Chronology

Year

Date/Month

Event

1851

11 February

The Land Office, the first public building erected in Christchurch, opens. It was located on the corner of Oxford Terrace and Worcester Boulevard

1851

June

New Zealand Constitution Act provides for provincial self-government and as a result, the Canterbury Association resolved to cease as of 30 September

1851

20 July

James Edward Fitzgerald(external link) is elected the first Superintendent of the Province of Canterbury

1851 

27 September

The first meeting of the Canterbury Provincial Government took place. Between 1853 and 1876 New Zealand was ruled by a method of government that included elements of a federal system

1853

John Hall is elected to the Canterbury Provincial Council and soon becomes Magistrate

1854

The population of Christchurch is approximately 924

1855

An area of 500 acres was set aside for Hagley Park(external link) and the first trees were planted in 1863. The inner city was defined by four avenues with deciduous trees – oak, lime and chestnut. The new Provincial Government took over the role of the Canterbury Association, a law was passed that stated '…the land commonly known as Hagley Park shall be reserved forever as a public park, and shall be open for the recreation and enjoyment of the public'. Hagley Park was included in the original plans in 1850  by Edward Jollie. These plans are commonly referred to as The Black Maps  

1856

31 July

Christchurch became New Zealand's first City under the terms of a royal charter. This was because it was the 'seat' of a bishop.  The Reverend Henry John Chitty Harper was made a bishop by the Archbishop of Canterbury. For more information visit the Christchurch City Libraries webpage(external link) 

1857

19 June

Complaints reported that the Avon and Heathcote Rivers are becoming clogged with watercress. Canterbury Provincial Government approves £1500 for clearance

1857

24 October

Lyttelton Railway Tunnel advocate William Sefton Moorhouse(external link) is elected as the Province’s second Superintendent and later served a second term from 1866 to 1868 

1859

26 May

The Public Library begins as the Mechanics Institute(external link) in Town Hall

1859

December

Canterbury Provincial Government passes the Canterbury Municipal Ordinance, permitting the formation of local government. This ordinance did not receive the assent of the Governor. A revised ordinance succeeded in March 1861

1860

December

The first town clock and tower arrive – in 147 packages. The clock and iron tower, commissioned by the Canterbury Provincial Government, was not erected as originally planned.  Presented to the City in 1876, it was eventually placed at the corner of High and Manchester Streets in 1897 for Queen Victoria's jubilee. However, in 1930, the Jubliee Clock and Victoria Clock Tower  were moved to its present site in Victoria Street

Year

Date/Month

Event

1862

Christchurch City Council established. Population of Christchurch is about 3000

1862

3 March

The first meeting of the Christchurch Municipal Council took place in the Land Office. John Hall(external link) is elected the first Chairman of the Municipal Council. John Hall later represented Christchurch, Heathcote, Selwyn and Ellesmere in Parliament and in 1879 he was appointed Premier of New Zealand. He retired in 1882 and was awarded a K.C.M.G. He later came out of retirement to accept the Mayoralty of Christchurch in 1906. However, Sir John Hall(external link) did not survive the term of his Mayoralty. He died in Christchurch on June 26, 1907, in his 83rd year

Did you know?
Next time you see the Mayor of Christchurch wearing the Mayoral Chains, look closely and you will see Sir John Hall’s K.C.M.G. hanging in the centre. This was gifted to the Council shortly after Sir John Hall died in 1907 

1862

November

Christchurch Municipal Council is renamed Christchurch City Council by virtue of the Christchurch City Council Ordinance. It was also known as Christchurch Borough Council between June and October 1868 in compliance with the Municipal Corporations Act passed by Parliament in November 1867 

More information on the development of Christchurch(external link) at Christchurch City Libraries website

1863

22 January

John Ollivier (1863–1864) is elected the second Chairman of the Christchurch City Council. According to Rice (1999:41) “The ‘king-maker’ of Canterbury provincial politics, he was a hearty, jolly man, intensely energetic, ready to take the lead in any good cause”

Archives Reference: CCC/ARC/100/2 Christchurch City Council Minute Book 1862-1863, p72

