Dr Martin Fisher - Out of sight/out of mind: Ngāi Tahu and the development of Christchurch

Ngāi Tahu occupation of the area that is now Christchurch stretches back hundreds of years, but only recently has Ngāi Tahu been able to reaffirm its footprint in the city. Ngāi Tahu had a series of kainga/villages and mahinga kai/food gathering sites stretched around and within the current Christchurch region. Once the city began to be established following Kemp’s Deed in 1848, Ngāi Tahu began to be excluded from the life of the developing urban centre. Despite provisioning and feeding these early settlers, once Christchurch and the Canterbury region settlers began to be self-sustaining it was made clear to Ngāi Tahu that they were not welcome. This talk will explore some of the early history of interactions between Ngāi Tahu and the city of Christchurch through to the mid-twentieth century.