Working as a locum in different locations can be common practice for doctors or medical staff throughout their careers. Doing a little research on what you can expect from your chosen destination can help ease the transition and make your stay more enjoyable. In this Christchurch location guide, we highlight the area’s unique benefits and attractions, as well as its primary healthcare facilities. This post is part of a wider series showcasing what working in New Zealand is like.
About Christchurch – Everything You Need To Know
With a population of just over 400,000 people, Christchurch is currently the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand. It enjoys an excellent urban living scene, offering diverse retail outlets, lively dining and entertainment, and a multitude of must-do attractions throughout the area.
As one of the oldest cities in New Zealand, it’s no surprise that central Christchurch is dotted with a variety of heritage sites complete with quaint English architecture. Perhaps for this reason, Christchurch has a distinct ‘English’ feel, which is also evident in its well-earned nickname, the ‘Garden City’.
Along with a multitude of tree-lined streets and impressive gardens, a feature of Garden City is the centrally located Hagley Park. It is 165 hectares of wide-open green space with over 3000 trees and has been around since the 1850s.
Where Is Christchurch Located?
Christchurch is situated in the South Island of New Zealand, more specifically, about halfway down the South Island’s East Coast. This central location makes Christchurch the perfect gateway to the South Island and all it has to offer.
Cost Of Living In Christchurch
Is Christchurch expensive to live in? Compared to Auckland and Wellington, Christchurch housing costs are somewhat lower, this includes both house and rental prices. Average daily living costs in Christchurch are fairly similar to those in the rest of New Zealand; however, sometimes travel costs can be higher due to its more remote location.
Essential services such as electricity and internet are readily available with a variety of pricing/plan options. These services are generally charged at similar rates across New Zealand.
Christchurch Demographics
What is the average age of people living in Christchurch? According to the Christchurch City Council, the median age is 36.9, compared to 38.1 New Zealand-wide.
Christchurch is New Zealand’s third-largest city and home to a range of ethnicities, including European, Asian, Māori, Pacific Peoples, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and African.
Transportation In Christchurch
Getting around Christchurch is easy, with regular bus services available to most of the city. Taxi and Uber services are commonplace, as is the tram! Yes, you can even travel around Christchurch’s central city using a tram, although this is usually seen as a tourist activity.
E-scooters are everywhere for public use, and as Christchurch is nice and flat (and fairly compact) so, good old-fashioned walking will get you most places you need to go. Christchurch is also home to both an international and domestic airport, offering easy access flights all around New Zealand and across the world.
Christchurch Weather And Climate
Christchurch enjoys relatively mild summers with some scorchingly hot 30 degree days mixed in, along with brisk and cool winter days. There’s even the odd chance of a little snow during the winter months—if you are lucky!
Average temperatures in Christchurch usually hover around 20-25 degrees, with the biggest variations during July and August (mid-winter) or January and February (mid-summer).
Relatively low levels of rainfall are typical throughout the year, with very few occurrences of heavy rainfall disrupting daily activities. Dry summers are to be expected, with vegetation and landscapes browning off significantly over the months of January and February.
Education Services In Christchurch
Parents seeking work in Christchurch will be pleased to know that New Zealand’s primary and secondary education system is freely available to those living here. Christchurch also has a large number of highly regarded private schools, so there are plenty of education options for students and families.
Higher education in Christchurch is also well catered for with a variety of tertiary institutes and universities. These include Ara Institute, the University of Canterbury and Lincoln University.
Top 5 Things To Do In Christchurch
Living and working in Christchurch opens up a wealth of opportunities for those who love shopping, attractions, and the great outdoors. Enjoy our top 5 things to do in Christchurch!
- Explore The Art And History. Take a stroll down Worcester Boulevard to the Cultural Precinct and explore the diverse exhibits of the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu and the Canterbury Museum. Learn about local events, artists, Māori culture and delve into historic events in New Zealand.
- Get Outdoors! Spending time outdoors is fundamental to the lifestyle of the locals in Christchurch. The great news is you are spoilt for choice in Christchurch, with many stunning conservation areas and parks to enjoy. Choose to visit the beautiful Hagley Park grounds, situated conveniently in Central Christchurch, as your first port of call. Hagley Park offers locals a place of peace and reflection amongst the beautiful Botanic Gardens and the cool waters of the Avon River.
