π’ Christchurch Chief Post Office
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As a result of the 1986 State Owned Enterprises Act, from 1987 these services were split between NZ Post Ltd, PostBank Ltd., and Telecom Corporation of NZ Ltd. ) [id] => CAHR [idSort] => CAHR [name] => Christchurch Chief Post Office [custom] => Array ( [custom1] => Relevant Legislation: Part III of the Electoral Act Part II of the Transport Act Predecessor Agencies: The first official Post Office was established in Christchurch on 1 January 1854, replacing a 'temporary Post Office' set up in 1851. In 1864 the district's Chief Post Office was transferred from Lyttelton to Christchurch 1 January 1864. Controlled Agencies: All Post Offices within the Canterbury region. Originally the Chief Post Office controlled all post offices within the Province, including West Canterbury. The Postal Districts replaced the provincial boundaries. South Canterbury was split off in 1878. 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[relationHasTarget] => DA101 ) [6] => Array ( [name] => DA100 [type] => covered_by [hasEndDate] => Array ( [type] => ExpiryDate [normalizedValue] => 2015-10-01T00:00:00.0Z ) [itemType] => Disposal Authority [relationHasTarget] => DA100 ) [7] => Array ( [name] => Registered files [type] => controlling [hasBeginningDate] => Array ( [normalizedValue] => 1898-01-01T00:00:00.0Z [dateQualifier] => Array ( [0] => approximate [1] => yearOnly ) ) [hasEndDate] => Array ( [normalizedValue] => 1987-01-01T00:00:00.0Z [dateQualifier] => Array ( [0] => exact [1] => yearOnly ) ) [itemType] => Series [relationHasTarget] => 3288 ) ) [digitalRecordInArchive] => [hasBeginningDate] => Array ( [type] => YearStart [normalizedValue] => 1854-01-01T00:00:00.0Z [dateQualifier] => Array ( [0] => exact [1] => yearOnly ) ) [hasEndDate] => Array ( [type] => YearEnd [normalizedValue] => 1987-01-01T00:00:00.0Z [dateQualifier] => Array ( [0] => exact [1] => yearOnly ) ) [history] =>The first official Post Office was established in Christchurch on 1 January 1854, replacing a 'temporary Post Office' set up in 1851. Until 1864, the Christchurch Post Office had been subsidiary to the one at Lyttelton and the Postmaster at Lyttelton acted as Chief Postmaster for Canterbury.
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A notice in the "New Zealand Gazette" on 4 July 1863 stated that from the 1st of January 1864, the Chief Post Office of the Province of Canterbury was to be moved from Lyttelton to Christchurch.
In each provincial capital, the Post Office became a Chief Post Office and worked closely with the provincial government. In 1862 the Post Office shifted to a new office, the Market Hall (near the statue of James Cook). This building appears to have been paid for by the provincial government. In 1862, the money order service was added to the work of the Post Office, then the Savings Bank in 1867 and a few years later, the Telegraph Department.
The abolition of the provincial governments in 1876 did not cause any change in the administration of the Post Office and in 1879, the country was reorganised into postal districts which had previously followed the old provincial boundaries. In 1879, the Chief Postmaster's office moved to a new building in Cathedral Square, its home for the next 107 years.
In 1881, the telegraph and postal services were amalgamated. Later under the Post Office Act 1959, the name of the Post and Telegraph Department became The Post Office, and the minister's title became Postmaster-General.
The Chief Postmaster's Office reported to Post Office Head Quarters in Wellington, and he Regional Engineer's Office reported to the Engineer-in-Chief's Office.
From 1 April 1987 the Post Office was split into 3 separate state-owned corporations: NZ Post, Telecom Corporation of NZ and PostBank, with the non-commercial policy and regulatory functions relating to communications being the responsibility of the Ministry of Commerce.
Show History
The first official Post Office was established in Christchurch on 1 January 1854, replacing a 'temporary Post Office' set up in 1851. Until 1864, the Christchurch Post Office had been subsidiary to the one at Lyttelton and the Postmaster at Lyttelton acted as Chief Postmaster for Canterbury.
A notice in the "New Zealand Gazette" on 4 July 1863 stated that from the 1st of January 1864, the Chief Post Office of the Province of Canterbury was to be moved from Lyttelton to Christchurch.
In each provincial capital, the Post Office became a Chief Post Office and worked closely with the provincial government. In 1862 the Post Office shifted to a new office, the Market Hall (near the statue of James Cook). This building appears to have been paid for by the provincial government. In 1862, the money order service was added to the work of the Post Office, then the Savings Bank in 1867 and a few years later, the Telegraph Department.
The abolition of the provincial governments in 1876 did not cause any change in the administration of the Post Office and in 1879, the country was reorganised into postal districts which had previously followed the old provincial boundaries. In 1879, the Chief Postmaster's office moved to a new building in Cathedral Square, its home for the next 107 years.
In 1881, the telegraph and postal services were amalgamated. Later under the Post Office Act 1959, the name of the Post and Telegraph Department became The Post Office, and the minister's title became Postmaster-General.
The Chief Postmaster's Office reported to Post Office Head Quarters in Wellington, and he Regional Engineer's Office reported to the Engineer-in-Chief's Office.
From 1 April 1987 the Post Office was split into 3 separate state-owned corporations: NZ Post, Telecom Corporation of NZ and PostBank, with the non-commercial policy and regulatory functions relating to communications being the responsibility of the Ministry of Commerce.
Relevant Legislation:
Part III of the Electoral Act
Part II of the Transport Act
Predecessor Agencies:
The first official Post Office was established in Christchurch on 1 January 1854, replacing a 'temporary Post Office' set up in 1851. In 1864 the district's Chief Post Office was transferred from Lyttelton to Christchurch 1 January 1864.
Controlled Agencies:
All Post Offices within the Canterbury region. Originally the Chief Post Office controlled all post offices within the Province, including West Canterbury. The Postal Districts replaced the provincial boundaries. South Canterbury was split off in 1878.
Directory of Official Information 1985
An Early History of the Christchurch Post Office by R G Buchanan and G F Hemming (1974-81)
1990 Year Book
- π’ Lyttelton Post Office (1864 ‑ )
- π Registered files (1898 ‑ 1987)
- π’ Post Office Headquarters (1881 ‑ 1987)
- π’ Kaiapoi Post Office (1864 ‑ 1987)
- π’ Lyttelton Post Office (1864 ‑ 1987)
- π Realm of New Zealand (1947 ‑ 1986)
- π Dominion of New Zealand (1907 ‑ 1947)
- π Self-Governing Colony of New Zealand (1864 ‑ 1907)
Searching within Agency Christchurch Chief Post Office (1 Related Series)
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ID | Name | Browse | Date | Held At |
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Browse | 1898 ‑ 1984 | Christchurch |
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Browse | 1858 ‑ 1877 | Christchurch |