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 Coat of Arms of the Christchurch City Council
Coat of Arms of the Christchurch City Council
Christchurch's local government is a democracy that includes:
A city council [2] 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 Environment Canterbury including four Christchurch constituencies with two members from each constituency.
The Canterbury District Health Board, [3] 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.
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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 New Zealand Antarctic programme. The International Antarctic Centre provides both base facilities and a museum and visitor centre.
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Theatre
Christchurch has one full-time professional theatre, the 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 participate 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 , Edgefest 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 active live groups and artists.
Christchurch is home to a professional symphony orchestra, the CSO. There are also usually buskers around the town square.
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Coat of Arms of the Christchurch City Council
Coat of Arms of the Christchurch City Council
Christchurch's local government is a democracy that includes:
A city council [2] 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 Environment Canterbury including four Christchurch constituencies with two members from each constituency.
The Canterbury District Health Board, [3] 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.
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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 New Zealand Antarctic programme. The International Antarctic Centre provides both base facilities and a museum and visitor centre.
|
Theatre
Christchurch has one full-time professional theatre, the 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 participate 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 , Edgefest 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 active live groups and artists.
Christchurch is home to a professional symphony orchestra, the CSO. There are also usually buskers around the town square.
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