Despite sensor research starting in New Zealand only relatively recently this was the Second New Zealand Symposium on Biosensors and Chemical Sensors. It took part in the university city of Christchurch in the South Island. Christchurch, with 307,000 people, is the South Island's largest city and the third largest in NZ. Christchurch is a charming, flat city of traditional English architecture mixed with modem buildings. It is often called the Garden City of NZ, because of its many parks, reserves, trees and flowers. Almost every house has its own colourful garden and the people take great pride in keeping their gardens beautiful.