4 May 1932
Christchurch Tramway strike. One of the bitterest in the city’s history, it lasted 16 days. There were many injuries and arrests among the strikers. The tram sheds were barricaded with barbed wire, and trams were fitted with wire mesh screens over their windows to ward off attacks.
![Trams in Cathedral Square, Christchurch [1931]](https://christchurchcitylibraries.com/heritage/photos/disc10/IMG0016.jpg)
CCL PhotoCD 10, IMG0016
4 May 1981
New southern arterial (Brougham Street to Curletts Road) opens.
5 May 1863
Christchurch Gas Company formed.
7 May 1917
Canterbury Aviation Company makes first flights from Sockburn Aerodrome, New Zealand’s first airport.
8 May 1975
New Zealand’s first mini roundabout in operation at the corner of Riccarton Road and Deans Avenue.
8 May 1987
Sir Neil Isaac, founder of Peacock Springs Conservation Park, dies.
9 May 1915
Christchurch tennis star (4 times Wimbledon champion) Captain A. F. Wilding killed in action in Belgium.
10 May 1975
Ms Vicki Buck becomes the city’s (and New Zealand’s) youngest ever City Councillor at 19.
More May events in the Christchurch chronology: a timeline of Christchurch events in chronological order from pre-European times to 1989.
Add a comment to: This week in Christchurch history (4 to 10 May)