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1770 BCE
The first European settlements
On February 16, 1770, while navigating the Endeavour, Captain James Cook made his first observation of the Canterbury peninsula. He named it Banks Island in memory of the ship's botanist, Joseph Banks, as he thought of it as an island. -
1768 BCE
Early European contact
The Canterbury peninsula was first observed by Captain James Cook on February 16, 1770, while sailing on the Endeavour. Considering it to be an island, he gave it the name Banks Island in honour of Joseph Banks, the ship's botanist.