We belong to a magnificent Country with Mountain ranges that rival the Swiss Alps, rich rolling pasture land, modern cities, geyser-lands and wild native bush.
New Zealand is made up of three main Islands, North Island, South Island and Stewart Island. The South Island where we live and Stewart Island at its foot together cover some 15,150 hectares - not a large area by world standards but embracing an incredible variety of scenery, some with a beauty that defies description.
Christchurch our home city today retains its strong English influence with evidence of a few Scottish threads running through. It is the largest city in the South Island and has the beautiful Avon River flowing through the centre en route to the sea. We are known as the Garden City of New Zealand - most people enjoy their garden and have an abundance of colour throughout the Spring and Summer.
Our gardens and parks are a constant delight but chief among them is the City's Botanical Hagley Park which would be the envy of much larger cities. The 200 hectare park has numerous sports grounds, the cities Botanic Gardens, a golf course and several specialty gardens. On the eastern side of the park is the Canterbury museum, which houses one of the finest ornithological collections in the Southern Hemisphere.
We have the best of most worlds. We are a strong sporting nation and have an exceptional cultural centre. Christchurch is approximately a 2 hour drive away from some of the country's best ski fields, and is about the same distance from the soothing natural hot springs of Hanmer and the beautiful french settlement of Akaroa.
I have travelled to a lot of countries in the past and although I enjoyed every moment of every trip, I still think that we have got it all in New Zealand.
We are proud to be called New Zealanders.
