Editing Canterbury Region (section)

== History ==
{{Main|History of Canterbury Region}}

=== Natural history ===
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2021}}
The land, water, flora, and fauna of Canterbury has a long history, stretching from creation of the greywacke basement rocks that make up the [[Southern Alps]] to the arrival of the first humans. This history is linked to the solidification and development of tectonic plates, the development of oceans and then life itself.

The region is a part of the larger [[Zealandia]] continent, itself a part of the larger Australian and Pacific tectonic plates. In the first instance, the land is based upon the constructive tectonic forces of this convergent and transformational tectonic plate boundary. In the second instance, the erosive forces of rain, snow, ice, and rock grinding against rock have developed large gravel fans that extend out from the mountains. In the third instance, there is volcanism punching through the basement rocks and blanket of sediments to the surface. Upon this solid foundation, and slowly over the billions of years, life made up of a countless generations of interconnected adaptations developed into the unique flora and fauna of Aotearoa/New Zealand. The remnants populations of these unique species are visible today in the publicly protected conservation lands.

The species of Waitaha/Canterbury were adapted to the climate and geography that traverses inland from the coastline to the highest peaks, and from the warmer climes in the north to the colder in the south.

===Before European settlement===
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2021}}
Canterbury has been populated by a succession of [[Māori people]]s over the centuries. When European settlers arrived, it was occupied by [[Ngāi Tahu]], whose numbers had been greatly reduced by warfare, among themselves and with [[Te Rauparaha]] and his [[Ngāti Toa]] from the North Island, in the early 19th century.

=== Colonisation  ===
In 1848, [[Edward Gibbon Wakefield]], a Briton, and [[John Robert Godley]], an [[Anglo-Irish]] aristocrat, founded the [[Canterbury Association]] to establish an [[Church of England|Anglican]] colony in the [[South Island]]. The colony was based upon theories developed by Wakefield while in prison for eloping with a woman not-of-age. Due to ties to the [[University of Oxford]], the Canterbury Association succeeded in raising sufficient funds and recruiting middle-class and upper-class settlers.<ref name="frontierofdreams">John Parker, ''Frontier of Dreams: From Treaty to Nationhood (1830–1913)'', Auckland, NZ: Scholastic (NZ) Ltd, 2005 ({{ISBN|978-1-86943-681-0}}), pp. 58–59</ref> In April 1850, a preliminary group led by Godley landed at Port Cooper – modern-day [[Lyttelton Harbour / Whakaraupō]]<ref>{{LINZ|id=7354|name=Lyttelton Harbour / Whakaraupō|access-date=21 October 2021}}</ref> – and established a port, housing and shops in preparation for the main body of settlers. In December 1850, the first wave of 750 settlers arrived at Lyttelton in a [[First Four Ships|fleet of four ships]].<ref name="frontierofdreams" />

Following 1850, the province's economy developed with the introduction of sheep farming. The Canterbury Region's tussock plains in particular were suitable for extensive sheep farming. Since they were highly valued by settlers for their meat and wool, there were over half a million sheep in the region by the early 1850s. By the 1860s, this figure had risen to three million.<ref name="frontierofdreams" /> During this period, the architect [[Benjamin Mountfort]] designed many civic and ecclesiastical buildings in the [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]] style.

===Canterbury Province===
{{Main|Canterbury Province}}
The [[Canterbury Province]] was formed in 1853 following the passing of the [[New Zealand Constitution Act 1852]]. It was formed from part of [[New Munster Province]] and covered the middle part of the South Island, stretching from the east coast to the west coast. The province was abolished, along with other provinces of New Zealand, when the Abolition of the Provinces Act came into force on 1 November 1876.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Zealand provinces 1848–77 |url=http://rulers.org/newzprov.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203020514/https://rulers.org/newzprov.html |archive-date=February 3, 2012 |website=rulers.org}}</ref> The modern Canterbury Region has slightly different boundaries, particularly in the north, where it includes some districts from the old [[Nelson Province]].

