particularly its flatting culture, where students generally share semi-dilapidated housing units with a unique name and "character building" domestic life. Some of the University's many diverse buildings appear in the following panorama:
image:pandunedin_small.jpg
180° view of Dunedin shot from the hills on the west. The university can be seen in front of the large hill to the left. (Enlarge!)
Enlarge!

Faculties

Enlarge! Administratively, the university is divided into four divisions: Commerce, Health Sciences, Humanities, and Sciences. For external and marketing purposes, the Division of Commerce is known as the School of Business, as that is the term commonly used for its equivalent in North America. Historically, there were a number of Schools and Faculties, which have now been grouped with standalone departments to form these divisions. In addition to relatively usual university disciplines, the Otago Medical School (founded 1875) remains one of only two in New Zealand (with constituent branches in Christchurch and Wellington). Other Schools not found in all New Zealand universities include Surveying, Physical Education, and Physiotherapy. It is also the only university to offer training in Dentistry. It was also home to the School of Mines, until this was transferred to the University of Auckland in 1987. Theology is also offered, traditionally in conjunction with the School of Ministry, Knox College, and Holy Cross, Mosgiel.

Distinctions

Many Fellowships add to the diversity of the people associated with "Otago". They include:
- Robert Burns Fellowship (literature)
- Caroline Plummer Fellowship in Community Dance
- Charles Hercus Fellowship
- Claude McCarthy Fellowship
- Foxley Fellowship
- Frances Hodgkins Fellowship (art)
- Henry Lang Fellowship
- Hocken Fellowship
- James Cook Fellowship
- Mozart Fellowship (music)
- THB Symons Fellowship
- William Evans Visiting Fellowship In 1998, the physics department gained some fame for making the first Bose-Einstein condensate in the Southern Hemisphere. The 2004 Government investigation into research quality (to serve as a basis for future funding) ranked Otago in fourth place in New Zealand. Journal "Science" has recommended worldwide study of Otago's Biochemistry database "Transterm", which has genetic code data on 40,000 species. Otago was recently ranked 114th from a listing of top 200 institutions in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and within 201-300 in the Shanghai Jiaotong rankings of world top 500 universities.

Colleges and Halls

The vast majority of first year ('fresher') students at the University of Otago stay in one of the many Halls of Residence. These provide food, accommodation, social and welfare services. Some of the colleges have developed a strong institutional personality over the years. This becomes self-perpetuating as applicants choose the college most suited to their own personality. Quiet, conservative St Margaret's is next to party-hard Unicol in the heart of the campus. Knox College, far up the hill, has developed an insular, close-knit tradition. City College is influenced by two-thirds of its students coming from the Dunedin College of Education or the Otago Polytechnic, and Toroa House is almost exclusively filled by international students. Halls of residence affiliated with the University of Otago select students based on their marks, extracurricular activities and high school testimonials. However, some halls of residence are more selective than others. Although their order varies from year to year, the most selective halls and colleges are consistently Carrington Hall, Knox College and Selwyn College. Unsuccessful applicants are referred to other colleges. St Margaret's has similar entry standards, but the reputation of the college as quiet, religious and hard-working tends to attract a self-selected small group of highly-qualified applicants. Otago's residential Colleges and Halls are not as significant in the life of the University when compared with the Colleges and Halls of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Selwyn and Knox Colleges imitate Oxbridge colleges but, although they have occasional tutorials, resident fellows, formal halls, and chapels, the primary affiliation of a Knox or Selwyn student remains to the University rather than the college, and the bulk of formal education does not take place within the college. [http://www.otago.ac.nz/about/accommodation/halls.html Official list]

Possible Merger with Dunedin College of Education

Currently, the university and the Dunedin College of Education (a specialist teacher training institution) are working toward a merger, with a bilateral working group declaring a merger "both desirable and feasible". A new entity merging the College and the university's Faculty of Education would be based on the College site, and include the College's campuses in Invercargill and Alexandra. It is intended that the merger take effect in 2007. A merger has been considered before, however the present talks have progressed further, and more amicably, than previously.

Notable alumni and alumnae

Internal Wikipedia links

(with Hall of Residence, if any, in parentheses where known)
- Arthur Henry Adams, journalist and writer
- Barbara Anderson
- David Benson-Pope, Cabinet minister
- Dame Silvia Cartwright, Governor-General of New Zealand
- David Cunliffe (Carrington), Minister for Communications
- Sir Thomas Davis, first Cook Islands medical graduate in New Zealand, former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, High Commissioner to New Zealand, and research physiologist with NASA. M.B.Ch.B. (1945) LL.D. (2005).
- Marc Ellis (University), rugby league personality
- Bill English, National Party leader
- Janet Frame, author
- Ian Fraser, broadcaster, head of Television New Zealand
- Malcolm Grant, President and Provost, University College London, Environmental Law specialist.
- Julian Grimmond, co-producer of "The Amazing Race", which won two consecutive Primetime Emmys
- Jan Hellriegel, singer/songwriter
- Fergus Hume
- Chris Laidlaw, All Black and politician
- Michael Laws, politician, broadcaster, Mayor of Wanganui
- John Edward "Jack" Lovelock, athlete
- Sir Kamisese Mara (Knox), Fijian politician
- Simon McCallum, organiser of New Zealand's first Game Developers' Conference
- Archibald McIndoe, plastic surgeon
- Arnold Nordmeyer, Prime Minister
- Lord Porritt (Selwyn), Governor-General of New Zealand and physician to the Queen.
- Robert Stout
- Peter Tapsell, Cabinet minister
- Jeremy Waldron, legal philosopher
- Allan Wilson, biologist

Rhodes Scholars from the University of Otago

(College at Oxford in brackets)
- 1904 d James A Thomson (St John’s)
- 1906 d Robert A Farquharson (St John’s)
- 1907 d Colin Macdonald Gilray (University)
- 1913 d Prof. Frederick Fisher Miles (Balliol)
- 1921 d Rev. Hubert James Ryburn (Lincoln)
- 1923 d Rt Hon. Lord Arthur Espie Porritt (Magdalen)
- 1924 d Sir Robert Stevenson Aitken (Balliol)
- 1928 d Charles Andrew Sharp (St John’s)
- 1929 d Dr Wilton Ernest Henley (New)
- 1930 Prof. James Campbell Dakin (Trinity)
- 1931 d Dr John Edward (Jack) Lovelock (Exeter)
- 1932 Sir Geoffrey Sandford Cox (Oriel)
- 1934 d Norman Davis (Merton)
- 1935 d The Hon. Sir Lester Francis Moller (Brasenose)
- 1936 d Daniel Marcus Davin (Balliol)
- 1947 Dr Robert Owen Davies (Oriel )
- 1950 Dr John Derek Kingsley North (Magdalen), Peter Selwyn O’Connor (Balliol)
- 1952 Prof. Graham Harry Jeffries (Magdalen), The Hon. Hugh Campbell Templeton (Balliol)
- 1954 Dr Kenneth Alfred Kingsley North (Magdalen)
- 1956 Dr Colin Gordon Beer (Magdalen), Rev David George Simmers Victoria Balliol
- 1957 Em. Prof. Graeme Max Neutze (University)
- 1959 Graeme Francis Rea (Balliol)
- 1960 Dr James Julian Bennett Jack (Magdalen)
- 1966 John Stephen Baird (Merton)
- 1968 Christopher Robert Laidlaw (Merton)
- 1970 Dr Murray Grenfell Jamieson (Merton)
- 1972 Prof. David Christopher Graham Skegg (Balliol)
- 1973 Dr Anthony Evan Gerald Raine (Merton)
- 1975 Dr John Alexander Matheson (Worcester)
- 1976 Dr Derek Nigel John Hart (Brasenose)
- 1981 Christine Ruth French (Worcester)
- 1983 Dr Nancy Jennifer Sturman (New)
- 1985 Dr David Edward Kirk (Worcester)
- 1988 Dr Ceri Lee Evans (Worcester)
- 1990 Dr Prudence Anna Elizabeth Scott (Lincoln)
- 1992 Prof. John Navid Danesh (Balliol), Susan Reta Lamb (Balliol)
- 1993 Dr Jennifer Helen Martin (Lady Margaret Hall)
- 1995 Jennifer Sarah Cooper (Magdalen)
- 1996 Andrew Norman Benson Lonie (selected, not taken up)
- 1998 Jane Larkindale (New)
- 1999 Dr Damen Andrew Ward (University)
- 2000 Clare Beach (Merton), Sally Virginia McKechnie (Hertford)
- 2002 Rachel Sarah Carrell (Balliol), Christopher John Curran (Merton)
- 2003 Thomas Marcel Douglas (Balliol)
- 2004 Glenn Fraser Goldsmith (Balliol)

External links


- [http://www.otago.ac.nz/alumni/profiles/hj_abidin.html Tan Sri Dato' (Dr) Hj Ahmad Azizuddin Bin Hj Zainal Abidin] (Dr Ahmad, former Speaker of the Perak State Legislative Assembly)
- [http://www.otago.ac.nz/alumni/profiles/murray_brennan.html Professor Murray Brennan] of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York
- [http://www.otago.ac.nz/alumni/profiles/te_rangi_hiroa.html Sir Peter Buck (Te Rangi Hiroa)], former visiting professor at Yale University then Director of the Bishop Museum of Hawaii
- [http://www.otago.ac.nz/alumni/profiles/geoffery_cox.html Sir Geoffrey Cox], co-founder of World Wide Television (today one of the main television news agencies)
- [http://www.otago.ac.nz/alumni/profiles/george_griffiths.html George Griffiths], publisher, journalist, regional historian, and Hocken Fellow 1998
- [http://www.otago.ac.nz/alumni/profiles/alison_holst.html Alison Holst (nee Payne)]
- [http://www.otago.ac.nz/alumni/profiles/judith_mayhew.html Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas], City and Business Adviser to the Mayor of London, sitting in the London cabinet, Board Member of the London Development Agency (chairing its Business Committee, and (inter alia) Chairman of the Board of Governors of Birkbeck College, University of London)
- [http://www.otago.ac.nz/alumni/profiles/mazlan_othman.html Professor Datuk Dr Mazlan Othman], Director-General of Malaysia's National Space Agency

See also


- Hocken Library
- Otago University Tramping Club
- Christchurch School of Medicine
- Dunedin School of Medicine
- Wellington School of Medicine

External links


- [http://www.otago.ac.nz/ University of Otago homepage]
- [http://www.forbar.co.nz/downloads/.pdf General outline of Burns, Hodgkins, and Mozart Fellowships]
- [http://www.physics.otago.ac.nz/research/bec/ About the Bose-Einstein Condensate] Category:Otago Category:University of Otago Otago

University of Otago Dunedin School of Medicine

The Dunedin School of Medicine is one of three medical schools that make up the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Otago. All Otago University medical students who gain entry after a first year "Health Sciences" program, or who gain graduate entry spend their second and third years studying in Dunedin at the school of medicine. In their fourth and fifth years, medical students can either continue to study in Dunedin, or at the Christchurch or Wellington Schools of Medicine.

History

Opened in 1875, the Otago Medical School (as it was then known) initially taught a 2 year course with training completed overseas. 1887 saw the first medical graduate taught solely at Otago, and in 1891 the medical school was formally made the Faculty of Medicine. Until 1920, training was took only four years, but was then extended to six. From 1924, students could complete their last year of training at hospitals in either Auckland, Christchurch, or Wellington as well as Dunedin. In 1938, branch faculties were established in these other centres. Otago's relationship with Auckland ceased after the opening of the University of Auckland's School of Medicine in 1968. The branch faculties in Christchurch and Wellington became 'clinical' schools in 1973 and 1977 respectively, the forerunners to the modern Christchurch and Wellington Medical Schools.

Faculty of Medicine

The title Faculty of Medicine currently applies to an administrative Unit of the Division of Health Sciences which includes the Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington Medical Schools and the Otago School of Medical Sciences (which comprises departments of Anatomy & Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology, Pharmacology & Toxicology, and Physiology). Other faculties and schools within the Division of Health Sciences are Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Physiotherapy.

Departments

The Dunedin School of Medicine is structured into six departments with a number of sub-units: General Practice, Medical and Surgical Sciences (Anaesthesia & Intensive Care, Bioethics Centre, Medicine, Sports Medicine, Orthopaedic Surgery, Ophthalmology, Surgery), Pathology, Preventive & Social Medicine, Psychological Medicine, and Women's and Children's Health (Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatrics & Child Health). Additional disciplines are taught in Christchurch and Wellington.

Links


- [http://healthsci.otago.ac.nz/division/medicine/home.htm Faculty of Medicine (includes Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington]
- [http://www.otago.ac.nz/dsm/home.htm Dunedin School of Medicine] O, University of Otago Dunedin School of Medicine Category:University of Otago

University of Otago Wellington School of Medicine

The Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences is one of three medical schools that make up the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Otago. All Otago University medical students who gain entry after a first year "Health Sciences" program, or who gain graduate entry spend their second and third years studying at the Dunedin School of Medicine. In their fourth and fifth years, medical students can either continue to study in Dunedin, or at the Christchurch or Wellington Schools of Medicine.

History

From 1924, students could complete their last year of training at hospitals in either Auckland, Christchurch, or Wellington as well as Dunedin. In 1938, a branch faculty was established in Christchurch, Auckland, and Wellington. The Wellington branch faculty became a 'clinical' school in 1977, the forerunner to the modern Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Departments

The Wellington School of Medicine is structured into nine academic departments: Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Pathology & Molecular Medicine, Primary Health Care & General Practice, Psychological Medicine, Public Health, Radiation Therapy, and Surgery & Anaesthesia. Additional disciplines are taught in Dunedin and Wellington.

Links


- [http://healthsci.otago.ac.nz/division/medicine/home.htm Faculty of Medicine (includes Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington]
- [http://www.wnmeds.ac.nz/ Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences] O, University of Otago Wellington School of Medicine Category:University of Otago

Auckland

Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area in New Zealand. It is a conurbation, made up of the cities of Auckland, Waitakere, Manukau and North Shore. In Māori it bears the name Tāmaki Makau Rau or Ākarana. Auckland lies between the Hauraki Gulf of the Pacific Ocean to the east, the low Hunua Ranges to the south-east, Manukau Harbour to the south-west, and the Waitakere Ranges and smaller ranges to the west and north-west. The central part of the urban area occupies a narrow isthmus between Manukau and Waitemata harbours (and is one of the few cities in the world to have two harbours, as well as having sea ports to each coast - Tasman and Pacific).

