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Story: History of immigration

Birthplaces of Canterbury’s assisted United Kingdom migrants, 1854–70

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Birthplaces of Canterbury’s assisted United Kingdom    migrants, 1854–70

This graph shows the proportions of immigrants to Canterbury from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The English counties of the south-west and south-east were good recruiting grounds, as was London. About 20% came from Scotland, where Highland shepherds were recruited to assist in the development of backblocks Canterbury.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: Sample of death registers, ‘Peopling’ project, Ministry for Culture and Heritage Wellington

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How to cite this page

Jock Phillips, History of immigration – Settlement in the provinces: 1853 to 1870, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/graph/2104/birthplaces-of-canterburys-assisted-united-kingdom-migrants-1854-70 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Jock Phillips, published 4 March 2009, updated 1 August 2015.