1863

5 March

Samuel Bealey(external link) is elected third Superintendent of Canterbury

1864

9 July

Civic tree planting begins. This is generally regarded as the beginning of the Botanic Gardens. The first tree planted was known as the Albert Edward oak and was planted to mark the wedding of the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, to Princess Alexandra of Denmark. For more information, the Christchurch City Libraries Archives The Burke Manuscript(external link) mentions Mr Enoch Barker and his involvement in the planting of trees in Hagley Park

1864

October

In January 1862 half an acre was purchased on the corner of Cambridge Terrace and Hereford Street. A new building designed by Samuel Farr was selected and the new library(external link) was completed in October 1863

1865

30 January

Isaac Luck(external link) (1865) is elected the third Chairman of the Christchurch City Council. Isaac Luck was a skilled builder. He arrived in Lyttelton on The Steadfast in 1851. He co-designed with his brother-in-law and business partner, Benjamin Woolfield Mountfort, the Canterbury Provincial Council Chambers between 1858–1865

Archives Reference: CCC/ARC/100/3 Christchurch City Council Minute Book 1862–1863, p15

1865

21 November

Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings(external link) in Durham Street completed. The complex of buildings was designed by architect Benjamin Woolfield Mountfort who also designed Canterbury Museum and parts of the Arts Centre (formally the University of Canterbury). The foundation stone for the building was laid on 6 January 1858

1866

The population of Christchurch is now about 6500 with an estimated 65 hotels

1866

15 January

Edward Brenchley Bishop(external link) (1866–1868) is elected the fourth Chairman of the Christchurch City Council. Before emigrating to New Zealand, Edward Bishop worked as a distiller in London for 21 years before immigrating to Canterbury in 1850 onboard The Charlotte Jane with his wife, two sisters and younger brother Fredrick Augustus Bishop. Edward Bishop and his brother owned 100 acres on the Heathcote River. He was a prominent member of the Farmers Club and the Canterbury A & P Association, and was involved with the Canterbury Rifle Volunteers. He was Mayor of Christchurch from 1872–1873

Archives Reference: CCC/ARC/100/3 Christchurch City Council Minute Book 1862–1863, p172

1866

April

Christchurch City Council virtually bankrupt because of a ratepayers protest. Ratepayers withheld the rate payments, some street lights were turned off, Council workers dismissed and night soil collection was cancelled

• For more information, view the Christchurch City Libraries' heritage pages(external link)

1866

21 May

Christchurch City Council abandons the vital city drainage scheme because of its financial state. A large shipment of pipes just arrived from England had to be sold off, thus for the next 20 years, Christchurch earned the reputation as New Zealand’s most polluted city.

• For more information, view the Christchurch City Libraries' heritage pages(external link)

1866

30 May

William Sefton Moorhouse re-elected as Provincial Superintendent. This is his second term in office

1867

6 August

Unveiling of the Statue of John Robert Godley(external link) in Cathedral Square. This was New Zealand’s first public statue

1867

9 December

The Lyttelton Railway Tunnel opens, which was a major accomplishment at the time. It was the first in the world to be drilled through a volcano rim and it was New Zealand’s first tunnel, described at the time as one of the longest in the world

1868

10 January

William Barber Wilson(external link) (1868) is elected the fifth Chairman of the Christchurch City Council. William Wilson was known as a forcible speaker and took a very prominent part in local politics. He was president of the Christchurch Horticultural Society and Chairman of Municipal subcommittees responsible for the first landscaping of the River Avon in 1862 

Archives Reference: CCC/ARC/100/3 Christchurch City Council Minute Book 1862–1863, p372

1868

22 May

William Rolleston(external link) elected as the fourth and last Provincial Superintendent of Canterbury

Did you know?
The four Superintendents of the Canterbury Provincial Council have been remembered in the names of the city’s Four Avenues, previously called the Town Belt

1868

10 June

William Barber Wilson (1868) is elected as the first Mayor of Christchurch. He was the last Chairman of the Council

1868

December

John Anderson(external link) (1868–1869) is elected the second Mayor of Christchurch

1869

Andrew Duncan (1869–1870) is elected third Mayor of Christchurch. Andrew Duncan emigrated to New Zealand as a young man and quickly became a highly respected member of the Christchurch community

