The Canterbury Pilgrims & Early Settlers Association Inc was established in 1923 and is a non- profit
organisation.
- The object and the aims of the Association is to promote friendship among the Descendants of the Early Settlers of the Canterbury Province and others by Social Activities.
- To inspire and perpetuate a Feeling of Respect and Admiration for the Pioneers of Canterbury and Foster their Spirit.
- To hold Regular Meetings of an interesting mature and promote Literary and Historic matters dealing with Pioneer Adventure and Endeavour in Canterbury.
- To collect and preserve Books, Manuscripts and Records of Historic Interest. Such donations and gifts to be held in Trust by the Association in a secure and safe environment to ensure their survival and security for future generations.
- To encourage the investigation of the Historical Topography of Canterbury with the Identification and Marking of Places of Historical Interest.
- Generally, to encourage all attempts to engender and spread knowledge of the History of Canterbury, New Zealand.
- Engage all Voluntary or paid personnel as deemed necessary by the Association.
Our aims – Promoting, Preserving and Remembering
The main aim of the Canterbury Pilgrims Association is to promote and preserve the history of our early settlement and of those pioneers who laid the foundations for this city.
The first meeting of the Canterbury Pilgrims Association was held on 8 October, 1923.
The Association’s first members consisted of a few of the remaining settlers who arrived in the ‘First Four Ships’ (arriving in Lyttelton, December 1850) and descendants of early settlers to the Canterbury region in New Zealand (‘Canterbury Association Ships’ up until 31 October, 1876).
Current members consist of descendants of those early pioneers and others who have an interest in that period of Canterbury’s formation.
Over the years, thousands of artefacts, diaries, costumes etc from that period and reflecting Canterbury’s early history, have been collected by the Association and are now held by the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch.