the "lyttelton times" was devised by the canterbury association as part of the planned settlement of canterbury. after arrival in mid december 1850, the first edition of the newspaper was published on 11 january 1851. from its initial location in the port town, lyttelton, the newspaper moved its headquarters to the larger market of christchurch in 1863. its main competitor, "the press", had established itself in christchurch in 1861.