1250 CE. Archeological evidence found in a cave at Redcliffs in 1876 has indicated that the Christchurch area was first settled by moa-hunting tribes
16th century. These first inhabitants were thought to have been followed by the Waitaha tribe, who are said to have migrated from the East coast of the North Island in the following tribal warfare, the Waitaha (made of three peoples) were dispossessed by the Ngati Mamoe tribe. They were in turn subjugated by the Ngāi Tahu tribe, who remained in control until the arrival of European settlers.
1827-1840 purchase of land at Putaringamotu (modern Riccarton) by the Weller brothers, whalers of Otago and Sydney,
1840. a party of European settlers led by Herriott and McGillivray established themselves in what is now Christchurch, Their abandoned holdings were taken over by the
16 December 1850 The First Four Ships were chartered by the Canterbury Association and brought the first 792 of the Canterbury Pilgrims to Lyttelton Harbour. These sailing vessels were the Randolph, Charlotte Jane, Sir George Seymour, and Cressy. The Charlotte Jane was the first to arrive on . The Canterbury Pilgrims had aspirations of building a city around a cathedral and college, on the model of Christ Church in Oxford.
27 March 1848. The name "Christ Church" was decided prior to the ships' arrival, at the Association's first meeting, The exact basis for the name is not known. It has been suggested that it is named for Christchurch, in Dorset, England; for Canterbury Cathedral; or in honour of Christ Church, Oxford. The last explanation is the one generally accepted.. Captain Joseph Thomas, the Canterbury Association's Chief Surveyor, surveyed the surrounding area.
December 1849 he had commissioned the construction of a road from Port Cooper, later 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. 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 (13 km) by water around the coast and up the estuary to Ferrymead. New Zealand's first public railway line, 27 March 1848. the Ferrymead railway, opened from Ferrymead to Christchurch. Due to the difficulties in travelling over the Port Hills and the dangers associated with shipping navigating the Sumner bar,
31 July 1856, Christchurch became a city by Royal Charter the first in New Zealand. Many of the city's Gothic Revival buildings by architect Benjamin Mountfort date from this period.
1876. Province of Canterbury, which was abolished.
1947, New Zealand's worst fire disaster occurred at Ballantyne's Department Store in the inner city, with 41 people killed in a blaze which razed the rambling collection of buildings.
1964 The Lyttelton road tunnel between Lyttelton and Christchurch was opened.
1974 Christchurch hosted the 1974 British Commonwealth Games.
