Story: Canterbury region

Big skies, braided rivers, vast plains and snow-capped mountains: Canterbury has beauty and drama in all directions. At its heart lies Christchurch, with a settled charm and lively cultural scene that was disrupted in 2010 and 2011, when the region experienced a swarm of earthquakes that redefined its physical and cultural landscape.

Story by John Wilson
Main image: Canterbury farmland and mountains

Story summary

All images & media in this story

Canterbury lies halfway down the South Island, on the eastern side. Sheep farming was important in its history, and there are still small country towns. The main centre, Christchurch, is New Zealand’s third largest urban area.

Landscape

From the air, the Canterbury Plains form a patchwork of neatly laid-out farms. This gently sloping land stretches from the coast to the foothills of the Southern Alps. By car, you head towards these snowy peaks along straight roads that seem to go on for ever.

The Waimakariri, Rakaia and Rangitātā rivers flow from the mountains and across the plains, where they divide into shallow braids.

The coastline has open beaches, and there are smaller bays on Banks Peninsula.

Climate

Canterbury is one of the country’s driest regions, with frosts in winter, and snow in the high country. On summer days there is sometimes a hot, dry nor’west wind, and a high arch of clouds in the sky – the nor’west arch.

The Ngāi Tahu people

Ngāi Tahu and earlier tribes lived mainly where there was food – by the sea and at Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere), which had lots of eels.

The government bought much of their territory in 1848, but broke its promise to keep enough land for them. The tribe was finally compensated in 1997.

Early settlers

The London-based Canterbury Association aimed to recreate English rural society in Canterbury. From 1850, they sent out different classes of people – from rich landowners and farmers to shepherds and servants.

Sheep farming

The settlers set up large sheep farms on the plains and in the hill country. Some farmers became rich exporting wool and meat (especially ‘Canterbury lamb’). Near the end of the 19th century these runs were divided into smaller farms. Country and town people get together on Christchurch’s annual Show Day in November.

Christchurch

Christchurch, ‘the garden city’, has tree-lined streets, the winding Avon River / Ōtākaro, some splendid old buildings that survived the earthquakes, and thousands of cyclists. Creative New Zealanders have worked there – including artists W. A. Sutton and Doris Lusk, poets Ursula Bethell and Denis Glover, and novelist–theatre director Ngaio Marsh. The city has always had plenty of choirs and brass bands. There are many other cultural activities, arts and crafts, and festivals. And wine-tasting, hiking, fishing, skiing and mountaineering are all within easy reach.

Canterbury is also an important rugby region. The red-and-black Crusaders team have won many more Super Rugby competitions than any other franchise.

Earthquakes

On 4 September 2010 Canterbury was affected by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake. No one died, but buildings in Christchurch were damaged. On 22 February 2011 a magnitude 6.3 earthquake caused 185 deaths and major damage to property. Thousands of people were made homeless. The region was further affected by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake which struck on 14 November 2016. Two people lost their lives. The damage was most significant in the north of the region and neighbouring Marlborough.

How to cite this page:

John Wilson, 'Canterbury region', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/canterbury-region (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by John Wilson, published 14 September 2006, reviewed & revised 6 July 2015