Summary of key dates
| DATE | EVENT |
|---|---|
| 500 | Ngāi Tahu decedents arrive from Polynesian, settle and establish the Maori culture |
| ~1795 | Ngāi Tahu first contact with Pākehā (European) sealers and whalers |
| 1840 | Treaty of Waitangi signed by Maori and British Crown |
| 1850 | Christchurch Settled |
| 1862 | Settlement of Lincoln Village began |
| 1878 | Lincoln School of Agriculture established |
| 1969 | Lincoln University begins to offer professional education in landscape architecture |
| 1972 | New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects incorporated |
| 1974 | The Local Government Act 1974 |
| 1974 | An Environmental Plan for Lincoln Village |
| 1977 | Town and Country Planning Act 1977 |
| 1986 | Environmental Act 1986 |
| 1987 | Conservation Act 1987 |
| 1989 | Town and Country Planning Act 1977 amended and local government reformed |
| 1989 | New Zealand Education Act 1989 |
| 1990 | Lincoln University becomes full and self-governing university |
| 1991 | Waitangi Tribunal findings on Ngāi Tahu land claim |
| 1991 | Resource Management Act 1991 (until notification of the new plan earlier District Schemes are collectively in force as the Selwyn Transitional District Plan) |
| 1992 | Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) established as Government-owned scientific businesses |
| 1990’s | Expansion of lifestyles and suburban development
Emergence of Lincoln tertiary /research cluster |
| 1994 | Inception of Ngāi Tahu Property Limited |
| 1995 July | Proposed Selwyn District Plan released by Selwyn District Council |
| 1996 | Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Act (1996) |
| 1996 | Town and Country Planning Act 1977 amended requiring local authorities to develop ten-year strategic and capital works plans |
| 1998 | Proposed Selwyn District Plan withdrawn |
| 1998 | “Lincoln Township Questionnaire” commissioned by Selwyn District Council |
| 1998 | “Lincoln Townscape Plan” proposed by Lincoln Community Committee |
| October 1999-March 2001 | “Lincoln - a Vision for our Future” |
| 1999/2000 | Redrafting of the Selwyn District Plan |
| 2000 | Proposed District Plan |
| 2004 | Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy initiated |
| 2005 March | Urban Design Protocol launched |
| 2006 July | Lincoln Envirotown officially launched by Minister for the Environment |
| 2007 June | Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy adopted by councils |
| 2007 June | Lincoln Structure Plan and ISMP Issues and Options Report |
| 2007 July | Proposed Change No.1 to the Regional Policy Statement - notified |
| June 2008 | Selwyn Proposed District Plan operative (with exception of parts affected by submissions, appeals or unresolved designation issues) |
| 2008 May | Lincoln Structure Plan and Integrated Stormwater Management Plan adopted |
| Ngāi Tahu Property Limited is the largest developer in Lincoln and South Island of New Zealand |