11 Jun 2025

North Island's loss, Christchurch's gain?

From Nights, 8:10 pm on 11 June 2025

According to the latest census figures, more people moved from north to south than the other way around in the period between 2018 and 2023 - and most of them landed in Canterbury. 

Most northerners would agree that the South is indeed a beautiful place, but isn't it colder? Quieter? A nice place to visit, sure, but to live? Is the shiny new Christchurch the city of the future?

Alex Casey, senior writer at The Spinoff, is a former Aucklander who made the move to Ōtautahi Christchurch about two and a half years ago and is now an unofficial ambassador for our largest southern city.

She joins Emile Donovan.

Inside the new Court Theatre in Christchurch.

The opening of the new Court Theatre in Christchurch. Photo: Supplied / Court Theatre