=== 2010–2011 earthquakes ===

==== September 2010 ====
[[File:Worcester corner Manchester.jpg|thumb|Building damage in [[Worcester Street, Christchurch|Worcester Street]], corner Manchester Street, with [[ChristChurch Cathedral, Christchurch|ChristChurch Cathedral]] in the background (September 2010)]]
{{main|2010 Canterbury earthquake}}

A [[Moment magnitude scale|magnitude]] 7.1 earthquake occurred in the region on Saturday 4 September 2010, at 04:35&nbsp;am.<ref>{{citation
 |url= http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/55956/strong-quake-hits-near-christchurch
 |title=Strong quake hits near Christchurch
 |publisher=Radio New Zealand
 |date=4 September 2010
}}</ref> The epicentre was located {{convert|40|km|mi}} west of Christchurch; {{convert|10|km|mi}} south-east of [[Darfield, New Zealand|Darfield]],<ref name="GeoNet">{{Cite web |date=4 September 2010 |title=New Zealand earthquake report – Sep&nbsp;4&nbsp;2010 at 4:35&nbsp;am (NZST) |url= http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/3366146g.html |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100905223314/http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/3366146g.html |archive-date=5 September 2010 |access-date=6 September 2010 |work=[[GeoNet (New Zealand)|GeoNet]] |publisher=[[Earthquake Commission]] and [[GNS Science]]}}</ref> and had a depth of {{convert|10|km|mi}}. The earthquake caused widespread damage to buildings and power outages, but no direct fatalities. Sewers were damaged, gas and water lines were broken, and power to up to 75% of the city was disrupted. Christchurch residents reported chimneys falling in through roofs, cracked ceilings and collapsed brick walls.<ref>{{citation
 |url         = http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4094986/Massive-7-4-quake-hits-South-Island
 |title       = Massive 7.4 quake hits South Island
 |work        = Stuff
 |location    = New Zealand
 |date        = 4 September 2010
|url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100906143324/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4094986/Massive-7-4-quake-hits-South-Island
 |archive-date = 6 September 2010
}}</ref>

A local [[state of emergency]] was declared at 10:16&nbsp;am on 4 September for the city, and evacuations of parts were planned to begin later in the day.<ref name="nz10671050">{{Cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/natural-disasters/news/article.cfm?c_id=68&objectid=10671050 |title=Latest News: Christchurch earthquake|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=4 September 2010|date=5 September 2010}}</ref> People inside the Christchurch city centre were evacuated, and the city's central business district remained closed until 5 September.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Central Christchurch to be evacuated after quake|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/christchurch-earthquake/55956/central-christchurch-to-be-evacuated-after-quake|publisher=[[Radio New Zealand]] |access-date=4 September 2010|date=4 September 2010}}</ref> A curfew from 7&nbsp;pm on 4 September to 7&nbsp;am on 5 September was put in place.<ref name="curfew">{{Cite web |title=Weather the next threat after earthquake |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/4094986/Officers-flown-in-to-protect-Christchurch |date=4 September 2010 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |location=New Zealand |access-date=15 July 2024 }}</ref> The [[New Zealand Army]] was deployed to assist police and enforce the curfew.

There were 63 reported aftershocks in the first 48 hours, with three registering 5.2 magnitude. The total insurance costs of the event were estimated as up to $11&nbsp;billion, according to the New Zealand Treasury.<ref name="Quake Cost">{{Cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/canterbury-earthquake/4105730/Quake-Canterbury-shaken-by-270-aftershocks|title=Canterbury shaken by 240 aftershocks |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |location=New Zealand |date=8 September 2010|access-date=8 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Multiple fatalities in New Zealand earthquake near Christchurch |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/large-quake-hits-new-zealand/story-e6freuy9-1226009964751|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |access-date=22 February 2011|date=22 February 2011}}</ref>