1870

James P Jameson (1870–1871) is elected as fourth Mayor of Christchurch

1871

Henry Sawtell (1871–1872) is elected as fifth Mayor of Christchurch

1872

Edward Brenchley Bishop is elected as sixth Mayor of Christchurch (also in office as Chairman in 1866)

1873

27 January

Christchurch Domains Board constituted. Michael B Hart (1873–1874) is elected as seventh Mayor of Christchurch

1876

The population of Christchurch is approximately 12,815 within the Central City and an estimated 10,000 in the surrounding suburbs. Lyttelton had a population of approximately 3224

1876

4 January

First meeting of the Christchurch Drainage Board

1876

29  October

Sydenham Borough Council formed. Henry Thomson (1877-1878) is elected as tenth Mayor of Christchurch.

Did you know?
Elections for Christchurch City Council were held annually. The Councillor’s elected one of their group as Mayor at an annual meeting unlike today where Mayoral position is voted by the public

1876

1 November

Provincial Government abolished(external link). The first Counties Act of 1876 divided the country into 63 counties

James Gapes (1876–1877) is elected as ninth Mayor of Christchurch

1878

Charles Thomas Ick (1878–1880) is elected as eleventh Mayor of Christchurch

1880

James Gapes (1880–1881) is re-elected as Mayor of Christchurch (had previously sat in office in 1877)

Year

Date/Month

Event

1881

 15 October

Lancaster Park opens

“In 1880 the Canterbury Cricket and Athletic Sports Ground Company was formed to provide Christchurch with a large sports field.  This field was named Lancaster Park in 1881. In 1904 control of the park was taken over by the Canterbury Cricket Association and in 1911 by Lancaster Park Ltd., whose name also appears later as the Lancaster Park Board of Control. In 1920 the Victory Park Board(external link) assumed control. In 1998, when Lancaster Park was renamed Jade Stadium, the Victory Park Board was replaced by Jade Stadium Ltd”  

1881

24 November

St Albans Borough Council(external link) formed

“…formed from the old Avon Road District at the suburban nodes of development, which had taken place at what is now Merivale, and at Knightstown, both areas being situated along the main northern arterial routes out of the city. By 1901 the St Albans Borough had a population of 6,607 and covered an area of 1,500 acres. By the turn of the century increasing conflicts with the City Council over fire services, the Christchurch Domains Board, drainage and the city boundary had convinced a majority of St Albans residents that amalgamation with the city was desirable.  In March 1903…along with…Linwood and Sydenham Borough Councils, the St Albans Borough Council was merged with the Christchurch City Council”

1881

George Ruddenklau (1882–1883) is elected as twelfth Mayor of Christchurch

1882

20 January

First drainage pumping station in operation at Bromley, the beginning of New Zealand’s first sewage farm

1882

13 September

Woolston Town Board formed. Woolston and Sumner districts along with Linwood had elected a town board by November 1882, thus breaking with the Heathcote District Road Board

1882

28 October

Linwood Town Board formed. Woolston and Sumner districts along with Linwood had elected a town board by November 1882, thus breaking with the Heathcote District Road Board

1883

20 March

Sumner Town Board’s first meeting. The Sumner Town Board later became the Sumner Borough Council in 1891. Charles P Hulbert (1883–1885) is elected thirteenth Mayor of Christchurch

1883

22 December

Statue of William Moorhouse unveiled in the Botanic Gardens

1885

By 1885 the need for better accommodation for City Council staff could not be put off any longer. When the Council agreed with Mayor C P Hulbert’s suggestion that new offices be built on the Land Office site (corner of Oxford Terrace and Worcester Boulevard), a competition was organised.  Architect Samuel Hurst Seager was declared the winner with his submission Design with Beauty, Build with Truth. Mayor C P Hulbert stated that the present building was “…rat-eaten and rotten” and “the ill health of their officers was caused by foul smells arising in the building.”  The Press, 3 November 1885. Until the February 2011 earthquake this was the home to Our City O-Tautahi(external link). The building suffered extensive damage in the earthquakes

1885

Aaron Ayers (1885–1887) is elected as fourteenth Mayor of Christchurch

1887

10 January

Tramway to New Brighton completed. From 1887 the trams brought city folk to the beach.  New Brighton and the area(external link) was governed by its own borough council from 1896 until 1941

1887

24 March

First purpose-built Christchurch City Council offices open. This building at the corner of Oxford Terrace and Worcester Street was designed by Samuel Hurst Seager. Charles Louisson (1887–1889) is elected fifteenth Mayor of Christchurch

1888

Tramway to Sumner completed

“The work of constructing the extension of the tramway line from the Heathcote Bridge into Sumner is being carried on very rapidly, and it is anticipated that the through line will be ready for traffic about the last week of next month.” Archives Reference: The Press, 7 September 1888

1889

Samuel Manning (1889–1890) is elected as sixteenth Mayor of Christchurch

1890

30 May

Richmond joins Christchurch City. Charles Matthew Gray (1890–1891) is elected seventeenth Mayor of Christchurch

1891

11 May

Sumner(external link) Borough Council formed
William Prudhoe (1891–1892) is elected eighteenth Mayor of Christchurch

Did you know?
In 1891, the first department store in Christchurch to have electric lighting was J Ballantyne & Co.

1892

Eden George (1892–1893) is elected nineteenth Mayor of Christchurch

1893

22 February

Linwood Borough formed. Along with the Woolston and Sumner districts, Linwood had elected a town board by November 1882, thus breaking with the Heathcote District Road Board. In February 1893 the Linwood Town Board became the Linwood Borough Council

1893

27 July

Woolston becomes a Borough. The Woolston Borough Council was constituted in July 1893 in place of the earlier town board set up in September 1882 from the old Heathcote Road District

Thomas Gapes (1893–1894) is elected as twentieth Mayor of Christchurch

1894

February

High pressure water supply system in operation at Sumner. Walter H Cooper (1894-1895) is elected as twenty-first Mayor of Christchurch

1894

Henry Joseph Beswick (1895–1896) is elected as twenty-second Mayor of Christchurch

Did you know?
In 1894 Ernest Rutherford transmits New Zealand’s first radio waves from his basement laboratory at Canterbury University (what is now known as the Arts Centre in central Christchurch)

1895

Walter H Cooper (1896–1897) is elected Mayor of Christchurch

1896

Walter H Cooper (1896–1897) is re-elected Mayor of Christchurch (had previously sat in office in 1895)

1897

14 January

New Brighton is declared a Borough. Council By-law restricts cyclists to a speed of eight miles per hour. Charles Louisson (1897–1899) is re-elected Mayor of Christchurch (had previously sat in office from 1888–1889)

1899

William Reece (1899–1901) is elected twenty-third Mayor of Christchurch

1900

First sealed street (part of Cashel Street) built

Arthur Edgar G. Rhodes (1901–1902) is elected as twenty-fourth Mayor of Christchurch. A leading Christchurch lawyer and philanthropist, he was also a leading figure in the Order of St John and established the first branch of the Red Cross in New Zealand in 1915

Year

Date/Month

Event

1902

Henry Francis Wigram (1902–1904) is elected as twenty-fifth Mayor of Christchurch. According to Rice (1999:64) Henry Wigram is “…chiefly remembered as the father of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, for his pioneering support for the aviation in the First World War and his gift of Sockburn Aerodrome, which became the Wigram Air Force Base.”

1903

22 January

Christchurch Tramway Board holds its first meeting  

1903

1 April

Sydenham, Linwood and St. Albans amalgamate with the City to form Greater Christchurch. Following a poll of ratepayers in favour of amalgamation with the City in January 1903, on 31 March 1903 at the same time as the Linwood and St Albans boroughs merged with Christchurch City, the Sydenham Borough Council was dissolved and replaced with four seats for the area in the new combined City Council

1903

The population of Christchurch was recorded as 57,041 making Christchurch the second largest city in New Zealand

1903

25 May

Statue of Queen Victoria unveiled in Market Square (later renamed Victoria Square)

1903

25 July

Christchurch City Council generates Christchurch’s first public electricity from a generator driven by the Municipal Refuse Destructor. This eventually led to the formation of the Municipal Electricity Department, which was derived from the City Engineer’s Department in 1925

1904

11 November

Christchurch Anglican Cathedral(external link) is completed. Designed by architect George Gilbert Scott, this building is located within the Central City of Christchurch.  Unfortunately, this building suffered extensive damage in the February 2011 earthquakes

Charles Matthew Gray (1904–1905) is re-elected Mayor of Christchurch (had previously sat in office in 1891)

1905

12 February

The Cathedral of The Blessed Sacrament(external link), more commonly referred to as The Catholic Basilica, opens. Designed by Francis William Petre and regarded as one of the finest examples of church architecture in Australasia. Unfortunately due to the February 2011 earthquakes, extensive structural damage has all but demolished this beautiful structure 

Did you know?
Francis William Petre also designed and built the Dux De Lux (corner of Hereford and Montreal Streets). This house was originally built in 1883 for Mr John Lewis who was a Christchurch merchant

1905

6 June

First electric trams in operation in Christchurch

1906

May

Honourable Sir John Hall (1906–1907) is elected as twenty-sixth Mayor of Christchurch. Sir John Hall was the first Council Chairman of the Christchurch City Council and former Premier of New Zealand.

1906

26 May

Statue of William Rolleston(external link) unveiled outside Canterbury Museum

1906

1 November

New Zealand International Exhibition(external link), which was the biggest in the country at the time, opens in Hagley Park from 1 November 1906 to 15 April 1907. It had been a dream of Richard Seddon, Premier of New Zealand from 1893 until his death on 10 June 1906, just a few months before the Exhibition opened and despite the substantial financial loss incurred by the Exhibition, two million visitors attended which exceeded expectations.  New Zealand's total population at the time was less than one million.  

1907

1 April

Beckenham and Fisherton join Christchurch City. Due to the death of the Honourable Sir John Hall, George Payling (1907–1908) is elected as twenty-seventh Mayor of Christchurch. McCormacks Bay causeway is built. At this time it was only for trams but it was later widened for motor traffic

1908

28 November

Work begins on the Summit Road, the first part of Harry Ell’s dream. Harry George Ell(external link) worked tirelessly for the promotion of the Summit Hills preservation as well as many other social and environmental reforms

Charles Allison (1908–1911) is elected as twenty-eighth Mayor of Christchurch

1909

21 June

High-pressure city-wide water supply installed. As Christchurch was situated on a swamp, drainage was a priority(external link) 

1909

Government roading incentive (£10,000 per county) causes the dismemberment of Selwyn County from the Waimakariri to Rakaia Rivers, and the formation of 10 new counties – Waimairi, Paparua, Heathcote, Ellesmere, Malvern, Springs, Wairewa, Akaroa, Mt Herbert and Halswell.  Many of these records have survived since amalgamation with Christchurch City Council and are now part of the Christchurch City Council Archives

1911

1 April

North Linwood is added to Christchurch City Council. Spreydon Borough Council is formed

1911

July

Thomas E Taylor (1911) is elected as twenty-ninth Mayor of Christchurch. Thomas Taylor (also known as Tommy Taylor) became one of New Zealand’s leading prohibitionists and entered Parliament in 1896. He was one of the best public speakers of his day, deeply committed to social reform. Unexpectedly, not long into his Mayoralty Thomas Taylor died suddenly. Approximately 50,000 people braved the cold, wet weather to attend the funeral of the man whose six-week period in office as Mayor is the shortest on record

John Joseph Dougall (1911–1912) is elected thirty Mayor of Christchurch

1912

Henry Holland (1912–1919) is elected as thirty-first Mayor of Christchurch

1913

1 January

Riccarton Borough Council is formed

1914

3 April

North Richmond joins Christchurch City Council

1914

2 November

Riccarton (Deans) Bush is presented to the City by the Dean’s family

1915

May

First electric street lights in operation

1916

2 October

Opawa joins Christchurch City Council

1917

9 February

Statue of Robert Falcon Scott is unveiled opposite the Municipal Council Chambers in Oxford Terrace. It was sculpted by Scott’s widow, Kathleen Scott and purchased from her by the Christchurch City Council

1917

20 March

Avonside and St Martins join Christchurch City Council

1917

May

Mrs Ada Wells(external link) stands as a Labour candidate and becomes the first woman to be elected to the Christchurch City Council. The following Christchurch City Libraries webpage features brief political biographies of Women in the Christchurch City Council: Women in the Council Chamber(external link)

1917

9 June

The Sign of the Kiwi(external link) opens. In 1909 the Summit Road Scenic Reserves Board was formed to promote Harry Ell’s vision(external link) of a road to provide public access to all parts of the Port Hills. The two most significant buildings were The Sign of the Kiwi and The Sign of the Takahe but also included The Sign of the Bellbird and The Packhorse Hut

1918

6 November

Influenza epidemic(external link), which eventually claimed the lives of 466 people in Christchurch

1919

Henry Thomas Joynt Thacker (1919–1923) is elected as thirty-second Mayor of Christchurch. According to Rice (1999:86) “He was a noted footballer and first president of the Canterbury Rugby Football League, and helped train Richard Arnst, who became world champion sculler in 1910. Henry Thacker was MP for Christchurch East (1914–1922) and one of Christchurch’s most colourful Mayors, leading the Port Christchurch campaign.”

1920

13–15 May

Visit of Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII)

Year

Date/Month

Event

1921

1 April

Spreydon Borough joins Christchurch City Council.

1921

1 November

Woolston Borough joins Christchurch City Council.

1922

10 July

Hagley Park and Botanic Gardens included in City.

1923

1 April

Bromley and Papanui join Christchurch City Council.

James Arthur Flesher (1923–1925) is elected as 33rd Mayor of Christchurch

1924

1 September

New Christchurch City Council offices in Manchester Street(external link) open.  Christchurch City Council bought and refurbished the building in 1920, retaining the Oamaru and Mount Somers stone and brick frontage and creating an interior space of more than 3000 sq m over two floors and a basement.

1925

Rev John K Archer (1925–1931) is elected as 34th Mayor of Christchurch. He was New Zealand’s first Labour Mayor. For more information about politics in Canterbury(external link), please visit the Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand website.

1929

14 February

The Christchurch to Lyttelton railway line electrification is completed.

1929

11 December

Edmonds Band Rotunda officially opens.

1930

Majestic Theatre opens. This building is the City’s first steel frame building.

1931

26 February

Bowker Fountain in Victoria Square in operation. Daniel G Sullivan (1931–1936 is elected as 35th Mayor of Christchurch. Daniel Sullivan was a City Councillor 1915–1931. According to Rice (1999:97) he topped the polls four times. He was MP for Avon from 1919 until his death. He resigned from Mayor of Christchurch in 1936 after becoming Minister of Industries and Commerce (1935–1947) and Minister of Railways (1935–1941).

1932

4 May

Christchurch Tramway Strike takes place, one of the bitterest in the City’s history. It lasted 16 days and there were many injuries and arrests among the strikers. The tram sheds were barricaded with barbed wire and the trams were fitted with wire mesh screens over their windows to ward off attacks.

1932

16 June

Robert Ewing McDougall(external link) Art Gallery opens. The gallery was a gift of Robert E McDougall, who in 1928, gifted £25,000 to the Christchurch City Council for its eventual building.

Archives Reference: CCC Archives – Correspondence Files Town Clerk’s Office, Box 54 Series 7, Item 7/3.

1932

10 August

Statue of Captain James Cook unveiled in Victoria Square.

1934

25 June

Death of Henry George (Harry) Ell. The Summit Road scheme was taken over by Harry Ell’s son. In 1942 the Christchurch City Council took over the construction of the Sign of the Takahe and it was completed in 1949.

1935

17 December

City Council decides to buy 230 hectares of land at Harewood for the city airport which was strongly criticised as excessive.

1936

November

Tramway Board introduces diesel buses. John W Beanland (1936-1938) is elected as 36th Mayor of Christchurch.

1937

Widening of McCormacks Bay causeway for motor traffic completed.

1938

26 February

Summit Road opens.

1938

May

Honourable Robert Mafeking MacFarlane (1938–1941) is elected as 37th Mayor of Christchurch and was later knighted in 1975. He served as Mayor of Christchurch twice (1938–1941 and later 1950–1958). During that time he was also MP for Christchurch South 1939–1946 and after war service during the Second World War, he became MP for Christchurch Central.

1939

17 February

New Millers Department Store building (eventually became the fourth Civic Offices) opens. Designed by G. A. J. Hart, the building contained the South Island’s first escalator.

