Moving to Christchurch
Spun off from the nearby port of Lyttelton in 1850, Christchurch has grown into the largest city in New Zealand’s South Island, and serves as the seat of the Canterbury region. Christchurch is called Ōtautahi in te reo, and is often shortened to ChCh when written informally. It’s also known as the Garden City, on account of Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens, which sit at the city’s centre.
There are swimming and surfing beaches to the east, the nearby Port Hills for walking and biking tracks with panoramic views over the city, and further away the Southern Alps for skiing and hiking. New arrivals are often pleasantly surprised by “how close everything is”. Much of Christchurch was rebuilt after the earthquakes of 2010-11, which fuelled a sense of growth and momentum that can still be felt today.
Crown Relocations has moved households into New Zealand for over 60 years, and our local team in Christchurch takes pride in helping people find their new homes across the city, the new subdivisions and the wider Canterbury region. Read on for their first-hand advice on life in Christchurch, or get a free quote at any time.
We’ve been Moving Kiwis around New Zealand and the world for over 60 years! When you choose to move with Crown you will find us to be more than just a relocation company, we really care about what we do and how we do it!
Relocating to Christchurch With Crown
When you move with Crown, you’ll always have a dedicated point of contact: your move manager. It’s their job to oversee your journey and make sure everything goes smoothly. They’ll work with you to prepare, make sure all the paperwork is correct, and coordinate with the local team at your destination. Whether you’re moving into the central city, a new subdivision where the streets are still being built out, a rural property in Selwyn or Waimakariri, or a hill suburb where steep driveways make access tricky, our local crew know what they’re getting into.
Home find and settling-in support
In competitive overseas markets, it’s good to have someone with experience on your side. As part of our settling-in services, you can get up to speed on the market before you arrive, then meet our local agent for a tailored tour of properties in the region once you land.
Storage in Christchurch
Whether you’re waiting for move-in day or still hunting for the right place to settle, our secure storage facilities keep your belongings safe until you’re ready for them.
Pet relocation
New Zealand’s animal import rules are strict. Crown’s network of approved carers will make sure your furry friend’s travel and accommodation are up to scratch, so your pet arrives safe and sound alongside your belongings.
Vehicle relocation
End-to-end vehicle shipping from countries around the world, plus honest advice on whether bringing your current car beats buying one once you arrive.
Transit insurance
We provide worldwide comprehensive insurance for your belongings, covering loss or damage caused by circumstances beyond your control. No third parties: everything goes through Crown.
More ways Crown can help
Whatever your move throws up, we’re here to help right from the start: visa assistance, currency transfers, connecting utilities, setting up your home on delivery day, and more.
Our Quoting and Moving Process
Crown’s quote process starts with a free consultation to understand your specific needs, access conditions and moving dates. After requesting a quote, one of our trained Crown consultants will survey your home in person or by video call, and assemble a list of the items that are going.
Your quote depends on two things: how much space your goods will take up, and what their final destination is. A door-to-door move finishes inside your new home, while a door-to-store move finishes at our Christchurch warehouse.
- Survey and quote
A consultant surveys your home, makes a list of what’s going where, and gives you a written quote, including an estimate of how long shipping will take. - Decide what to bring
Next, it’s time to decide what’s worth shipping and what might be better to sell before the move. This is also when you should check for any items that can’t be imported into New Zealand. - Professional packing
At your overseas address, our trained crew will securely pack your belongings for shipping and provide you with a detailed packing inventory. - International freight
Your belongings are shipped by sea or air. While they’re in transit, you’ll be able to follow their progress through Crown’s tracking system. - Customs and MPI clearance
Crown lodges the paperwork required to clear customs. Once your belongings arrive, the Ministry for Primary Industries will inspect them for biosecurity risks. Outdoor gear, garden tools, wooden items and anything carrying soil or seeds will get flagged, so make sure to clean these before packing. - Storage in Christchurch, if needed
If your house isn’t ready, we can hold your goods in our secure Christchurch facility. If you know you’ll need storage ahead of time, it can be included in your quote, or arranged and billed separately later. - Access check
Before the scheduled delivery date, the local crew will check the street, driveway and steps, so the right vehicles and personnel turn up. - Delivery and unpacking
The big day! Our local crew will deliver your items to the rooms where they belong, and can also dispose of packaging and assemble furniture for you.
If your plans change mid-move, tell your coordinator as soon as possible.
Get a QuoteHow We Can Help You Settle Into Christchurch
Our Christchurch team are locals, and as they see it, two main things surprise people who’ve just arrived. First is the amount of slang Kiwis use: “sweet as” means “sounds good”, while “togs” are your swimsuit. You’ll get used to it. Second is the earthquakes, which you’ll feel every now and then. It’s good to be aware of them, but they aren’t usually cause for concern. In the rare event that you feel more than a little wobble, remember to drop, cover and hold.
