Canterbury History By mcarther13 Feb 12, 1642 Able Tasman becomes first European to find the North Island (‘Statenland’), 1642 Feb 12, 1769 Captain Cook mapped the whole of Aotearoa in series of 3 voyages, 1769-1777 Feb 12, 1777 Captain Cook mapped the whole of Aotearoa in series of 3 voyages, 1769-1777 Feb 12, 1791 First whaling ship in NZ 1791 Feb 12, 1815 Europeans first landed in Canterbury 1815 Feb 12, 1839 New Zealand Company founded with aim to create English colonies in NZ, 1839 Feb 6, 1840 Treaty of Waitangi signed 6 Feb 1840 Feb 12, 1848 Canterbury Association first founded Dec 1, 1850 The Randolph anchored in Lyttleton Dec 16, 1850 The Charlotte Jane anchored at Lyttleton Dec 17, 1850 Sir George Seymour anchored in Lyttleton Dec 27, 1850 The Cressy arrived in Lyttleton Jul 31, 1856 Christchurch became a city by royal charter on july 31, 1856 Feb 12, 1893 Womens rights to vote ( first in the world ) Feb 12, 1993 Kate Sheppard memorial 1993