WELCOME TO PAWNEE: The map on a spoof website for the Parks and Recreation sitcom might look familiar to Cantabrians.

A slice of central Christchurch is living within a satirical US sitcom.

One of the biggest television networks in the United States has borrowed the map of Christchurch, wiped out the street names, added in a few extra toilet blocks and brought to life the city of Pawnee.

Pawnee is a fictional city in Indiana where the popular NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation is set.

Tucked away on a website dedicated to Pawnee is the city's fabricated "Summer Catalogue", which includes the Pawnee Parks Map.

This map will look familiar to Cantabrians as it is a direct replica of a portion of Christchurch's inner city - stretching from half-way through Hagley Park to Madras St, including Bealey and Moorhouse avenues.

The layout of Pawnee's streets, the size of its park and the placement of its rivers are near identical to the Christchurch map.

But, Christchurch Hospital has been transformed into St Joseph's Medical Centre.

Christ's College has been re-named Pawnee Community College. The central Orion site has been replaced with Pawnee City Hall. The Avon River is now Pawnee Creek.

And, there is a petting zoo in North Hagley Park, or North Ramsett Park as it is known in Pawnee.

While Christchurch sells itself as "The Garden City", according to the City of Pawnee website, it has adopted such slogans as "The Factory Fire Capital of America" and "First in Friendship; Fourth in obesity".

The website claims "growth in Pawnee is slow and steady" and the city is good for those looking to get away from crowds.

The City of Pawnee website links back to the official NBC site.

Parks and Recreation made its debut in 2009 and is airing its sixth series. In New Zealand it airs on Four at 8pm on Monday.

The sitcom uses a single-camera, mockumentary filming style to showcase the antics of local Government officials.