A large crowd attended, including some in traditional costumes, and enjoyed the setting and entertainment.

Governor-General Sir Michael Hardie Boys officially opened the gardens.

Other speakers included Mayor Garry Moore; the chairman of the Turning Point 2000 Trust Board, Ian Leggat, and officials from Christchurch’s sister cities.

The seven gardens represent the sister cities — Adelaide, Australia; Christchurch, England; Gansu Province, China; Kurashiki, Japan; Seattle, USA; Songpa Gu, Korea — and a Canterbury native plant garden.

Features include plants of the countries the plants represent, traditional sculptures and carvings.

The gardens were developed by Gardens 2000, one of 14 advisory groups of Turning Point 2000, set up to co-ordinate events and projects for the new millennium and the 150th anniversary of the founding of Canterbury.

Halswell Quarry Park is open daily: 7am to up to 9pm in summer and 7am to approximately 6pm in winter — the park closes half an hour before sunset.

Related links: Sister Cities website, Sister Cities' Gardens, Garden Parks of Christchurch

Flags representing each of the countries involved were raised for the day.	Ye Ji Lee and her family, of Christchurch, came to the opening in traditional Korean dress.
Ian Leggat (left), John Taylor, chairman of the Sister Cities’ Gardens working group and Mayor Garry Moore.	A statue in the Songpa Gu garden.