Canterbury Region
Region of New Zealand / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Canterbury (Māori: Waitaha) is a region of New Zealand, located in the central-eastern South Island. The region covers an area of 44,503.88 square kilometres (17,183.04 sq mi), making it the largest region in the country by area. It is home to a population of 666,300 (June 2023).[2]
Canterbury
| |
---|---|
Canterbury Region | |
Coordinates: 43.6°S 172.0°E / -43.6; 172.0 | |
Country | New Zealand |
Island | South Island |
Established | 1989 |
Seat | Christchurch |
Territorial authorities | |
Government | |
• Chairperson | Peter Scott |
Area | |
• Land | 44,503.60 km2 (17,182.94 sq mi) |
Population (June 2023)[2] | |
• Region | 666,300 |
Demonym | Cantabrian |
GDP | |
• Total | NZ$ 44.032 billion (2021) |
• Per capita | NZ$ 67,400 (2021) |
Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
HDI (2021) | 0.938[4] very high · 4th |
The region in its current form was established in 1989 during nationwide local government reforms. The Kaikōura District joined the region in 1992 following the abolition of the Nelson-Marlborough Regional Council.
Christchurch, the South Island's largest city and the country's second-largest urban area, is the seat of the region and home to 58 percent of the region's population. Other major towns and cities include Timaru, Ashburton, Rangiora and Rolleston.