Canterbury's History By sheenapeng Jan 10, 1000 The first people to live in the place now known as Christchurch were Moa Hunters before they became extinct. Period: Jan 10, 1000 to Nov 11, 1900 Canterbury History Feb 16, 1770 Captain James Cook in his ship first sighted the Canterbury Peninsula. Apr 14, 1815 sailors from the Governor Bligh landed that Europeans first set foot on Banks Peninsula. May 18, 1840 Major Thomas Bunbury arrived on the HMS Herald to collect the signatures of the Ngāi Tahu chiefs for the Treaty of Waitangi. Aug 11, 1843 First house on the Canterbury Plains, Riccarton built by the Deans brothers.