Who named the city of Christchurch in NZ?

Question

Who named the city of Christchurch in NZ?

Answer 1

In addition to Johno's answer - The city is named after the Christ Church cathedral, which is itself named after Christ Church, a college at the University of Oxford, and the Cathedral of Oxford. The city was originally known as Christ Church, the written form consolidating by the 1880s.

The usual Māori name Ōtautahi is a shortened form of Te Whenua o Te Potiki-Tautahi - named for the seasonal dwelling of Ngai Tahu chief Tautahi of Port Levy on a bank of the Avon River near to where the Barbadoes Street bridge now stands.

Answer 2

The city is named after the Christ Church cathedral, which is in turn named after Christ Church - a college at the UK's University of Oxford - and the Cathedral of Oxford.

The name was chosen by the 'Canterbury Pilgrims' who arrived in New Zealand in 1850 aboard the 'First Four Ships' which had been chartered by the 'Canterbury Association'. There were 792 of these Canterbury Pilgrims. They arrived at Lyttelton Harbour aboard the sailing vessels - Randolph, Charlotte-Jane, Sir George Seymour, and Cressy.

It was their dream to build a city around a cathedral and a college, based on Christ Church in Oxford. The 'Pilgrims' held their first meeting (as an association) in 1848. It was at this meeting that they decided upon the name Christ Church. So, in fact, the name was already settled before the first of their ships even arrived in New Zealand.

Answer 3

The answer above is right!