History

Māori settlers

The area, Tamaki Makau Rau (isthmus of one thousand lovers), now known as Auckland, was first settled by Māori people around 1350. The region was valued for its rich and fertile land. Māori constructed terraced pa (fortified villages) on the volcanic peaks. Māori population is estimated to have peaked at 20,000 in the region in pre-settlement times, a figure which would later qualify in New Zealand as a city. Earthworks are still evident today around some of the larger volcanoes such as; Mount Albert, Mount Eden and One Tree Hill. The isthmus, at around 8km from coast to coast - with Mount Eden and One Tree Hill placed along the line of the narrowest point, led to the area having great strategic qualities. The isthmus also has the highly productive soils providing agricultural opportunities, and the two harbours (Waitemata to the East and Manukau to the West) providing diverse kai moana (seafood). Ngāti Whātua and Tainui were the main tribes traditionally living in the area. The arrival of Europeans, using guns as one of many trade commodities, changed the balances of power between Iwi with the inevitable result of armed conflict. European settlement caused Maori numbers in what is now central Auckland city to be greatly reduced due to; inter-iwi warfare, new diseases (especially smallpox and tuberculosis), and the common ills experienced by indigenous peoples of colonisation. There was a period of migrations of both Europeans and Māori. One of the initial appeals of the area to Europeans being it was virtually uninhabited. Āpihai Te Kawau (c. 1760 - 1869), leader of the Ngati Taou Hapu, was a good friend of Samuel Marsden. Over a 10 month period of 1821 - 1822, he took a principle part in the 1,000 mile Amiowhenua expedition. This series of battles raged through much of central and southern North Island. It ended when Te Kawau's Ngāti Whātua forces, uniting with the Taranaki they were embattled with, to jointly defend the Tainui Matakitaki pa from Hongi Hika's Nga Puhi forces. By 1840 Te Kawau had become the paramount chief of Ngāti Whātua. Cautious of reprisals from the Nga Puhi defeated at Matakitaki, Te Kawau found it most convenient to offer Governor Hobson land around the present central city. He and six other chiefs travelled the Bay of Islands to make the offer and signed the Treaty of Waitangi on 20th March. Ngāti Whātua would certainly have expected from English colonialism increased security and trading benefits. This would include greater access via the quickly developed port facilities for the lucrative trade in produce grown in Tainui's fertile Waikato and Hauraki Plains for the Australian prison colonies and Sydney market. The sale price for the initial 3,000 acres (12 km²) was for cash and goods to the value of £341. As Māori population declined for nearly a century, so did the quantity of land held by Ngāti Whātua. Within 20 years, 40% of their lands were lost, some through government land confiscation. At close to the lowest level of population, Ngāti Whātua land holding was reduced to a few acres at Orakei, land which Te Kawau had declared "a last stand".

Birth of Auckland

After the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in February 1840 the new Governor of New Zealand, William Hobson, had the task of choosing a capital for the colony. At the time Kororareka, now called Old Russell, in the Bay of Islands, served as the effective capital. However, Kororareka's geographical position made it very remote, inaccessible and off-centre from the rest of the New Zealand archipelago, and the town had a notorious reputation for drunkenness and immorality. Bay of Islands Even in 1840 Port Nicholson (now the location of Wellington) probably seemed the obvious choice for an administrative capital. Centrally situated at the south of the North Island, close to the South Island, and growing fast, it had a lot to commend it. But the New Zealand Company and the Wakefield brothers had founded and continued to dominate Port Nicholson. Furthermore, it already had a bad reputation with the Māori for unscrupulous or even illegal occupation of land. On the initial recommendation of the missionary Henry Williams, supported by the Surveyor General, Felton Mathew, and the offer of land from Ngāti Whātua, Hobson selected the south side of Waitemata Harbour as his future capital. The Chief Magistrate, Captain William Cornwallis Symonds, soon purchased the further land from Ngāti Whātua, and a foundation ceremony took place at 1pm on 18 September 1840, probably on the higher ground at the top end of present-day Queen Street. Hobson named the new settlement in honour of George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland, a patron and friend of his. The New Zealand Government Gazette announced the royal approval of the name on 26 November 1842. From the outset a steady flow of new arrivals from within New Zealand and from overseas came to the new capital. Initially settlers from New South Wales predominated, but the first immigrant ships sailing directly from Britain started to arrive as early as 1842. From early times the eastern side of the settlement remained reserved for government officials while mechanics and artisans, the so-called "unofficial" settlers, congregated on the western side. This social division still persists in modern Auckland. Eventually Port Nicholson became the capital and, now known as Wellington, remains so today. The advantages of a central position became even more obvious as the South Island grew in prosperity with the discovery of gold in Otago, and with the development of sheep farming and refrigeration, especially refrigerated ships which allowed chilled meat to be safely shipped to Britain. Parliament met for the first time in Wellington in 1862. In 1868 Government House moved there too.

Growth of Auckland

Government House Auckland formed a base for Governor George Grey's operations against the rebel Maori King Movement in the early 1860s. Grey's modus operandi involved opening up the Waikato and King Country by building roads, most notably Great South Road, (a large part of which now forms State Highway 1). This enabled rapid movement, not only of soldiers, but also civilian settlers. It also enabled the extension of Pakeha influence and law to the South Auckland region. During the mid 19th century, European settlement of New Zealand was predominantly in the South Island. Auckland however gradually became the commercial capital. Market gardens were planted on the outskirts, while kauri tree logging and gum digging opened up the Waitakere Ranges. A Russian scare at the end of the century caused coastal guns to be bought and fortifications built, notably at Devonport and on Waiheke Island, where they can still be seen. By 1900 Auckland was the largest New Zealand city. In World War II the city was overflown by a Japanese seaplane, chased ineffectually by a Royal New Zealand Air Force De Havilland Tiger Moth. In the 1950s the Auckland Harbour Bridge was constructed, linking North Shore with the city. As flying boat services from Mechanics Bay and Hobsonville by aircraft such as the Short Solent and Short Sunderland were replaced by landplanes, an airport was opened at Mangere, supplanting earlier airfields at Ardmore and Whenuapai. Whenuapai Following the initiative of Michael Joseph Savage's New Zealand Labour Party large numbers of state houses were constructed through the late 1930s, '40s and '50s, usually on quarter-acre (1,000 m²) sections - a tradition that survives despite frequent subdivision. Auckland is a largely suburban city: although it has not much more than a seventh of the population of London, it sprawls over a considerably larger area - a fact that serves to make public transport by Auckland's rail and bus systems unpopular and uneconomic. All four electrical power cables supplying the Central Business District failed on 20 February 1998, causing the 1998 Auckland power crisis. It took five weeks before an emergency overhead cable was completed to restore the power supply to the Central Business District. For much of that time, about 60,000 of the 74,000 people who worked in the area, worked from home or from relocated offices in the suburbs. Many of the 6,000 apartment dwellers in the area had to find alternative accommodation.

Geography and climate

Volcanoes

1998 Auckland power crisisAuckland straddles the volcanoes of the Auckland Volcanic Field. The 50 volcanic vents in the field take the form of cones, lakes, lagoons, islands and depressions. Some of the cones have been partly or completely quarried away. The volcanoes are all individually extinct although the volcanic field itself is merely dormant. The most recent and by far the largest volcano, Rangitoto Island, formed within the last 1000 years. 'Rangi' means 'sky' and 'toto' means 'blood', which indicates it was named by Maori who had witnessed its eruption. Its size, its symmetry, its position guarding the entrance to Waitemata Harbour and its visibility from many parts of the Auckland region make it Auckland's most iconic natural feature. Rangitoto is eerily quiet as almost no birds and insects have settled on the island because of the rich acidic soil and type of flora that has adapted to grow out of the black broken rocky soil.

Isthmus and harbours

Waitemata Harbour Auckland lies on and around an isthmus, less than two km wide at its narrowest point between Mangere Inlet and Tamaki River. There are two harbours in the Auckland urban area surrounding this isthmus, Waitemata Harbour to the north, which opens east to the Hauraki Gulf, and Manukau Harbour to the south, which opens west to the Tasman Sea. Bridges span both of these harbours, Auckland Harbour Bridge on Waitemata Harbour and Mangere Bridge on Manukau Harbour.

Climate

Auckland has a warm-temperate climate, with warm, humid summers and cool but damp and lengthy winters. January temperatures average 21-24 °C (February and March are typically warmer than January, however), and July maximum temperatures average 14-16 °C. High levels of rainfall occur almost year-round (over 1100 mm per year), especially in winter. Climatic conditions vary in different parts of the city owing to geography such as hills, trees and ocean wind currents. Snow has never been recorded in Auckland, (although a heavy hailstorm in the 1950s was mistaken for snow by many residents), unlike some South island cities which may get snow most years. It has snowed north of Auckland at Kaikohe.

