The city is named after Christ Church College at Oxford University. The city's Maori name is Otautahi, from the Maori chief Tautahi who had a settlement on the banks of the Avon river. Christchurch is also known as 'The Garden City' because of the number of public parks and gardens throughout the city.
Christchurch has a temperate climate, with temperatures in January ranging from an average minimum of 12°C to an average maximum of 21°C, and from 1°C to 10°C in July. A notable feature of the weather is the nor'wester, a hot [foehn wind]? that is associated with increases in suicide and domestic violence, and occasionally reaches gale force and causes widespread damage to property.
In June 1999, Christchurch city had an estimated population of 324,300. This is expected to grow to 358,000 by 2021?.
Christchurch has six [sister cities]? around the world. They are: