Akaroa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Akaroa Port Louis-Philippe
Akaroa township and main wharf, in 2004
Akaroa Location in Banks Peninsula
Country	New Zealand
Region	Canterbury Region
District	Christchurch City
Ward	Banks Peninsula
Community	Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula
European settlement	18 August 1840
Founded by	Jean François Langlois
Electorates	Banks Peninsula Te Tai Tonga (Māori)
Area
• Total	2.03 km2 (0.78 sq mi)
Population  (June 2023)
• Total	770
• Density	379/km2 (982/sq mi)
Postcode	7520
Local iwi	Ngāi Tahu

Akaroa is a small town on the Banks Peninsula in the Canterbury Region of the South Island of New Zealand. It sits inside a harbour with the same name. The name Akaroa comes from the Kāi Tahu Māori words for "Long Harbour". In standard Māori, this would be spelled Whangaroa. French settlers also called the area Port Louis-Philippe. This was in honour of the French king, Louis Philippe I.

The town is about 84 kilometers (52 miles) by road from Christchurch. It is at the end of State Highway 75. Akaroa is located on a calm harbour. It is surrounded by the remains of an ancient volcano. This volcano erupted millions of years ago.

Akaroa's Past: A Look at Its History

In 1830, a sad event happened near Akaroa. This was at the Māori settlement of Takapūneke. A British ship captain, John Stewart, helped a North Island chief, Te Rauparaha. They captured the local Kāi Tahu chief, Tama-i-hara-nui, his wife, and young daughter. The settlement of Takapūneke was attacked. Many people were killed, and dozens were taken as slaves. This event showed how lawless some Europeans were in New Zealand. It led to the British appointing an official, James Busby, in 1832.

Before it became a town, Akaroa was a base for whaling ships. Whalers would hunt whales from here. Today, Akaroa is one of the few old whaling bases that is still a town.

French Plans to Settle Akaroa

Charles François Lavaud (1798–1878)

An Akaroa street sign showing French-language street names

In the 1830s, France wanted to expand its empire. They planned to set up colonies in places like the Pacific. This included the South Island of New Zealand. In 1838, a whaler named Captain Jean François Langlois claimed to buy land on Banks Peninsula. He said he bought it from twelve Kāi Tahu chiefs. The price was 1,000 francs, which was about £40. He paid a small deposit and promised to pay the rest later.

While Langlois was in France, he raised money from rich business people. They formed the Nanto-Bordelaise Company. This company planned to hunt whales and set up a colony. Langlois gave his land claim to the company. The French government also got involved. They sent a warship, the Mahé, which was renamed Comte de Paris. On March 9, 1840, 63 settlers left France. They were joined by another ship, the Aube. This ship was led by Commodore Charles-François Lavaud [fr]. He was also in charge of French whaling interests in New Zealand.

The ships arrived in the Bay of Islands in New Zealand on July 11, 1840. There, they learned that Britain had already claimed all of New Zealand. This happened on May 21, and many Māori chiefs had signed the Treaty of Waitangi. To make sure there was no doubt, the British sent their own ship, HMS Britomart, to Akaroa. This ship arrived before the French settlers. It raised the British flag to show that the area was under British control.

On August 18, 1840, the French settlement in Akaroa began. There were 57 settlers, including 12 Germans. Their land was around German Bay (Takamatua), French Town (Akaroa), and the nearby hill. For the first six years, many French sailors and naval officers were also there. They had Catholic missionaries, churches, and even a French mayor and doctors. Akaroa still has a French feel today. Many local places have French names. It is the oldest town in Canterbury and a very historic place in New Zealand.

The British government did not accept the French company's land claim. This was because it was not based on British law. After many talks, the British agreed in 1845 to give the Nanto-Bordelaise Company 30,000 acres of land. However, the company was in financial trouble. They sold most of their land to the New Zealand Company. By 1849, the French settlers were living in a British colony. The area where the town of Akaroa is now was also known as Wangaloa. The French first called their settlement Port Louis-Philippe.