People


- See also: Culture of New Zealand

Cultures

Auckland serves as a home to many cultures. The majority of inhabitants (roughly 60%) claim European — predominantly British — descent, but substantial Maori and Pacific Island communities exist as well. Auckland has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world. Comparably-sized communities of people of East Asian origin also live in Auckland, due to New Zealand's world-leading level of immigration, which flows primarily into Auckland. Ethnic groups from all corners of the world have a presence in Auckland, making it by far the country's most cosmopolitan city. It is estimated that over fourteen people from other countries immigrate to Auckland every day.

Religion

Like the rest of the country, more than half of Aucklanders are nominally Christian, but less than 10% regularly attend church and almost 40% profess no religious affiliation (2001 census figures). The main denominations are Anglican, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic. Pentecostal and charismatic churches are the fastest growing. The charismatic and fundamentalist Destiny Church, headquartered in Auckland, has gained headlines because of its political activities. A higher percentage of Polynesian immigrants are regular churchgoers than other Aucklanders, although church attendance drops off in second or third generation Polynesian Aucklanders. Other immigrant cultures have added to the religious diversity of the city, bringing traditions such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam. There is also a small, long-established Jewish community. There is an even smaller Rationalist group. Western Central Auckland, particularly Mount Roskill, has been labelled the 'Bible Belt'.

Social perceptions

Aucklanders are viewed with varying degrees of dislike by some New Zealanders living outside Auckland. One perception of Aucklanders is that they are rich latte-sipping yuppies, with trendy but impractical political views. Some claim jokingly that Aucklanders think that "New Zealand stops at the Bombay Hills", the Bombay Hills forming the Auckland region's southern boundary. Some people living south of the hills agree with the statement, but regard "true" New Zealand as lying south, not north, of the hills. The word Jafa was coined as an insulting nickname for Aucklanders, but Aucklanders have robbed the word of its sting by enthusiastically embracing it. See the Jafa article for more on outsiders' attitudes. There are stereotypes about residents in some parts of Auckland. These stereotypes can be a badge of honour, or an insult, depending on how they are used, and by whom.
- Westies - people living in the western suburbs of Auckland (particularly those of Waitakere City), from Henderson to the Waitakere Ranges. As a derogatory term, "westie" is similar to bogan, trailer trash or chav.
- South Aucklanders - people who live at the southern end of the city; the term is predominantly used to refer to a low socio-economic group with a high unemployment rate and a large population of Pacific Islanders, although there are quite a few affluent areas in South Auckland.
- East Aucklanders - residents in the eastern suburbs of the Auckland isthmus, including a large Asian (Chinese) population in Howick and surrounding areas.
- Shoreboy/girl - someone from the North Shore. Generally percieved as 'spoilt rich kids' since the area is quite affluent. The term is somewhat analogous to the stereotype of the Valley girl in Los Angeles, though not as extreme.

Lifestyle

Attractive aspects of Auckland life are its mild climate, plentiful employment and educational opportunities, and numerous leisure facilities. For quality of life, Auckland currently ranks 8th equal behind Zurich and Geneva in a survey of the world's top 55 cities. (Link: [http://www.citymayors.com/features/quality_survey.html Mercer Consulting quality of life survey])

Leisure

Geneva Auckland is popularly known as the "City of Sails" because the harbour is usually dotted with hundreds of yachts. The Viaduct Basin hosted two America's Cup challenges, and its cafes, restaurants, and clubs add to Auckland's vibrant nightlife. High Street, Queen Street, Ponsonby Road, and Karangahape Road are also very popular with urban socialites. Newmarket and Parnell are upmarket shopping centres. Otara's and Avondale's famous fleamarkets and Victoria Park Market are a colourful alternative shopping experience. Waitemata Harbour has popular beaches at Mission Bay, Devonport, Takapuna, Long Bay and Maraetai, and the west coast has popular surf spots at Piha and Muriwai. Many Auckland beaches are patrolled by Surf Lifesaving clubs which are part of the Surf Lifesaving Northern Region. Pleasant ferry trips go to Devonport, Waiheke Island and Rangitoto Island. Pleasant picnic spots are at Auckland Domain, Albert Park, One Tree Hill Domain and Western Springs. Auckland has its fair share of rugby and cricket grounds (notably Eden Park), and venues for motorsports, tennis, badminton, swimming, soccer, rugby league, and many other sports. Every year in March, an 8.4km (5.2 mile) fun-run known as "Round the Bays" starts in the city and goes along the waterfront to the suburb of St Heliers. It attracts many tens of thousands of people and has been an annual event since 1972. The Auckland Town Hall and Aotea Centre host conferences and cultural events such as theatre, kapa haka, and opera. Many national treasures are displayed at the Auckland Art Gallery, such as the work of Colin McCahon. Other significant cultural artefacts reside at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, the National Maritime Museum, and the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT). Exotic creatures can be observed at the Auckland Zoo and Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World. Movies and rock concerts (notably, the "Big Day Out") are also well patronised.

Work

Big Day Out]] Every business day, many professional workers commute from all points of the city to downtown Auckland. Most major international corporations have an Auckland office. The most expensive office space is around lower Queen Street and the Viaduct Basin. A large proportion of the technical and trades workforce is based in the industrial zones of South Auckland.

Housing

The most common residence of Aucklanders is a bungalow on a "quarter acre" (1,000 m²), with the resulting large urban sprawl and reliance on motor vehicles. The regional council is trying to curb this trend, with housing density strategies such as more townhouses and apartments, and prohibiting subdivision of properties on the city fringes.

Transport

quarter acre

Road and rail

Auckland has a significant traffic congestion problem. An extensive motorway network, planned decades ago during the height of the road building era, remains incomplete as of 2005. It is unlikely that this original plan will every be built in its entirety, however a number of crucial gaps do exist in the current network. Since 2001, several motorway construction projects began in and around the central motorway junction ("Spaghetti Junction"), while new routes are underway in the southwest of the city and along the upper harbour. Transport funding favours roads over public transport in Auckland, and indeed in New Zealand, and the planned motorway network is large for a city of Auckland's size. The Britomart Transport Centre which opened in July 2003 is a central interconnection point for buses, trains and ferries. During its planning period it provoked much controversy spanning multiple mayoral terms. During the 2001-2004 term the mayors of Auckland City and Manukau, John Banks and Sir Barry Curtis respectively, strongly advocated a proposal for an Eastern Transport Corridor, essentially a new motorway. Vociferous campaigners both supported and opposed the NZ$4 billion proposal throughout the term. John Banks subsequently lost the 2004 local body election, chiefly due to public opposition to the proposed motorway. The newly-elected Auckland City Council has a clear centre-left majority, and new Deputy Mayor Bruce Hucker announced in early November 2004 a major change in direction for Auckland City. Bus services provide the bulk of public transport, with commuter trains offering a limited service. However, recent investment in train services resulted in increased patronage of these services. The investment has focused on upgrading and refurbishing the current rolling stock and railway stations. Investment in new rail infrastructure remains limited, but there are signs this is changing. A recent project to double-track the western rail line, completed at a cost of NZD$23.2 million, has increased the frequency of train services on this line. Plans for light rail, mooted over the years, seem unlikely to proceed. The local government elections in September 2004 centred largely around candidates' policies on public transport, with the incumbent Auckland City mayor John Banks promoting the "Eastern Corridor" motorway plan, and his main rivals (former Auckland City mayor Christine Fletcher and businessman Dick Hubbard – the eventual winner) supporting public transport alternatives like light rail and improving existing bus and rail services. Auckland City Council has prepared plans for an underground railway connecting the Britomart Transport Centre to the western railway line. However due to the significant costs associated with a project of this size, and the prevailing attitudes towards public transport, it may be some time before the project begins. Increased population density around transport corridors and sustained inflated petrol prices may combine to make this project more attractive in the medium term. Also, recent patronage jumps in response to remedial improvements to the existing diesel powered rail network have resulted in greater support for plans for electrification, signal upgrades, station improvements and network expansion.

Airports

Auckland International Airport, New Zealand's largest airport, lies beside Manukau Harbour, in the southern suburb of Mangere, which is part of Manukau. It is a major base for Air New Zealand. Ongoing negotiations concern the development of a second airport at Whenuapai, a RNZAF airbase in Waitakere, to the northwest of the Auckland conurbation. As the air force is signalled to move to Ohakea base near Palmerston North, the feasibility of an international airport north of the city is being explored. Many private flights use the smaller airfield at Ardmore, south of the city but within the Auckland region. Dairy Flat to the north is used by light planes and some warbird enthusiasts. Mechanics Bay near the city centre, was the first international airport, used for many years as a base for flying boats of TEAL and amphibians of Tourist Air Travel and Sea Bee Air. It is now primarily used as a Heliport. A similar air force facility at Hobsonville has been sold to private boat builders.

Ferries

HobsonvilleA feature of Auckland transport is the popularity of commuting by ferry. North Shore residents avoid the chronic Harbour Bridge congestion by catching ferries from Devonport, Bayswater or Stanley Bay to the CBD. Ferries also connect the city with Rangitoto and Waiheke Islands, and with Half Moon Bay.

Landmarks and places

Waiheke Island
- Auckland's Sky Tower, the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere, stands 328 m tall.
- Mount Eden's summit arguably offers Auckland's best views. It is the highest point in Auckland. However, there is local concern about the environmental impact the large numbers of tourist buses are having on the cone - they're said to be literally (if slowly) squashing it.
- One Tree Hill (Maungakiekie) - a volcanic cone which dominates the skyline in the southern inner suburbs.
- Mount Victoria although slightly out-of-the-way for the casual tourist, offers a spectacular view of the city. A brisk walk from the Devonport Ferry terminal, the cone is steeped in history as is the nearby North Head.
- Rangitoto Island - guards the entrance to Waitemata Harbour, and forms a prominent feature on the eastern horizon.
- Eden Park - the city's primary stadium and a frequent home for All Blacks rugby and Black Caps cricket matches.
- Ericsson Stadium - a stadium used mainly for rugby league and soccer matches.
- Western Springs Stadium - a natural amphitheatre used mainly for speedway races and rock and pop concerts.
- Aotea Square, Queen Street and Karangahape Road- the hub of downtown Auckland.
- Auckland Harbour Bridge - connecting Auckland and the North Shore, is an iconic symbol of Auckland.
- Viaduct Basin - Marina in downtown Auckland, venue for the America's Cup regatta 2000 and 2003. It is now a thriving commercial centre.
- Botany Town Centre, Howick - a complete shopping complex, one of the largest in Auckland including a cinema, bowling alley, food court and many shops to visit. Botany Town Centre, Howick

See also


- Auckland City, the territorial authority covering Auckland isthmus
- Auckland Grammar School, one of New Zealand's most prestigious and controversial schools
- Auckland (region), about the territorial authority of Auckland Region
- George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland

External links


- Auckland City Council: [http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/ aucklandcity.govt.nz]
- Tourism Auckland: [http://www.aucklandnz.com/ aucklandnz.com]
- Leisure & Lifestyle: [http://www.searchauckland.co.nz/ 1], [http://www.auckland-life.com 2], [http://www.zeal.com/category/preview.jhtml?cid=10101744 3], [http://www.nz.co.nz/nz/skyscroll/default.asp 4]
- Street maps: [http://www.wises.co.nz 1], [http://www.nzmaps.co.nz 2]
- Healthcare: [http://www.adhb.govt.nz/ Auckland], [http://www.whl.co.nz/ Waitemata], [http://www.cmdhb.govt.nz/ Counties Manukau]
- News: [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ nzherald.co.nz]
- Transport: [http://www.rideline.co.nz/ Buses & trains], [http://traffic.transit.govt.nz/ Traffic-cams], [http://www.auckland-airport.co.nz/ Airport], [http://www.aucklandmotorways.co.nz/ Motorway Info]

References


- [http://www2.stats.govt.nz/domino/external/web/CommProfiles.nsf/FindInfobyArea/514500-au New Windsor community profile]
-
-
- .
- Category: Auckland category: Cities and towns in New Zealand category: Isthmuses Category: Coastal cities ko:오클랜드 (뉴질랜드) ja:オークランド (ニュージーランド)

Christchurch

Christchurch
Urban Area Population 363,700 (2004 est.)
Extent the city, Kaiapoi,
Prebbleton, Lyttelton &
Diamond Harbour
Territorial
Authority		 Name Christchurch City
Population 344,100 (2004 est.)
Extent Waimakariri River to the Port Hills and west to Templeton
See also Waimakariri District
(includes Kaiapoi) Banks Peninsula District
(includes Lyttelton) Selwyn District
Regional
Council 		Name Canterbury
Situated on the Eastern coast, Christchurch is the principal city of the South Island of New Zealand. Named after Christ Church College at the University of Oxford. It was originaly known as Christ Church, the name being abreviated by common usage by the 1880s. The pre-European (Maori) name Otautahi, is said to originate from a Maori chief named Tautahi, who is believed to have occupied a seasonal dwelling on a bank of the Avon River near to where the Barbadoes Street bridge now stands. To date there is no documentary or archaeological evidence to support this contention. Christchurch is located at . [http://www.christchurch.org.nz/about/#StatisticsDemographics]

Geography

Christchurch is the provincial capital of Canterbury, New Zealand, which is about the size of Belgium. The city is situated at the Southern end of Pegasus Bay, near the centre of the Eastern coast of the South Island, between Banks Peninsula and the Canterbury Plains. The city is bounded to the East by the Pacific Ocean coast and the estuary of the Avon and Heathcote rivers. To the South and South-east the city is punctuated by the volcanic slopes of the Port Hills, and to the North by the braided Waimakariri River. A large number of public parks and well-developed residential gardens with many trees have given Christchurch the name of The Garden City. Hagley Park and the 75 acre (30 hectare) Christchurch Botanic Gardens, founded in 1863, are located in the central city, with Hagley Park being a site for sports such as golf, netball, and rugby and for open air concerts by local bands and the [http://www.chsymph.co.nz/2005/ Christchurch Symphony Orchestra]. With much of the city being flat and only a few metres above sea level, spectacular views can be obtained from almost any high building. At these low elevations the city appears more like a forest with only a few buildings visible, rather than a major city. At the centre of the city is Cathedral Square, surrounding the Anglican cathedral, Christ Church.

List of Christchurch suburbs

Christ Church

Inner suburbs

(clockwise from city centre, starting due north) Mairehau; Shirley; Richmond; Avonside; Linwood; Woolston; Opawa; Waltham; Sydenham; Spreydon; Addington; Riccarton; Ilam; Burnside; Fendalton; Bryndwr; Merivale; Papanui; St Albans.

Outer suburbs

(clockwise from city centre, starting due north) Burwood; Parklands; Waimairi Beach; Avondale; New Brighton; Bexley; Aranui; South Brighton; Southshore; Bromley; Redcliffs; Sumner; Ferrymead; Heathcote Valley; Huntsbury; Cashmere; Westmoreland; Hoon Hay; Halswell; Oaklands; Wigram; Sockburn; Hornby; Islington; Yaldhurst; Russley; Avonhead; Harewood; Bishopdale; Casebrook; Redwood; Belfast.

Satellite towns

(clockwise from city centre, starting due north) Brooklands; Lyttelton; Tai Tapu; Lincoln; Prebbleton; Templeton; Rolleston; West Melton; Rangiora; Kaiapoi.

Climate

Christchurch has a temperate climate, with temperatures in January ranging from a minimum of 15°C to a maximum of 33°C, and from -5°C to 10°C in July. The Summer climate is often moderated by a sea breeze from the Northeast, however a record temperature of 41.6 degrees Centigrade was reached in February 1973. A notable feature of the weather is the Nor'wester, a hot föhn wind which occasionally reaches gale force and causes widespread damage to property. In Winter it is common for the temperature to fall below 0°C at night. Snow falls occur rarely, on average once or twice a year in the hill suburbs and about once every decade on the plain. On cold Winter nights, the surrounding hills, clear skies, and frosty calm conditions often combine to form a stable inversion layer above the city that traps vehicle exhausts and smoke from domestic fires to cause smog. While not as bad as smog in Los Angeles, California, Christchurch smog has often been known to exceed World Health Organisation recommendations for air pollution. The city has strict requirements for domestic home heating in order to limit air pollution.

Demographics

On 6 March 2004, the area administered by the Christchurch City Council had a population of 344,100, making it the second-largest in New Zealand, and the largest city in the South Island. The Christchurch Urban Area is the third-largest in the country, after Auckland and Wellington. Ethnic Profile
- 89.8% New Zealand European (Pakeha)
- 5.1% Maori
- 4.0% Asian
- 1.1% all others

Economy

The local economy was based on the agricultural produce of the Canterbury plains. Early manufacturers processed agricultural produce, especially sheep and dairy products, into finished products. The early presence of the University of Canterbury and the heritage of the city's academic institutions working in association with local businesses has fostered a number of technology-based industries. The region now has a range of "new economy" sectors. Tourism is also a significant factor of the local economy. The closeness of the ski-fields and other attractions of the Southern Alps and hotels and an airport that meets international standards make Christchurch a stopover destination for many tourists.

Government

Southern Alps Christchurch's local government is a democracy that includes:
- A city council [http://www.ccc.govt.nz/] comprising the Mayor of Christchurch , and 12 councillors elected in six wards.
- Six community boards, each covering one ward, with three members each plus the two ward councillors.
- The Canterbury Regional Council, known as [http://www.ecan.org.nz/ Environment Canterbury] including four Christchurch constituencies with two members from each constituency.
- The Canterbury District Health Board, [http://www.cdhb.govt.nz/] with five members for Christchurch.
- District councils in surrounding areas: Banks Peninsula, Selwyn, and Waimakariri. In 1993, Christchurch was selected as the "Best Run City in the World", also known as the Carl Bertelsmann Prize, by the Bertelsmann Foundation of Germany, a branch of Bertelsmann media company. It shared the honor with Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

History

Since 1876, archeological evidence found in a cave at Redcliffs has indicated that the Christchurch area was first settled by moa-hunting tribes about 1250. Maori oral history relates that humans occupied the area around the year 1000. These first inhabitants were thought to have been followed by the Waitaha tribe who are said to have migrated from the East coast of the North Island in the 16th century. Subsequent to tribal warfare the Waitaha ( made of three peoples ) were dispossesed by the Ngati Mamoe tribe. They were in turn subjugated by the Ngai Tahu tribe, who remained in control until European settlement brought an end to inter-tribal warfare and cannibalism (a taste acquired after the Maori came to New Zealand - the last known incidence being in 1947). Although there were European settlers from 1840, notably the Deans brothers at Riccarton, what are regarded as the First Four Ships were chartered by the Canterbury Association, and arrived on 16 December 1850, bringing the first 792 of the Canterbury Pilgrims to Lyttelton Harbour. These sailing vessels were the Randolph, Charlotte-Jane, Sir George Seymour, and Cressy. Captain Thomas, the Canterbury Association's Chief Surveyor, surveyed the surrounding area. By December 1849 he had commissioned the construction of a road from Port Cooper, later called Lyttelton, to Christchurch via Sumner. However this proved more difficult than expected and road construction was stopped while a steep foot and pack horse track was constructed over the hill between the port and the Heathcote valley, where access to the site of the proposed settlement could be gained. This track became known as the Bridle Path, because the path was so steep that pack horses needed to be led by the bridle. Goods that were too heavy or bulky to be transported by pack horse over the Bridle Path were shipped by small sailing vessels some eight miles by water around the coast and up the estuary to Ferrymead. New Zealand's first public railway line was opened from Ferrymead to Christchurch in 1863. Due to the difficulties in travelling over the Port Hills and the dangers associated with shipping navigating the Sumner bar, a railway tunnel was bored through the Port Hills to Lyttelton, opening in 1867. Christchurch became a city by Royal Charter on 31 July 1856, making it the oldest city in New Zealand. Many of the city's fine Gothic buildings by the architect Benjamin Mountfort date from this period. Christchurch was the seat of provincial administration for the province of Canterbury. A road tunnel was constructed between Lyttelton and Christchurch in the early 1960s. In 1974 Christchurch was host to the Commonwealth Games.

Gateway to the Antarctic

Christchurch has played a significant role in the history of Antarctic exploration. Both Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton used the port of Lyttelton as a departure point for expeditions, and there is a statue of Scott (sculpted by his widow) in the central city. Christchurch International Airport serves as the major base for the Italian and United States Antarctic Programs as well as the New Zealand Antarctic programme. The International Antarctic Centre provides both base facilities and a museum and visitor centre.

Visitor Attractions

United States Antarctic Program United States Antarctic Program
- [http://www.bethere.org.nz/ Be There] - events calendar
- [http://www.localeye.info/ localeye] - your online guide to Christchurch and Canterbury
- Garden and Parks; [http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Parks/GardenCity/parks_monavale.asp Mona Vale], [http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Parks/BotanicGardens/ The Botanical Gardens], [http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Parks/HagleyPark/ Hagley Park], and [http://www.riccartonhouse.co.nz/ Riccarton House and Bush].
- [http://www.canterburymuseum.com Canterbury Museum].
- Ferrymead Heritage Park.
- [http://www.oranawildlifepark.co.nz Orana Wildlife Park].
- [http://www.willowbank.co.nz/ Willowbank Wildlife Reserve].
- [http://www.airforcemuseum.co.nz Air Force Museum].
- [http://www.southernencounter.co.nz/ Southern Encounter Aquarium and Kiwi House].
- [http://www.iceberg.co.nz/ International Antarctic Centre].
- Christ's College. Founded in 1851, it is one of the city's most distinguished private schools.
- Christ Church (the Anglican cathedral), the centre of the Church of England settlement was built between 1864 and 1910.
- The Roman Catholic Cathedral, consecrated in 1905, is widely considered to be the finest example of Classic revival architecture in the city.
- [http://www.christchurchartgallery.org.nz Christchurch Art Gallery] (A new gallery opened 2003 to replace the 1930 Robert McDougall Art Gallery situated in the Botanic Gardens).
- [http://www.tram.co.nz/tramtour.html Historic electric trams], introduced in 1905, ceased operating in 1954, but returned to the inner city in 1995.
- The Christchurch Arts Centre, formerly Canterbury College and the site of "Ernest Rutherford's Den".
- [http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Christchurch/CanterburyProvincialCouncilChambers/ The Provincial Council Chambers], 1857 - 1865.
- The Timeball Station in Lyttelton.
- The New Brighton Pier.
- [http://www.gondola.co.nz/ Heathcote (Christchurch) Gondola].
- The Summit Road along the top of the Port Hills and Godley Head Road provides numerous spectacular views of the area and features the buildings created as wayside rests, the Sign of the Takahe (now a function centre) and Sign of the Kiwi.
- Walkways including [http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Parks/NaturalAreas/port_hills_recreation_victoriapark.asp Victoria Park], the Bridle Path and Whitewash Head, a bird sanctuary.
- Mountain Biking on the Port Hills and Bottle Lake Forest. [http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Parks/Recreation/mountainbiking.asp Christchurch Mountainbiking]

Entertainment

Theatre

Christchurch has one full-time professional theatre, the [http://www.courttheatre.org.nz Court Theatre] (external link). There is also an active recreational theatre scene.

