Editing Canterbury Region (section)

==Sport==
{{further|Sport in Christchurch}}
[[File:Mount Hutt 912.jpg|thumb|Skiing at [[Mount Hutt]]]]
Sport in Canterbury has developed from the time of the initial settlement by British migrants, and remains an important part of community life. [[Cricket]] and [[rugby union]] have been popular team sports since the early years of settlement, with the first cricket club established in Christchurch in 1851, and the first rugby club in 1863. Interest in organised sports has diversified and now includes a wide range of codes.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wilson |first=John |date=6 July 2015 |title=Canterbury Region – Sport and leisure |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/canterbury-region/page-16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615024331/https://teara.govt.nz/en/canterbury-region/page-16 |archive-date=15 June 2024 |access-date=4 July 2024 |website=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]]}}</ref> In 2022, the top five sporting codes in Canterbury based on club membership were [[netball]], [[touch rugby]], rugby union, [[golf]] and cricket.<ref name="sportreport">{{Cite web |title=2022 Sport Report |url=https://www.sportcanterbury.org.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=db08f97f-a4bd-4224-a09e-6cdbdad79ebf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712032512/https://www.sportcanterbury.org.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=db08f97f-a4bd-4224-a09e-6cdbdad79ebf |archive-date=12 July 2024 |access-date=7 July 2024 |website=Sport Canterbury}}</ref>

There are around 1,200 sports clubs and associations in Christchurch,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sports associations |url=https://ccc.govt.nz/rec-and-sport/sports-grounds/sports-associations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510193037/https://www.ccc.govt.nz/rec-and-sport/sports-grounds/sports-associations |archive-date=10 May 2024 |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=[[Christchurch City Council]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> and in 2022 there were 140,000 affiliated members.<ref name="sportreport" /> Most of the sporting codes remain amateur, and rely upon volunteers as administrators and officials.{{Sfn|Wilson|2013|p=293}} However, there are some professional teams. Notable teams representing Christchurch or the Canterbury Region include the [[Mainland Tactix]] (netball), [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]] (rugby) and the [[Canterbury cricket team|Canterbury Kings]] (cricket).

The Crusaders, who play in the [[Super Rugby]] competition, are based in Christchurch. They represent Canterbury and other provinces of the upper South Island. They were formerly known as the ''Canterbury Crusaders''. In provincial rugby, Canterbury is represented by three unions; [[Canterbury Rugby Football Union|Canterbury]], [[Mid Canterbury Rugby Football Union|Mid Canterbury]] and [[South Canterbury Rugby Football Union|South Canterbury]]. For historical reasons, players from Kaikōura District still play for the Marlborough Rugby Union, which is part of the Tasman Provincial team (Nelson/Marlborough Unions combined). Other sporting teams include the [[Mainland Tactix]] (netball), [[Canterbury United FC]] (football) and [[Canterbury Rams]] (basketball).

Christchurch has hosted many international competitions including championship events. A particularly notable international event was the [[1974 Commonwealth Games]].

There are many outdoor sportsgrounds and a variety of indoor venues. [[Christchurch City Council]] maintains 110 sportsgrounds across Christchurch City and [[Banks Peninsula]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sports grounds and stadiums |url=https://ccc.govt.nz/rec-and-sport/sports-grounds |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520221515/https://ccc.govt.nz/rec-and-sport/sports-grounds |archive-date=20 May 2024 |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=[[Christchurch City Council]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> The sports venues [[Lancaster Park]] and [[Queen Elizabeth II Park]] were damaged beyond repair in the [[2011 Christchurch earthquake]], and were demolished.{{Sfn|Wilson|2013|p=305}}  New facilities built to replace those damaged in the earthquake include the [[Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lewis |first=Oliver |last2=Hayward |first2=Michael |date=21 October 2018 |title=Athletics track opening a milestone for Ngā Puna Wai sports hub |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/107998371/athletics-track-opening-a-milestone-for-ng-puna-wai-sports-hub |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802143309/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/107998371/athletics-track-opening-a-milestone-for-ng-puna-wai-sports-hub |archive-date=2 August 2020 |access-date=12 July 2024 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]}}</ref> the [[Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre]] — an aquatic and indoor sports venue scheduled to open in 2025,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-24 |title=Troubled sports facility slowly taking shape |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-south-today/troubled-sports-facility-slowly-taking-shape |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310155032/https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-south-today/troubled-sports-facility-slowly-taking-shape |archive-date=10 March 2024 |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=[[Otago Daily Times]] |language=en}}</ref> and a [[Multi-purpose stadium|multi–purpose covered stadium]] [[Te Kaha (stadium)|''Te Kaha'']] seating 30,000 spectators that is expected to be complete by April 2026.<ref>{{cite news |date=4 July 2024 |title=One New Zealand gets naming rights for new $683m Christchurch stadium |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/521262/one-new-zealand-gets-naming-rights-for-new-683m-christchurch-stadium |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240704053957/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/521262/one-new-zealand-gets-naming-rights-for-new-683m-christchurch-stadium |archive-date=4 July 2024 |access-date=4 July 2024 |work=[[RNZ]]}}</ref>