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Jan 1, 1000
Moa Hunters
The first inhabitants of Christchurch were Moa Hunters who cleared large areas of forest by fire. -
Jan 1, 1450
Moa becomes extinct
The Moa killed off in about 1450 by Moa Hunters who cleared large areas of forest with fires. -
James Cook
One of the first instances of European contact was when Banks Penisula was sighted by James Cook in his ship "The Endeavour". H e thought it was and island and named it "Banks Island" after the ships botanist Joseph Banks. -
First Europenas
The first Europeans to settle in Banks Penisula were sailors from the ship "Governor Bligh". -
The Treaty of Waitangi
Major Thomas Bunbury arrives on the "HMS Herald" to coleect signatures for the Treaty -
The Cathedral
The Christchurch Cathedral, positioned in the city's centre, was built between 1864 and 1904. -
First Superintendent
Under the new provincial system, Canterbury’s first superintendent was James Edward Fitzgerald. -
The Boom Years
Canterbury’s growing wealth and prosperity during the boom years of 1857-64 had a big effect on the city. During this time the first hospital and theatre were established and many banks had been constucted as well New Zealand's first telegraph and the growing popularity of "The Press" and "The Lyttleton Times". -
Lyttleton Tunnel begins Constuction
Work began on the tunnel when the connection between the port was starting to bcome a problem, but stopped abruptly when harder than expected rock was struck during tunnelling. -
Completion of the Lyttleton Tunnel
Moorhouse brought in a new contractor and work on the tunnel began again, it was completed and officially opened as New Zealand’s first rail tunnel in December 1967.