Stories on 'Colonial Canterbury' unveil a pivotal chapter in the history of Whakaraupō harbour, beginning with the era when the British Canterbury Association orchestrated a significant migration scheme. This ambitious plan led to the arrival of the 'Canterbury Pilgrims' in the 1850s, a group of settlers who disembarked at the port of Lyttelton with dreams of establishing a new beginning. These pioneers, driven by a blend of adventure, faith, and the promise of land, embarked on the monumental task of constructing the prot town and its gateway to what would become the city of Christchurch on the wetlands of the Ōtakaro River. Through their determination and resilience, they laid the foundations of a settlement that would grow to be a central hub of Te Waipounamu South Island.