Christchurch, New Zealand — History and Culture
The Christchurch area was first settled by moa-hunting tribes. Maori oral history relates that humans began living in the area around AD1000. These first inhabitants 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. Although there were European settlers from the 1830s, the first English settlers to Lyttelton Harbour arrived in December 1850. Christchurch became a city by Royal Charter on 31 July 1856, making it the oldest city in New Zealand. The country's first public railway line was opened from Ferrymead to Christchurch a few years later in 1863.