1939

3 March

Statue of James Edward Fitzgerald in Rolleston Avenue is unofficially unveiled. The statue was a gift from R E Green and had been offered to the Christchurch City Council in 1934 and to the Beautifying Association in 1936 but had been declined by both because of legal disputes between Mr Green and his family.  The statue was finally accepted by the Domains Board in 1938 but was never officially unveiled.

1939

6 May

New Municipal Electricity Department building opens.

1939

26 August

Official opening of Christchurch City Council pensioner housing project in Barnett Avenue, Sydenham.  This was the first local body pensioner housing in New Zealand.

1940

April

Herbert Stanley Feast begins 21 years as Town Clerk with the Christchurch City Council.

1940

18 May

Harewood Airport officially opens and was shortly taken over by the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) for the duration of the war.

Year

Date/Month

Event

1941

1 April

Huntsbury and Borough of New Brighton join Christchurch City Council. Sir Ernest Andrews (1941-1950) is elected as the 38th Mayor of Christchurch. Sir Ernest Andrews was a member of the Christchurch City Council from 1919 to 1950 and established the printing firm Andrews Baty Ltd In 1907. According to Rice (1999:109), “He was EPS District Commander during the war and a long-serving member of the Education and Tramway Boards.”

1942

16 December

Construction of the Sign of the Takahe was taken over by the Christchurch City Council.

1943

1 April

St Andrews Hill (Mt Pleasant) joins the city.

1945

1 April

Sumner Borough, McCormacks Bay and Hillsborough join the city.

1946

August

Hagley Park and Botanic Gardens were handed over to the Christchurch City Council by act of Parliament and the Christchurch Domains Board was abolished.

1947

14 May

Mabel Howard (Sydenham) becomes Minister of Health, New Zealand’s first woman Cabinet Minister.

1948

1 October

Christchurch City Council takes over Canterbury Public Library from University of Canterbury.

1949

February

Christchurch City Council Coat of Arms granted armorial bearings. February 21

Sign of the Takahe officially opens.  This marks the completion of the Summit Road developments which Henry George (Harry) Ell began in 1908

1949

1 December

Sir Sydney Holland (Fendalton) becomes Prime Minister of New Zealand.  Sydney Holland was the son of former Christchurch Mayor, Henry Holland (1912-1919).  

1950 

1 December

Kerr’s Reach cutting on the Avon River completed.

1950

16 December

Harewood Airport becomes New Zealand’s first International Airport.

1950

December

Christchurch City Centennial celebrations include an open-air church service in Cathedral Square with over 30,000 people in attendance and a procession watched by over 100,000.

Honourable Robert Mafeking MacFarlane (1950-1958) is re-elected Mayor of Christchurch (previously Mayor of Christchurch 1939-1941).

1953

1 October

Over 3000 hectares of Waimairi (showgrounds area), Heathcote (Bromley area) and Estuary are included in the city.

1954

11 September

Last tram journey in Christchurch.

1955

1 April

Part of the Halswell area joins Christchurch City.

1955

28 May

First parking meters installed.

1955

20 December

First Antarctic flights by USAF Operation Deep Freeze from Christchurch begin.  From time to time a few applications were received requesting permission to reproduce the Coat of Arms for various purposes and the Council’s policy was to deal with the applications based on merit. On few occasions, the Council consented to the reproduction of its Coat of Arms principally for articles in which the Council had quite an interest.  One such occasion was Operation Deepfreeze III in 1957 to Antarctica. Air Transport Squadron 22 of the United States Navy wished to name one of its aircraft ‘City of Christchurch’ and in accordance with tradition wished to use the Coat of Arms. The aircraft was christened in Norfolk, Virginia on 9 September by the British Consul.

1956

8 November

The last trolley bus runs in Christchurch.

1957

15 September

Christchurch City Council grants charter (Freedom of the City) to RNZAF, Wigram.

1957

Blenheim Road and the over bridge are completed.

1958

Sir George Manning (1958-1968) is elected 39th Mayor of Christchurch.

1959

The population of Christchurch reaches 200,000.

1959

26 November

Memorial Avenue (a memorial to airmen killed in World War 2) officially opens.

1960

22 February

A new Airport terminal designed by Paul Pascoe opens.

