Story: Canterbury region

Sheep farming

Market gardening

Irrigation channels

Country towns

Breaking up the large estates

The spread of the family farm was hastened by the breaking up of large freehold estates between 1890 and 1914. The Liberal government acquired estates for farm settlements, and some owners subdivided their land privately.

By the time of the First World War, the family farm of between 320 and 640 acres (130 and 260 hectares) was the norm on the plains. After the Second World War, some large properties were cut up by the government for returned servicemen.

Farming in the 20th century

Between the world wars, farm mechanisation, the use of lime, and improved seed, raised farm productivity. There was even greater progress in the 1950s and 1960s. ‘Canterbury lamb’ remained one of the region’s major products.

In 2002, sheep numbers reached 4,931,565. But this represented only 12.5% of the national flock, compared with 21.7% in 1885.

The region also remained ‘the granary of New Zealand’. In 2002, 60.7% of the country’s wheat, 51.1% of the barley and 43.7% of the oats were grown in north and mid-Canterbury. The Ashburton district alone produced 45.3% of the country’s wheat.

Orchards, market gardens and vineyards

Today, on small holdings, especially around Christchurch, farmers grow vegetables and fruit, and raise poultry. Apple and other fruit orchards have been planted in the sun-trap valleys of the Port Hills and at Loburn. Some Ellesmere farmers grow vegetables for freezing in a plant near Hornby.

The region’s first grapevines were planted by Akaroa’s French settlers in the 1840s. After the first large vineyard was planted near Christchurch in the 1970s, grape-growing expanded at Waipara and Burnham, but the region produces far less wine than Marlborough.

In 2002, north and mid-Canterbury had 8.8% of the land used in New Zealand for horticultural crops.

Irrigation

Large-scale irrigation of the Canterbury Plains came only after the Rangitātā diversion race was completed in 1945. This drew water from the Rangitātā River and snaked across the upper plains to the Rakaia River. Three major irrigation schemes are supplied by the race.

Construction of a major irrigation scheme in the Amuri district began in 1977. Water flowed into the main race from the Waiau River in 1980. The smaller Balmoral scheme, with an intake on the Hurunui River, was begun in 1981. Farmers outside the schemes sank bores and used spray equipment.

In 2002 the 188,170 hectares of irrigated land in the region was almost half the total area of irrigated land in New Zealand. Much of the expansion occurred after 1985, despite the removal of government subsidies for irrigation.

The impact of dairying

With irrigation, dairying expanded quickly in the 1990s. North Island dairy farmers were attracted south by cheaper land. Effluent and heavy use of water from aquifers caused environmental problems.

Socially, different work routines disrupted traditional patterns of community life. Long-established families sold up, and share-milking increased the movement of families in and out of districts.

Despite the growth in dairying, in 2002 the greater Canterbury region still had only 7.7% of all dairy cows in the country.

Rural towns

In the 19th century, small townships had developed as rural service centres. Besides shops and stock and station agencies, they had churches, schools and public halls. Even in their heyday, few of these towns had more than 1,000 inhabitants.

After the First World War, country people began driving to Rangiora, Ashburton or Christchurch to shop. Some villages disappeared, leaving only a church or hall. Country schools, hospitals, banks and post offices closed, and hotels became taverns.

A few settlements grew because they were within commuting range of Christchurch. Hanmer and Akaroa became popular for holiday homes and retirement and, like Methven, with tourists.