Studying in Christchurch

Christchurch has two universities; the University of Canterbury and Lincoln University. Both offer a wide range of disciplines and pre-eminence in their fields. Christchurch Polytechnic also offers extensive career, community and recreational courses.

The College of Education offers further choice in the tertiary field, and there are a number of flourishing English language institutes.

A wide range of private and state-operated pre-school education facilities operates in Christchurch, including those run by various churches, and those operating under the Montessori and Rudolf Steiner systems. The city has more than 120 primary and intermediate schools and 30 state and integrated or private secondary schools. Outlying rural areas are serviced by a number of these. For more information see Ministry of Education and Education Christchurch.

Doing Business in Christchuch

• Economic Overview

• Infrastructure

• Local & Regional Government

Economic Overview

The central business district

The major portion of the local economy is reliant on the primary produce of its surrounds: vegetables, specialist horticultural produce, grains, grapes, meat, dairy products, wool, aquaculture and timber. The associated infrastructure and value-added processing operations also make a substantial contribution. Secondary and emerging industries include tourism, light industrial engineering, manufacturing, software development, electronics and education.

The two universities and sixteen research institutions offer an excellent research and development base; the region is technologically advanced by international standards, with a stable and educated labour force. An international airport, deep harbour port, radial road and rail links make Christchurch the main distribution centre for the South Island. Enhanced international status and economic benefits also accrue from the city's position as Gateway to the Antarctic.