1960

24 September

Cr A.R. Blank, Chairman of the Waimairi County Council, officially opens Jellie Park.  Jellie Park was, up until 1960, a dairy farm of 26 acres. It was gifted to the Waimairi County Council to be a park named after its donor James Jellie.  More information on the development of Fendalton/Bryndwr area(external link) is on the Christchurch City Libraries website.

Year

Date/Month

Event

1962

21 March

3456th meeting of the Christchurch City Council takes place. Held to celebrate the first 100 years of Local Government in the City

1962

1 April

Mt Pleasant Valley and Cannon Estate join the City from Heathcote.

The first Christchurch City Council district planning scheme becomes operative

1963

1 November

Airport runway extensions begin

1964 

27 Februrary

Lyttelton Road Tunnel opens.  At the time it was New Zealand’s longest tunnel

1964

17 July

Opening of the Government Life Building(external link) in Cathedral Square. It was the city’s first high-rise glass building

1964

28 July

Rolleston Avenue trees cut down by Christchurch City Council despite intense public protest

1964

December

Jellie Park Lido Pool officially opened by the Hon. D.C. Seath, Minister of Internal Affairs

1965

August

Colombo Street/Moorhouse Avenue over bridge officially opens

1965

9 November

The city’s first parking building on the corner of Manchester and Gloucester Streets officially opens

1966

9 August

The first Christchurch City Council urban renewal housing (Airedale Courts) opens

1967

3 April

The re-built Ferrymead Bridge officially opens

1967

October

The first section of Northern Motorway officially opens

1968

26 September

Christchurch City Council given partial control of the Estuary

1968

October

The retirement of Sir George Manning after a total of 34 years working for the Christchurch City Council

1968

Halswell County Council amalgamates with Paparua County Council

Albert Ronald Guthrey (1968-1971) is elected 40th Mayor of Christchurch

1969

June

Mona Vale Estate bought by Christchurch City Council and Riccarton Borough Council

1969

1 November

Ministry of Transport takes over traffic enforcement from Christchurch City Council

1970

2 March

Amid mounting controversy, Christchurch City Council begins construction of road deviation through Hagley Park but the work was stopped on March 7 for legal reasons and the project never went ahead

1971

November

Waimairi County Council adopts New Zealand’s first building insulation by-law

Neville G Pickering (1971–1974) is elected as 41st Mayor of Christchurch

1973 

16 August

The Wizard(external link) (Ian Brackenbury Channel) arrives from Australia for a student arts festival and subsequently becomes a star attraction in the newly re-built Cathedral Square, after winning a battle with the Christchurch City Council over the right to speak in public.

John H Gray becomes the Christchurch City Council General Manager and Town Clerk as the Council introduces corporate management 

1974

29 April

Councillor David Caygill, aged 25, becomes the Christchurch City Council youngest ever Acting Mayor (for five days)

1974

31 August

Prime Minister Norman Kirk dies in Wellington aged 51. In 1953, at the age of 30, he became the Mayor of Kaiapoi, at the time the youngest mayor in the country.  He went on to become MP for both Lyttelton and Sydenham. His son John Kirk was also MP for Sydenham. Norman Kirk became Prime Minister for New Zealand in December 1972, a position he held until his death.

Sir Hamish Hay (1974-1988) is elected as 42nd Mayor of Christchurch

1975

22 March

3,000 joggers take part in the first City-to-surf fun run(external link)

1975

8 May

New Zealand’s first mini roundabout in operation at the corner of Riccarton Road and Deans Avenue

1975

10 May

Vicki Buck becomes the city’s youngest ever Councillor at 19

1977

23 March

The Durham Street overbridge officially opens

1977

25 April

Bridge of Remembrance becomes a pedestrian precinct

1977

2 December

New Zealand’s first closed circuit central city television traffic control system in operation for Christchurch City Council

1979

8 January

First woman bus drivers on Transport Board buses

1979

1 April

Lyttelton Road Tunnel becomes toll-free

1980

26 April

Christchurch City Council gives land at Cuthbert’s Green to the trustees of the new Ngā Hau E Whā National Marae

1980

12November

New Civic Offices (formerly Millers Department Store) is officially open by the Duchess of Kent