Christchurch is home to many ethnic and cultural communities, and hosts cultural and arts festivals throughout the year, such as the Chinese Lantern Festival and the World Buskers Festival.
Rebuilding the city brought a lot of optimism with it, and the people here know what it’s like to adapt and change. Wherever you’re arriving from, there’s a place for you in Christchurch. Below, our team runs through the questions new arrivals face, along with the ways we’re able to help.
Which areas do overseas families choose, and how do school zones work?
It doesn’t take long to get across Christchurch (30 or 40 minutes), which makes living close to your workplace less important than somewhere like Auckland. If you’re moving with kids, our team recommends picking the school first, then finding a home in the nearby suburbs. Many of our overseas families choose the established inner suburbs of Merivale, Fendalton, St Albans and Riccarton. They’re close to Hagley Park and the university, and have several schools nearby, with options for both private and state education.
State schools generally give first priority to children who live within their enrolment zones, which are tied to your home address. This drives up housing demand in sought-after zones and creates a problem for new arrivals. Many families are still in temporary accommodation when the school year starts, meaning they don’t yet have a zoned address. Plan accordingly, and be aware that children may not be able to start school until after you sort out your housing.
Our school search programme is tailored to each child’s needs, helping you find the right place for them to learn and grow. Have a dream school in mind, but not sure where to start? We’ll find housing options for you in its zone, giving your child the right to attend it. Learn more in our education guide.
Should we live in Christchurch City or further out?
Within the city, it only takes 30 or 40 minutes to get from one side to the other, so living further out is a real option. Think of Christchurch as having three rings, each with different trade-offs. Which one suits you is a matter of school, budget and how much you’re willing to drive.
Established Suburbs
The longstanding suburbs have better infrastructure and amenities, with schools, malls, medical centres and shops close by.
New Outskirts
Halswell and Wigram have modern family homes, and it’s easy to get into the city, but the occasional shop or service may not be close by yet.
Selwyn and Waimakariri
Rolleston and Rangiora are growing towns outside the city with modern homes and strong community facilities, but more limited choices for schools, shops, dentists and medical centres. There’s little to no bus service into the city, so you’ll most likely be commuting by car along the motorway.
Our home-finding service covers the whole region, not just the city. The same goes for our delivery crews. Got a place in mind? We can arrange a test run so you can drive the commute at peak hours, even if you don’t have a car yet. Need time to think it over? We can help arrange temporary accommodation as well.
What is the housing like, and how much should the earthquakes influence our choice?
Much of Christchurch’s housing is newer than you’d find in other cities, a consequence of rebuilding after the 2010-11 earthquakes. These newer homes are built to modern standards, with better insulation and energy efficiency. Older homes are usually larger, with more charm and character, and generally come with more outdoor space. However, they’re also more likely to need maintenance over time (rewiring, a new roof, updated heating and so on).
In general, only residents can buy a home in New Zealand, so if you’re on a work visa, expect to rent. Rental properties must meet New Zealand’s Healthy Homes standards, which is a good start, because winter temperatures in Christchurch are around 12°C (54°F) during the day and frequently fall below freezing overnight.
Now the earthquakes. After 2011, the government classified residential land into three technical categories by its susceptibility to liquefaction in another large quake (that’s when shaking causes wet ground to become soft and liquid-like). Much of the west side of the city is TC1, which is low risk; TC2 is moderate risk and makes up the largest share of land; and TC3 has significant liquefaction potential. If you’re looking to buy, check what category of land it’s on before committing.
Overwhelmed? Our team can help you search for a warm home on land you’re happy with. Once you’ve found a place, we recommend using Fast Connect to arrange essential services like electricity, gas and internet. Finally, if the container hasn’t arrived yet, our furniture hire service can make that in-between period less stressful.
How do we get around Christchurch – do we need a car?
The CBD itself is walkable, although it’s too far from most suburbs to make getting there on foot realistic. To get here (or there, or everywhere), you’ve got a few options:
Biking. Christchurch has excellent bike infrastructure, with a good network of cycleways across the city. It’s also quite flat, except for the Port Hills, which makes this an easy way to get around.
Buses. Christchurch has regular buses that travel city-wide, with stops at all the major places you’d expect, such as the shopping malls, city centre, the airport, University of Canterbury and hospitals. They’re a good way to get around, with weekday services 10-15 minute apart. However, some bus routes may not fit your schedule, or you may need to change to a second bus depending on your location and destination.
Car. Alongside the obvious commuter benefits, having a car makes it easy to take trips around the Canterbury region. If a family member has after-school activities, sports practice or Saturday fixtures, a car quickly becomes a necessity. The average commute is only about 20 minutes, but it will be longer if you live in Selwyn or Waimakariri; families out there should plan on having a car if they need to regularly get into Christchurch.