Cinema

Christchurch has approximately 35 cinema screens, with more planned in the next few years. While historically most cinemas were grouped around Cathedral Square, only the Regent complex remains there. The largest multiplexes are the Hoyts 8 in the old railway station (Moorhouse Ave) and Reading Cinemas (8) in the Palms shopping centre in the suburb of Shirley. Hoyts in Riccarton, just recently opened, has the largest screen in New Zealand, called Cinemaxx. The Christchurch Arts Centre includes two art house cinemas, Cloisters and The Academy, screening a wide selection of contemporary, classic and foreign language films. These cinemas participates in an annual film festival. There is an active film society in the city.

Large Concert Venues


- The Westpac Centre is New Zealand's largest permanent multipurpose arena, seating between 5000 - 8000 depending on configuration. It was the venue for the 1999 World Netball championships and has been host to many concerts in recent years including Neil Diamond, Rod Stewart, Velvet Revolver and many more major international acts.
- The Town Hall Auditorium (2000 seats, opened 1974) was the first major auditorium design by architects Warren and Mahoney and acousticians Marshall Day. It is still recognised as a model example of concert-hall design. It has an excellent modern pipe organ.

Dance Parties

Christchurch has a wide range of dance parties. Information can be obtained from inner-city cafés such as C1 on High Street, or record stores. While most of the parties are either house or drum'n'bass, occasionally there are trance and hardhouse parties.

Live Music

The city has a wide range of venues for live music, some short-lived, others with decades of history. Christchurch is home to a professional symphony orchestra, the [http://www.cso.co.nz/ CSO]. There are also usually buskers around the town square.

Sport

Sports Played
- Hang gliding and parasailing.
- Yachting and windsurfing.
- Swimming, surfing, surf lifesaving, surfcasting, and fishing.
- Netball, represented by the Canterbury Flames in the national league.
- Golf The city has more than a dozen golf courses and has hosted the PGA-sanctioned Clearwater Classic since 2002.
- Cricket - Christchurch's major summer sport
- Rugby Union, represented by the Crusaders in the Super 14 competition and Canterbury in the National Provincial Championship. Major Sporting Grounds
- Jade Stadium (formerly known as Lancaster Park) is Christchurch's premier outdoor sporting ground which currently plays host to Rugby Union in the winter months and Cricket in the summer months. It is home to the Canterbury Crusaders and Canterbury NPC Rugby Teams. It is also used by the New Zealand Cricket Team and occasionally hosts a New Zealand Warriors Rugby League match. Jade Stadium has a current capacity of 36,500 people.
- QEII Park was built for the 1974 British Commonwealth Games which Christchurch hosted in 1974. It is used today primarily as an Athletics park, and contains a newly upgraded Swimming Pool complex. It also has hosted some major concerts in the past from bands such as the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

Educational institutions

A number of tertiary education institutions have campuses in Christchurch, or in the surrounding areas.
- Christchurch College of Education
- Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology
- University of Otago Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences)
- Lincoln University
- Southern Institute of Technology
- University of Canterbury

Transport

Christchurch is served by Christchurch International Airport and by buses (local and long-distance) and trains. The local bus service, known as [http://www.metroinfo.org.nz/ Metro],is provided by [http://www.ecan.govt.nz/home/ Environment Canterbury], the Canterbury Regional Council.

Sister cities

Christchurch has six sister cities around the world. They are:
- Adelaide, Australia
- Christchurch, Dorset, England
- Gansu province, China
- Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan
- Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea

External links


- [http://www.ccc.govt.nz/ Christchurch City Council]
- [http://www.christchurch.org.nz/ Christchurch.org.nz] Official City Promotions website
- [http://www.localeye.info/ localeye] the online gateway to Christchurch & Canterbury, New Zealand.
- [http://www.thejoint.co.nz/ The Joint] Christchurch radio show
- [http://www.wises.co.nz/map/?mapwhich=2&zoomin=true&move=true&zoom=0&mapaction=0 Christchurch street maps]
- [http://www.bethere.org.nz/ Christchurch and Canterbury Events]
- [http://www.metservice.co.nz/default/index.php?pkey=190512&ckey=192956 Nor'wester]
- [http://www.thebigcity.co.nz/ The Big City] New Zealand Music Archive and Christchurch Events Poster Listing
- [http://www.cpit.ac.nz/ Christchurch Polytechnic Institue of Technology]
- [http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/ University of Canterbury]
- [http://www.christchurch-airport.co.nz/airport/ Christchurch International Airport]
- [http://www.tram.co.nz/ Christchurch Tramway]
- [http://canterbury.cyberplace.org.nz/community/botanic.html/ Christchurch Botanical Gardens]
- [http://www.chchcasino.co.nz/Intro.html/ Christchurch Casino]
- [http://www.artscentre.org.nz/ The Arts Centre,Christchurch]

Further reading

Amodeo, Colin (ed.) (1998). Rescue, the Sumner community and its lifeboat service. Christchurch: Sumner Lifeboat Institution Incorporated. Category:Canterbury, New Zealand category: Cities and towns in New Zealand ko:크라이스트처치 ja:クライストチャーチ

/
- Government
- / lk

Government

zh:基督城 Christchurch's local government is a democracy that includes:
- A city council [http://www.ccc.govt.nz/] comprising the Mayor of Christchurch, and 12 councillors elected in six wards.
- Six community boards, each covering one ward, with three members each plus the two ward councillors.
- The Canterbury Regional Council, known as [http://www.ecan.org.nz/ Environment Canterbury] including four Christchurch constituencies with two members from each constituency.
- The Canterbury District Health Board, [http://www.cdhb.govt.nz/] with five members for Christchurch.
- District councils in surrounding areas: Banks Peninsula, Selwyn, and Waimakariri. In 1993, Christchurch was selected as the "Best Run City in the World", also known as the Carl Bertelsmann Prize, by the Bertelsmann Foundation of Germany, a branch of Bertelsmann media company. It shared the honor with Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

Dunedin

Dunedin
Urban Area Population 113,600
Extent Dunedin, Mosgiel,
Port Chalmers
Territorial
Authority		 Name Dunedin City
Population 121,100
Land area 3314.8km²
Extent urban area, and out as
far as Middlemarch,
Waikouaiti and the
Taieri River
Regional
Council		 Name Otago
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, located in coastal Otago. Known in Maori as Ōtepoti, the city stands on the hills and valleys surrounding the head of Otago Harbour. The harbour and hills are the remnants of an extinct volcano. Dunedin is the home of the University of Otago.

