After surviving two earthquakes and despite a number of resulting adversities, Christchurch is still standing strong as one of New Zealand’s most popular urban centres. The second largest city in the country; Christchurch offers a huge number of opportunities for business, investment and a great way of life for anyone. The city’s size and number of high quality schools attract a lot of residents, especially young couples and families.
The February earthquake has resulted in some hesitation from those considering a move to the Garden City, but lower property prices and a positive future means new opportunities.
Although some eastern suburbs like Avonside, Sumner and New Brighton have been hit hard by earthquake damage, more central and western areas have shown resilience and, in some cases, even growth after February with new commercial developments and businesses relocating to Papanui, Sydenham and Riccarton. You may be interested in building a new house in one of these suburbs, if so, there are many reputable house builders in Canterbury to contact.
The good news is that the main areas most families look at moving to remain mostly unaffected. Burnside and Fendalton are two of the top suburbs that families look at buying in because of school zoning and their accessibility to Christchurch Boys High on Tekura Street, Girls High on Matai Street and Burnside High School on Memorial Ave. With Riccarton and Papanui nearby, the area has easy access to Westfield and Northland’s Mall as well as a number of restaurants and supermarkets. Canterbury University on Kirkwood Ave in Ilam and the CPIT in the Central City are excellent tertiary education options looking toward life after secondary school too.
With the property market perfect for buyers coming out of the 2008 bubble burst, now is a great time to invest in a home with a solid future return. Commercial development in the outer suburbs and the future plans for the CBD rebuild means there are plenty of opportunities for business owners too. If you’ve been looking for a good place to invest, you’ve found it in the Garden City. There are plenty of house builders in Canterbury to contact about building projects.
It’s not all about work and school; Christchurch is a hub of activity in the South Island. With access to ski fields and a drive away from some of the country’s tourism hot spots like Queenstown, the West Coast and Marlborough, there are plenty of ways to enjoy yourself in and around Canterbury.
There has never been a better time to make the move to Christchurch. For anyone looking for the opportunities that a main centre affords, families who want the best in schooling and convenience and any Kiwi who wants to escape the confines of a small town, choose the Garden City.