Christchurch lies in the east of the Canterbury Plains, near the centre of the east coast of the South Island. The area administered by the Christchurch City Council has a population of 366,000 (June 2013 estimate), making it the second-largest in New Zealand, and the largest city in the South Island. Christchurch became a city by Royal Charter on 31 July 1856, making it officially the oldest established city in New Zealand.

On 4 September 2010, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Christchurch and the central Canterbury region, causing widespread damage to the city and minor injuries, but no direct fatalities. On 22 February 2011, a second earthquake measuring magnitude 6.3 struck the city. In total 185 people were killed with nationals from more than 20 countries among the victims. ChristChurch Cathedral lost its spire and widespread damage was caused across Christchurch to buildings and infrastructure already weakened by 4 September 2010 earthquake and its aftershocks.

The agricultural industry has always been the economic core of Christchurch. PGG Wrightson, New Zealand's leading agribusiness, is based in Christchurch. Other agribusinesses in Christchurch have included malting, seed development and dressing, wool and meat processing, and small biotechnology operations using by-products from meat works. Dairying has grown strongly in the surrounding areas. Cropping has always been important in the surrounding countryside. In recent years, regional agriculture has diversified, with a thriving wine industry springing up at Waipara, and beginnings of new horticulture industries such as olive production and processing. Deer farming has led to new processing using antlers for Asian medicine and aphrodisiacs.

In the last few decades, technology-based industries have sprung up in Christchurch. The University of Canterbury engineering school and computer science department play an important role in supplying staff and research for the technology industries, and the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology provides a flow of trained technicians and engineers. Similarly, nearby Lincoln University has played an important role in Christchurch agribusiness.

Tourism is also a significant factor of the local economy. The close proximity of the ski fields and other attractions of the Southern Alps, and hotels, a casino, and an airport that meet international standards make Christchurch a stopover destination for many tourists. Some of the main tourist attractions are: international antarctic centre, Christchurch Gondola, Canterbury Museum, botanic gardens, cardboard Cathedral and Akaroa harbour.

As the transportation hub in the South Island, Christchurch has the second biggest International Airport after Auckland. Lyttleton Harbour is the third biggest harbour in New Zealand. There are also railways linking Christchurch to Nelson, West Coast, and other parts of the South Island.

Christchurch's local government includes Christchurch City Council, comprising the Mayor of Christchurch, and 13 councillors elected in seven wards. The current mayor of Christchurch is Lianne Dalziel.

Christchurch has seven sister cities around the world, including Lanzhou and Wuhan of China.