The first inhabitants were the moa-hunting tribes, followed by the Waitaha who migrated into the area in the 1600's. Captain Cook sighted Banks Peninsula in 1870 and the first Europeans arrived in 1815 and an active whaling community operated from Lyttelton during the 1850's which developed into a steady migration of English settlers. Nearly 800 settlers arrived on the first four ships and four oak trees have been planted in Cathedral Square to commemorate their arrival..
Christchurch was given its Royal Charter on July 31, 1856.

The Dean brothers arrived in 1843 and their farm 'Riccarton' survives today and an interesting place to visit.

The early economy was agricultural and livestock particularly sheep and now is a diversified regional economy. Many of the original buildings have been demolished but some remain that can be viewed.