As Christchurch continues to recover from the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, we’ve seen a big increase in people moving in, out and around the city. We all remember the big move after the 2011 quake, when approximately 20,000 people left the city, but nine years on, why are so many people now on the move? And why are more people now moving to the Garden City from other parts of the country?
More freedom to move on
Most recently, more people have been able to move out of houses they were forced to occupy after the quakes. As part of the rebuild, getting people new, affordable housing has been a top priority. Financial assistance, like the Christchurch Housing Initiative which launched last October, is giving modest income families the chance to get onto the property ladder.
Work opportunities
Out of the destruction of the earthquakes, Christchurch has had the opportunity to redesign and rebuild a city for the 21st century. This has created many business, education and employment opportunities. The reorganisation of the city into dedicated precincts have made it highly liveable. With rates of pay on par with other major New Zealand cities, but with a cheaper cost of living, Christchurch is a desirable place to live, work and raise a family.
Attractive suburban living
Adding to the opportunities above, Christchurch has many desirable and attractive suburbs to call home. Merivale is a clean, safe historical suburb with parks, good services and facilities, and a thriving cafe and restaurant scene. The village like suburb of Sumner has fantastic beaches, beautiful parks and sporting facilities. Fendalton is filled with character homes and has a library, retirement village, parks and schools. Riccarton is a suburb with everything on your doorstep and is only a short trip to the CBD.
Culture and lifestyle
Across Christchurch, the dining and nightlife has had a renaissance. For all tastes and budgets, there is an abundance of new eateries in the central city and surrounding suburbs. There’s no lack of arts, culture, events or activities either. Christchurch has world class venues like The Arts Centre and The Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu. With everything that’s happening in Christchurch and what the city has to offer, it’s no wonder that migration to the Garden City is trending up.
