Existence: 1941 - late 2010s From AS: This Association was established in 1941 as the Christchurch Nursery Play Centres Association. In 1961 it became the Christchurch Play Centres Association. In 1963 it became the Canterbury Play Centres Association, changing again in 1969 to the Canterbury Play Centre Association. In 1973 it changed again to the Canterbury Playcentre Association. In the late 2010s it was amalgamated into Playcentre Aotearoa. Additional: In October 1941 the first Nursery Play Centre in Christchurch was set up in Fendalton. The first president of the association was Miss Doreen Dolton (later McMeekin). The Canterbury Association reached across to the West Coast until 1975 when the Buller/Westland Association was formed. The Canterbury organisation also included Dunedin for a short time, until the Dunedin Association was affiliated to Federation in 1952. The 1991, the Playcentre Federation National Conference was held in Christchurch. The Association was removed as an incorporated society on 1 May 2020.