If you have a vehicle overseas, get in touch with our vehicle shipping team. They can give advice on what is needed. If you know you’ll be in New Zealand temporarily, they can also arrange storage for your vehicle in your country of origin. Last but not least, get a feel for Christchurch’s transport on our orientation tour.
How do newcomers meet people in Christchurch?
Arrivals tend to tell our team the same thing: Christchurch has a strong sense of community. Kiwis tend to be friendly and welcoming, which means getting to know people here is easier than many families expect.
If you want to get out and about, try one of the day and night markets that are regularly on at different places and times of the year, such as the City Night Market at the Arts Centre, the Ferrymead Heritage Park Night Market, the Christchurch Farmers’ Market, and the Riccarton Market at Riccarton Racecourse. The city also has a lively music scene, with plenty of local bands and venues large enough to draw international acts.
If you’re moving here with children, the other thing we hear from international families is that sport is a great way to fill your weekend. Chat with the other parents on the sidelines, or at the school gate at drop-off, and you’ll have a social circle in no time.
If you want to jump right in, try taking a tour to learn the ins and outs of the city. Alternatively, if you’re worried about fitting in, consider our intercultural support programme.
How do we manage before our furniture arrives?
Sea freight takes weeks or months, depending on where you are coming from. This means your belongings are going to be out on the ocean for a while. You can use our global shipment tracker to find out where they are at any time. If you have small, important items, consider bringing them with you on the plane.
Outdoor gear, garden tools, wooden items and anything carrying soil or seeds will get flagged as possible biosecurity risks by the Ministry for Primary Industries. Make sure to clean these before packing, and declare them in all the relevant paperwork.
Once you arrive, we can help you find somewhere furnished to stay temporarily while you search for a place to call home. If your shipment is still taking its time once you’ve found a more permanent home, we can provide rental furniture until it arrives. On the other hand, if the container arrives before you’ve found somewhere to settle, we can store it safely in our Christchurch warehouse.
Christchurch Moving Company Reviews
FAQs for Moving to Christchurch
It depends on how much you ship, how it’s packed, access at both ends, where in Canterbury you’re going and how quickly you need it. Sea freight is cheaper than air but slower, and storage, insurance, pet and vehicle transport are priced separately. The only accurate figure is a written quote from a free survey, in person or by video.
Get your survey done early, decide what to ship or replace, clean anything that’s been outdoors, and sort your visa paperwork. Start pet and vehicle processes early, as they run to their own timelines. If you have children, pick the school first and contact it before you arrive; enrolment needs a permanent address. If buying, check the land’s technical category.
Yes. Once your belongings are packed and loaded, you can follow their progress through Crown’s shipment tracking system, from your overseas address through to arrival in New Zealand and delivery in Christchurch. Your move manager will also let you know if anything changes along the way.
The biggest factors are how you ship, where from, how quickly your goods clear customs and MPI, and whether your Christchurch home is ready. Air is faster than sea, a shared container waits until it’s full before it leaves, and the shipping line decides which port your container comes in through; if it isn’t the nearest one, there’s a road leg once your goods clear. Ports slow down over Christmas and New Year, and summer is Canterbury’s busiest moving season, so delivery slots book up faster. Complete paperwork and clean ski, tramping and garden gear keep customs and MPI clearance short.
Locally, a steep hill-suburb driveway, a new-subdivision street still being built out or a long rural drive in Selwyn or Waimakariri can change the vehicle we send; our access check catches this early. If your home isn’t ready, your goods wait in our Christchurch storage, and redelivery needs seven working days’ notice. Your move manager gives you a shipping estimate with your quote and keeps you updated as each stage clears.
We hold them in our secure Christchurch facility until you’re ready for delivery. If you know you’ll need storage, it can be included in your quote; otherwise it can be arranged and billed separately when the time comes. Storage is weekly with no fixed term, and we ask for seven working days’ notice before delivery.
Anything that’s been outdoors or is made of wood or cane: ski and tramping gear, bikes, BBQs, garden tools, lawnmowers, outdoor furniture and camping equipment. Clean them with soap and warm water and declare them on your inventory; MPI inspects them on arrival, and anything still dirty is treated at your cost or destroyed. Some foods are prohibited altogether.
Beyond the move itself, our Christchurch team can arrange home find and school search, storage, pet transport, vehicle shipping, transit insurance, utility connections, and a range of additional services such as sending money overseas. Contact our Christchurch branch with any questions about your move.
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Ready to Make Christchurch Home?
Tell us where you’re moving from and what you’re bringing, and our team will take it from there. Get a quote today, or contact our Christchurch branch with any questions about the move.
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