Christchurch recognized as one of the happiest cities in the world
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Christchurch recognized as one of the happiest cities in the world

This city in New Zealand has been voted one of the happiest cities in the world. Photo/Getty Images

It’s not just a city – it’s a center of happiness waiting to be discovered.

Christchurch was recently named New Zealand’s happiest city in the Happy City Index 2024, an annual survey conducted by London’s Quality of Life Institute.

Garden City was the only city in New Zealand to feature in the Top 37 Happy City Index 2024, ranking 32nd in the gold category.

Read more: I visited Christchurch for the first time in 20 years – should I be concerned?

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Christchurch is considered one of the happiest places on earth.  Photo / ChristchurchNZ
Christchurch is considered one of the happiest places on earth. Photo / ChristchurchNZ

The Happy City 2024 Index of the Quality of Life Institute is a prestigious index assessing the standard of living around the world, focusing on cities for which happiness and well-being are a priority.

This year, the index took into account several key factors: education, inclusive policies, economic vitality, mobility, environmental protection, access to green spaces and innovation.

The Danish “city of smiles”, Aarhus, stayed true to its name and took first place on the list, after Zurich in Switzerland and Berlin in Germany.

Although the top cities are mainly in Europe, three New Zealand cities appear on the list: Christchurch, which ranks 32nd in the world, and Wellington and Auckland, in 50th and 72nd place respectively.

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The popular Christchurch Reddit thread was filled with Christchurch residents sharing their thoughts on the matter.

One user said: “I would agree with that. I lived in Wellington three times as long as I did here, a few months in Sydney and a few months in Auckland. It’s much easier to be happy here (for me).”

Another user said: “Chch is a ‘garden city’ for a reason. What surprised me was being able to see the stars from inside the city, with all the light pollution surrounding it.”

Meanwhile, others expressed differing opinions, with one user joking: “Ok who gets all the happiness, I don’t think I get a fair share.”

Christchurch is a vibrant city that offers a melting pot of attractions: a mix of spectacular art, culture and heritage, delicious food and exciting nightlife, and iconic meeting places. It’s home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the world and probably one of the most relaxing and livable cities in the world.

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger celebrated the achievement, telling Stuff: “It’s all a combination of 13 years of hard work since the earthquakes.”

The city underwent major revitalization after two earthquakes devastated the city and is now a must-visit city in New Zealand.

Christchurch’s position on the Happy City Index not only highlights its achievements, but also sets a benchmark for other cities in New Zealand and beyond.

Discover more of Christchurch by visiting christchurchnz.com.

Visit Christchurch today.  Photo / ChristchurchNZ
Visit Christchurch today. Photo / ChristchurchNZ

  1. Aarhus, Denmark
  2. Zurich, Switzerland
  3. Berlin, Germany
  4. Gothenburg, Sweden
  5. Amsterdam, Netherlands
  6. Helsinki, Finland
  7. Bristol, UK
  8. Copenhagen, Denmark
  9. Geneva, Switzerland
  10. Munich, Germany
  11. Stockholm, Sweden
  12. Rotterdam, Netherlands
  13. Oulu, Finland
  14. Vienna, Austria
  15. Edinburgh, UK
  16. Reykjavik, Iceland
  17. Aalborg, Denmark
  18. Minneapolis, United States
  19. Basel, Switzerland
  20. Alesund, Norway
  21. Brisbane, Australia
  22. Bruges, Belgium
  23. Luxembourg, Luxembourg
  24. Bordeaux, France
  25. Cork, Ireland
  26. Cologne, Germany
  27. Eskilstuna, Sweden
  28. Utrecht, Netherlands
  29. Innsbruck, Austria
  30. Espoo, Finland
  31. Osaka, Japan
  32. Christchurch, New Zealand
  33. London, UK
  34. Singapore, Singapore
  35. Jonkoping, Sweden
  36. Seoul, South Korea
  37. Ottawa, Canada