|
Maori oral history suggests that people first inhabited the Canterbury area about a thousand years ago.
These first inhabitants were moa-hunting tribes and these were followed by the Waitaha who are thought to have migrated from the east coast of the North Island in the 16th century. This migration was joined by the Ngati Mamoe and Ngai Tahu and continued until about 1830.
The first European landed in Canterbury in 1815, 45 years after Captain James Cook sighted what he named 'Banks Island', later found to be a peninsula.
In 1840 the first Europeans settled on the plains and whaling ships were operating out of Lyttelton by 1850.
During 1850-1851 the first organised groups of English settlers, the founders of Christchurch, arrived on the 'first four ships' into Lyttelton Harbour.
Christchurch became a city by Royal Charter on July 31, 1856, making it officially the oldest established city in New Zealand.
In 1893 New Zealand women achieved a first in the world when they won the right to vote. This significant event was honoured in 1993 when the Kate Sheppard memorial, a commemoration to Women's Suffrage was unveiled on 19th September 1993.
Canterbury's economy was built on primary products and Canterbury has long been recognised as living 'off the sheep's back'. Although its economic beginnings were in refrigerated sheep and dairy meats and in other dairy products, Canterbury now has a diversified regional economy with growth across a range of 'new economy' sectors.
Statistics and Demographics Facts, statistics and figures about Christchurch City.
- Location
Latitude: 43° 31 Mins, 48 Secs South
Longitude: 172° 37 Mins, 13 Secs East.
East Coast, South Island, New Zealand
Area: Christchurch City: 45,240 Hectares
- Climate
Temperature:
Mean Daily Maximum: Jan 22.5 °C, July 11.3 °C
Mean Temperature: 12.1°C
Mean Daily Minimum: Jan 12.2°C, July 1.9°C
Mean Annual Maximum: 32°C
Mean Annual Minimum: -4°C
- Sunshine
Mean average bright sunshine: 2,100 hours per annum
- Rainfall
Average rain days: 1mm or more; 85 per annum, Average annual rainfall: 648 mm
- Frost
Average days of screen frost (minimum air temperature less than 0°C) 36 days per annum
- Wind
Average number of days with gusts reaching 63 km/h or more: 54 per annum
- Relative Humidity
Average Relative Humidity: January: 3am 83%; 3pm 57%; July: 3am 88%; 3pm 70%
- Population
New Zealand's resident population is approximately 4 million. The population of Christchurch is estimated to be 344,100 (June 2004)
- Ethnic Groups
- European: 275,085 (83%)
- NZ Maori: 21,960 (7%)
- Pacific Island: 7,617 (2%)
- Asian: 17,535 (5%)
- Other: 2,046 (1%)
- Not Specified: 8,883 (3%)
- Employment
Total number of employees in 2004: 168,590. Manufacturing 17%, Retail Trade, Accommodation, Cafes and Restaurants 20.1%, Property and Business Services 12.3%, Health and Community Services 12.5%, Other 38.1%. (Source: Statistics New Zealand Business Frame Update 2004).
|