==== February 2011 ====
{{main|February 2011 Christchurch earthquake}}
[[File:Cathedral Square 2402.jpg|thumb|[[ChristChurch Cathedral]] showing the effects of the February 2011 earthquake (tower under demolition)]]
A large aftershock of magnitude 6.3 occurred on {{Nowrap|22 February 2011}} at 12:51&nbsp;pm. It was centred just to the north of Lyttelton, 10 kilometres south-east of Christchurch, at a depth of 5&nbsp;km.<ref name="GeoNet6.3">{{Cite web
 |title       = New Zealand Earthquake Report – Feb&nbsp;22, 2011 at 12:51&nbsp;pm (NZDT)
 |work        = [[GeoNet (New Zealand)|GeoNet]]
 |publisher   = [[Earthquake Commission]] and [[GNS Science]]
 |url         = http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/3468575g.html
 |date        = 22 February 2011
|access-date  = 22 February 2011
|url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110223092531/http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/3468575g.html
 |archive-date = 23 February 2011
}}</ref>
Although lower on the [[moment magnitude scale]] than the quake of September 2010, the intensity and violence of the ground shaking was measured to be VIII on the [[Mercalli intensity scale|MMI]], which is among the strongest ever recorded globally in an urban area due to the shallowness and proximity of the epicentre.<ref>{{cite news
|url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/4714748/Building-code-no-match-for-earthquake 
|title=Building code no match for earthquake
|first=Andrea |last=Fox 
|work=[[The Dominion Post (Wellington)|The Dominion Post]] 
|date=1 March 2011 |access-date=11 July 2011}}</ref>

The quake struck on a busy weekday afternoon. This, along with the strength of the quakes, and the proximity to the city centre, resulted in 181 deaths.<ref>{{cite web 
|url= http://www.police.govt.nz/list-deceased 
|title=List of deceased
|work=New Zealand Police |date=1 June 2011 |access-date=11 July 2011}}</ref> Many buildings and landmarks were severely damaged, including the iconic [[Rapanui Rock|Shag Rock]] and [[ChristChurch Cathedral, Christchurch|Christchurch Cathedral]]. New Zealand's first National State of Emergency was promptly declared.

==== June 2011 ====
{{main|June 2011 Christchurch earthquake}}
On 13 June 2011 at about 1:00&nbsp;pm New Zealand time, Christchurch was rocked by a magnitude 5.7 quake, followed by a magnitude 6.3 quake at 2:20&nbsp;pm, centred in a similar location to that of the February quake with a depth of 6.0 kilometres. Dozens of aftershocks occurred over the following days, including several over magnitude 4.

Phone lines and power were lost in some suburbs, and liquefaction surfaced mainly in the eastern areas of the city which were worst affected following the aftershocks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.starcanterbury.co.nz/local/news/christchurch-aftershocks-hard-hit-east-residents-t/3955642/ |title=Christchurch aftershocks: Hard-hit east residents three times unlucky &#124; Canterbury News &#124; Local News in Canterbury |access-date=21 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120919032216/http://www.starcanterbury.co.nz/local/news/christchurch-aftershocks-hard-hit-east-residents-t/3955642/ |archive-date=19 September 2012 }} Christchurch aftershocks: Hard-hit east residents three times unlucky</ref> Many residents in and around the hillside suburb of Sumner self-evacuated.<ref name="Stuff.co.nz_4730721">{{cite web |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake/4730721/Christchurch-earthquake-Latest-information-Friday |title=Christchurch earthquake: Latest information – Friday |date=4 March 2011 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |access-date=3 October 2011}}</ref> Further damage was reported to buildings inside the cordoned central business district, with an estimate of 75 additional buildings needing demolition.<ref name="Stuff.co.nz_5139229">{{cite web |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5139229/Thousands-of-homes-need-to-go |title=Thousands of homes need to go |date=14 June 2011 |work=[[The Press]] |access-date=3 October 2011}}</ref> Among the buildings further damaged was the Christchurch Cathedral, which lost its iconic [[rose window]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=NZ Top NZ News Stories from NZCity |url=https://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322160935/http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx?id=132093&cat=1012&fm=newsarticle%20-%20National,nur |archive-date=March 22, 2012 |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=home.nzcity.co.nz}}</ref><ref>[https://www.anglicantaonga.org.nz/news/common_life/cathedral_loses_rose_window Cathedral loses rose window]. Anglican Taonga.</ref> There was one death and multiple injuries.