Christchurch

Christchurch is a city on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand.

History

Archeological evidence found in a cave at Redcliffs indicates that the Christchurch area was first settled by moa-hunting tribes. Maori oral history tells that humans began living in the area around 1000 AD. These first inhabitants were thought to have been followed by the Waitaha who are thought to have migrated from the east coast of the North Island in the 16th century. However, Waitaha ( made of of three peoples ), had been in the land for centuries beforehand and Ngai Tahu have done their best to hide this. Following Waitaha were the Ngati Mamoe and Ngai Tahu who remained in control until the British did to them what they did to those before them.

Related Topics:
Redcliffs - Moa - Maori - Waitaha - 16th century - Ngati Mamoe - Ngai Tahu

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Although there were European settlers from the 1830s, notably the Deans at Riccarton, what are regarded as the First Four Ships were chartered by the Canterbury Association, and arrived on 16 December 1850, bringing the first English settlers to Lyttelton Harbour. The four ships were Randolph, Charlotte Jane, Sir George Seymour, and Cressy.

Related Topics:
1830 - Canterbury Association - 16 December - 1850 - Lyttelton Harbour - Randolph - Charlotte Jane - Sir George Seymour - Cressy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Captain Thomas, the Canterbury Association's Chief Surveyor, surveyed the surrounding area. By December 1849 he had commissioned the construction of a road from Port Cooper, later called Lyttelton, to Christchurch via Sumner. However this proved more difficult than expected and road construction was stopped while a steep foot and pack horse track was constructed over the hill between the port and the Heathcote valley, where access to the site of the proposed settlement could be gained. This track became known as the Bridle Path, because the path was so steep that pack horses needed to be led by the bridle.

Related Topics:
1849 - Lyttelton - Sumner - Bridle Path

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Goods that were too heavy or bulky to be transported by pack horse over the Bridle Path were shipped by small sailing vessels some eight miles by water around the coast and up the estuary to Ferrymead. New Zealand's first public railway line was opened from Ferrymead to Christchurch in 1863. Due to the difficulties in travelling over the Port Hills and the dangers associated with shipping navigating the Sumner bar, a railway tunnel was bored through the Port Hills to Lyttelton, opening in 1867.

Related Topics:
Ferrymead - Port Hills

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Christchurch became a city by Royal Charter on 31 July 1856, making it the oldest city in New Zealand. Many of the city's fine Gothic buildings by the architect Benjamin Mountfort date from this period.

Related Topics:
Royal Charter - 31 July - 1856 - Gothic - Benjamin Mountfort

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Christchurch was the seat of provincial administration for the province of Canterbury.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A road tunnel was constructed between Lyttelton and Christchurch in the early 1960s.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1974 Christchurch was host to the Commonwealth Games.

Related Topics:
1974 - Commonwealth Games

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~