- Enjoy A Wildlife Encounter. Want to get up close and personal with some of the local wildlife? There are three main options to explore, New Zealand’s largest wildlife reserve, Orana Park, which is popular with animal and bird lovers, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve home to the largest daytime kiwi viewing area in the country, and the International Antarctic Centre famous for its penguin encounters.
- Ride The Tram. Taking a step back into the past, riding Christchurch’s Tram service offers visitors the opportunity to sit back and relax while taking in the sights and sounds of the city. Operating on a hop-on-hop-off basis, purchasing a full-day ticket means you can ride as many times as you like, departing and returning after exploring your favourite areas of the city.
- Eat Some Excellent Food! Christchurch is home to a wide variety of cafes, restaurants and eateries. Riverside, The Welder and Little High are great for street-style food on the go or try the Addington Coffee Co-Op for a trendy lunch spot. C1 Espresso is perfect for some excellent coffee (and tea!), or head on over to the Jaba Grill for the best steak in town!
And Theres More …
Christchurch is known as the gateway to the Canterbury region, allowing easy access to the breathtaking scenic experiences available across the South Island. You will find a foodies’ paradise in the Waipara Valley, a quaint farming community in Ashburton, stunning scenery and outdoor experiences in Arthur’s Pass and laid-back vibes in the coastal city of Timaru. All within a few hours’ drive away. A short flight (or a bit longer drive) will take you to other popular destinations such as Nelson, Queenstown and Dunedin, making Christchurch the perfect base for exploring the best of what New Zealand has to offer.
Healthcare Facilities In Christchurch
The district catchment for Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Canterbury Waitaha District covers a large region of the South Island’s East Coast with a catchment population of nearly 600,000 people, most of which reside in the Greater Christchurch area.
Health NZ owns and operates five major hospitals in the region and several smaller rural community initiatives around the district. Health services include a focus on Māori and Pasifika health, medical and surgical services, older persons’ specialist health and rehabilitation services, specialist mental health services, and women’s and children’s health services.
Local hospitals in the region include the Christchurch Hospital, the Princess Margaret Hospital, Christchurch Women’s Hospital, Burwood Hospital, and Hillmorton Hospital, along with the smaller, more regional Ashburton, Darfield, and Ellesmere Hospitals.
Christchurch Hospital is the largest teaching and research hospital in the South Island, accommodating around 836 beds in total. It provides a full range of acute, elective and outpatient services, and the hospital’s Emergency Department treats over 83,000 patients each year, making it one of the busiest in Australasia.
In recent years, Christchurch Hospital has been the subject of a significant redevelopment project, with major refurbishments and the construction of new facilities, including the addition of the new Christchurch Women’s Hospital and Outpatient facilities. Nearby Burwood Hospital is the second-largest facility in the region and one of New Zealand’s best rehabilitation and elective orthopaedic surgery centres.
Health NZ Canterbury is a tertiary (secondary care plus teaching) institution that utilises nationwide IT applications metrics covering clinical systems, patient administration systems, and financial/administrative applications and works in the development of prototype health-tech solutions in areas such as machine learning, virtual healthcare, wearables and bio-. As a result, Christchurch is an excellent option for doctors and health staff looking to be part of modern, integrated and world-class health services.
Working In Christchurch
With a thriving job market, additional lifestyle benefits, not to mention the welcoming environment, Christchurch is an excellent city for those considering full-time employment in any industry. One of the main questions doctors and their families might have when considering moving to Christchurch is likely centred around – how easy it is to find work in Christchurch.
The good news for health professionals is that Christchurch’s dedicated health precinct brings together the resources of Health NZ and multiple research and development partners, including three universities, all working together to develop cutting-edge innovative advances in health-related areas. This means there are some good job prospects on offer as well as some excellent learning opportunities.
For industries other than healthcare, Christchurch’s job opportunities are based around agriculture, manufacturing, IT, and the service sectors. These include major national and international corporations and smaller local businesses.
Whether you want to work, play, explore, or be entertained, Christchurch is a fantastic place to live. To learn more about the region and any potential locum and permanent healthcare opportunities, please contact the team at Triple0 today.