History

The Lay Association of the Free Church of Scotland founded Dunedin in 1848 as a Scottish settlement. The town's name comes from Dùn Êideann, the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the Scottish capital. The city founders designed the street layout and names to closely match that of Edinburgh, and some quirky streets were created with little consideration for topography. The University of Otago, the oldest university in New Zealand, was founded in Dunedin in 1869. Dunedin became wealthy during the Central Otago goldrush which began at Gabriel's Gully near Lawrence in 1861. Between 1881 and 1957, Dunedin was home to the Dunedin cable trams, being both one of the first and last such systems operated anywhere in the world. During the 20th century, influence and activity moved north to the other centres ("the drift north"), but by the end of the century Dunedin had re-established its identity as a centre of excellence in tertiary education and research. Dunedin cable trams

Modern Dunedin

Dunedin has flourishing niche industries including engineering, software engineering, bio-technology and fashion. Port Chalmers on Otago Harbour provides Dunedin with deep-water port facilities. The cityscape glitters with gems of Victorian and Edwardian architecture - the legacy of the city's gold-rush affluence - many including First Church and Larnach Castle designed by one of New Zealand's most eminent architects R A Lawson. Other prominent buildings include Olveston and the magnificent Dunedin Railway Station. Other not-to-be missed attractions include the world's steepest street (Baldwin Street), the famous Captain Cook Tavern, and the local Speight's brewery. Tourists and students alike appreciate tours of the Cadbury chocolate factory. Cadbury Dunedin is also notable now as centre for ecotourism. Uniquely, the world's only mainland royal albatross colony and several penguin and seal colonies lie within the city boundaries on Otago Peninsula. To the south of Dunedin, located on the western side of Lake Waihola, lie the Sinclair Wetlands. The thriving tertiary student population has led to Dunedin having a vibrant youth culture, which came to prominence with the "Dunedin Sound" bands of the 1980s (such as The Chills, The Clean, Straitjacket Fits, and The Verlaines), and more recently a burgeoning boutique fashion industry. A very strong visual arts community lives in Dunedin and its environs. The Verlaines Sport is catered for in Dunedin by the floodlit rugby and cricket venue of Carisbrook, a soccer and athletics stadium (the New Caledonian Ground) at Logan Park, close to the University, and numerous golf courses and parks. There is also a horseracing circuit in the south of the city (Forbury Park). Saint Clair Beach, on the city's Pacific shore, is a well-known surfing venue. The climate is moderate. Winter can be frosty, but significant snowfall is uncommon (perhaps every two or three years), except in the inland hill suburbs such as Halfway Bush and Wakari. Spring can feature "four seasons in a day" weather, but from November to April it is generally settled and mild. Dunedin features the world's most southern motorway: this 10 kilometre divided highway section of State Highway One (SH1) runs from the centre of the city to the southern suburb of Mosgiel.

Geography

Mosgiel.]] Dunedin City has a land area of 3314.8 km2, about 10% larger than Cambridgeshire, England, and a little smaller than Cornwall. It is the largest city in land area in New Zealand. The Dunedin City Council boundaries since 1989 have extended to Middlemarch in the west, Waikouaiti in the north, the Pacific Ocean in the east and south-east, and Henley and Taieri Mouth in the south-west. Dunedin is also home to Baldwin Street, the steepest street in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records, with a slope of 1:2.9 (i.e. for every 2.9 m horizontally the street rises 1 m). The long-since abandoned Maryhill Cablecar route had a similar gradient close to its Mornington depot. The Dunedin skyline is dominated by a ring of hills which form the remnants of a volcanic crater. Notable among these hills are Mount Cargill (700 m), Flagstaff (680 m), Saddle Hill (480 m), and Harbour Cone (320 m). The heart of the city lies on the relatively flat land to the west of the head of the Otago Harbour. Here is located The Octagon - once a swamp, it was drained in the late 19th century to create a city centre. The initial settlement of the city took place to the north of this swamp and further south on the other side of Bell Hill, a large outcrop which had to be excavated in order to provide easy access between the two parts of the settlement. Today, the central city stretches away from this point in a largely northeast-southwest direction, with the main streets of George Street and Princes Street meeting at The Octagon. Here they are joined by Stuart Street, which runs orthogonal to them, from the Dunedin Railway Station in the southeast, and steeply up to the suburb of Roslyn in the northwest. Many of the older, more established buildings in the city are located towards the northern end of this central area on the floodplains of the Water of Leith, and on the inner ring of lower hills which surround the central city (most of these hills, such as Maori Hill, Pine Hill, and Maryhill, rise to some 200 metres above the plain).

List of Dunedin suburbs

For information on individual suburbs, see Suburbs of Dunedin, New Zealand

Inner suburbs

(clockwise from the city centre, starting at due north) Woodhaugh; Dalmore; Pine Hill; Dunedin North; North East Valley; Opoho; Ravensbourne; Highcliff; Vauxhall; Waverley; Shiel Hill; Anderson's Bay; Tainui; Musselburgh; South Dunedin; St. Kilda; St. Clair; Corstorphine; Kew; Forbury; Caversham; Concord; Maryhill; Mornington; Belleknowes; Brockville; Halfway Bush; Roslyn; Wakari; Maori Hill; Glenleith.

Outer suburbs

(clockwise from the city centre, starting at due north) St. Leonards; Broad Bay; Macandrew Bay; Waldronville; Green Island; Abbotsford; Concord; Fairfield.

Towns within Dunedin City limits

(clockwise from the city centre, starting at due north) Waitati; Warrington; Waikouaiti; Karitane; Purakanui, Port Chalmers; Sawyers Bay, Otakou; Portobello; Brighton; Taieri Mouth; Henley; Allanton; East Taieri; Momona, Mosgiel; Outram; Middlemarch.

Panoramas

Middlemarch Middlemarch Middlemarch Middlemarch

Noted inhabitants

The arts


- Thomas Bracken (21 December 1843 -- 16 February 1898), the noted late-19th century poet who wrote the New Zealand National Anthem and who was the first person to publish the phrase "God's Own Country".
- Illustrator and engraver John Buckland Wright.
- Maori sculptor Carissa Proffit (b 1974), who works in Oamaru stone.
- Nobel Prize short-listee Janet Frame, born there in 1924, died there in 2004: [http://www.nzedge.com/heroes/frame.html NZ Edge biography]
- Writer James K. Baxter was born in Dunedin in 1926 and wrote many of his plays there in the '60s in association with Rosalie and Patric Carey's Globe Theatre.
- Cartoonist David Low lived in Dunedin before making his fame in London.
- Caricature artist Murray Webb remains a resident.
- Maori painter Ralph Hotere lives and works in Port Chalmers.
- Painters Grahame Sydney, Jeffrey Harris and Claire Beynon all live in Dunedin.
- Actor Sam Neill has close associations with Dunedin.
- Playwright Roger Hall lived and wrote in Dunedin for several years.
- Prominent architects Francis Petre and Robert Lawson both lived and worked in Dunedin.
- Many of New Zealand’s top bands of the 1980s and early 1990s started out in Dunedin, establishing the Dunedin Sound.
- The Malaysian novelist John Ling is a resident.

Politics and business


- A large proportion of the country's leading companies in and beyond the 20th century originated in Dunedin. A selection of relevant company or brand names includes Arthur Barnett, Donaghy, Fletcher, Fulton Hogan, Hallenstein, Methven, Mosgiel, NZI, Ravensdown, Wests, Whitcoulls, and Wrightson.
- The Bell Tea Company was founded here in 1898 and still has one of its factories in Hope Street (possibly recently mothballed).
- Deputy Prime Minister (since 1999) Michael Cullen was Member of Parliament for the Dunedin electorate of Saint Kilda from 1981 until 1999.

Science


- Tramway and mining engineer George Smith Duncan was born in Dunedin in 1852, attended the University of Otago and was instrumental in building the Dunedin cable tramway system.
- Two of the founders of modern plastic surgery, Harold Gillies and Archibald McIndoe were born in Dunedin in 1882 and 1900 respectively.
- Popular email program Pegasus Mail was written by David Harris while he was employed by the University of Otago.

Sport


- World record-breaking middle-distance athlete Jack Lovelock lived in the city, as did Olympic champions long jumper Yvette (Corlett) Williams and swimmer Danyon Loader.
- Other sporting celebrities to have lived in Dunedin include cricketers Glenn Turner and Clarrie Grimmett, netballer Lois Muir, yachtsman Russell Coutts and double international (cricket and rugby) Jeff Wilson.

Military


- Keith Park - WW1 Air Ace, later Air Marshall, a three star General rank, in the defense of London.
- Duncan Boyes, English recipient of the Victoria Cross, 1864-Japan, was buried in Dunedin in 1869.

Events

Annual events


- January - [http://www.whareflat.co.nz/ Whare Flat Folk Festival]
- January - [http://www.dunedin-tourism.co.nz/sfos/ Southern Festival of Speed] classic car road-race
- February</