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Jan 1, 1000
First people of Christchurch
The first people to live in Canterbury were Moa hunters. The hunters cleared large areas of native forest quickly killing off the moa. -
Jan 1, 1450
Moa become extinct
The moa quickly became extinct due to the high demand of Moa hunters in the Canterbury region. -
First Canterbury sighting
James Cook first sighted Canterbury from his ship the Endevour. He thought it was an island so named it Banks island after Joseph Banks the ships botanist. -
First Canterbury school
Canterburys first offical school opened in Lyttelton by the reverened Henry Jacobs. -
Canterburys first anniversary
On the 16th of December 1851 Canterburys first ever anniversary was celebrated. -
Canterburys first super intendant
Under the new provincial system Canterburys first super intendent was James Edwards Fitzgerald. -
First city
In 1856 Christchurch became New Zealands first city under the terms of a royal charter. -
Road connecting Christchurch and Lyttelton complete
On 24 of August Fitzgerald was the first person to drive over the road that now connected Christchurch and Lyttelton. -
First railway tunnel open
In 1867 the railway tunnel that now connected Lyttelton and Christchurch opened. It was opened and was then New Zealands first railway tunnel. -
First telephone exchange in NZ
In 1881 New Zealands first ever telephone exchange opened in Christchurch. -
Canterbury frozen meat company set up
In 1882 Canterburys first ever freezing works was set up. -
Spire of Cathedral damaged
In 1888 after anothe rearthquake Christchurchs cathedrals spire was damaged in an earthquake for the second time. -
Canterburys Jubilee
In 1900 Canterbury celebrated its first jubilee of 50 years.