British Settlers Arrive in Akaroa

After learning about the French plans, the British sent HMS Britomart to Akaroa. This was to claim the area for Britain. The ship arrived in Akaroa on August 16, 1840. Captain Stanley raised the British flag. He also held a court to show the French that Britain was in charge. A monument at the edge of town remembers this British arrival.

James Robinson Clough, also known as Jimmy Robinson, was already in Akaroa. He helped Captain Owen Stanley as an interpreter. His family still lives on the Peninsula today.

British immigrants settled in Akaroa and German Bay (Takamatua). Many German farmers also came. They started farms for dairy, sheep, and a type of grass called cocksfoot. The Akaroa Museum has many items from these early farming communities.

In 1850, a ship called the Monarch arrived in Akaroa Harbour for repairs. Forty of its passengers decided to stay. The British settlers lived at the south end of Akaroa. The French lived at the north end, with a small bay between them.

In 1854, Akaroa was described as "very like a small seaside village in England." By 1878, only ten French-born people lived in Akaroa town. The total population was 642.

Businesses grew in Akaroa. By 1883, there were many shops and services. These included builders, general stores, and shoemakers.

Daly's wharf was built between 1863 and 1865. It was used by coastal ships and fishing boats. The main wharf in Akaroa was built in 1887. Plans are being made to rebuild it by 2025.

Akaroa's People: Demographics

Akaroa is a rural settlement. It covers about 2.03 square kilometers. Its estimated population is 770 as of June 2023. .

In 2018, Akaroa had 756 people. This was an increase from earlier years. The average age was 55.3 years. Most people were European/Pākehā. About 6% were Māori. Many people were born overseas. Most people said they had no religion or were Christian.

Fun Things to Do: Tourism

Akaroa is a popular holiday town. Many Hector's dolphins live in the harbour. You can even go on boat tours to swim with them! The Akaroa Marine Reserve is at the harbour entrance.

Akaroa became a popular stop for cruise ships. This happened after the 2011 Canterbury Earthquakes damaged the port of Lyttelton. In 2019 and 2020, ninety cruise ships visited. The number of ships has gone down since Lyttelton's cruise ship berth reopened.

Learning in Akaroa: Education

Akaroa's first primary school opened in 1857. A high school followed in 1883. It became a free District High School in 1901. In 2007, the primary school and high school joined. They formed the Akaroa Area School. This school teaches students from year 1 to year 13. It is for both boys and girls. The school has a roll of 111 as of February 2024. .

Discovering the Past: Akaroa Museum

The Akaroa Museum opened in 1964. It focuses on the history of Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula. The museum includes old buildings. These are an 1850s customs house, an 1878 court house, and the 1840s Langlois-Eteveneaux cottage. In 2023, the museum had an exhibition. It showed photos of Banks Peninsula from the 1840s onwards.

Guiding Light: Akaroa Lighthouse

Akaroa lighthouse in 2011

The Akaroa lighthouse has been at Cemetery Point since 1980. Before that, it stood on a headland high above the sea. The original spot was chosen in 1875. The lighthouse was built in 1880. Its light could be seen 37 kilometers (23 miles) away.

A telephone was put in the lighthouse in 1885. In 1935, a kerosene generator made the light automatic. This was changed to diesel in 1951. A new automatic lighthouse was built in 1977. In 1980, the original lighthouse was moved. It was taken apart and rebuilt in its current spot in Akaroa town. You can visit the Akaroa lighthouse on Sundays. It is also open when cruise ships visit.

Places of Worship: Churches

Onuku Church

Onuku Church is a historic church near Akaroa. Its foundation stone was laid in 1876. It was finished in 1878. The church is located at the Onuku marae. It is made of timber with a shingle roof. It has a bell tower and can hold 60 people. After needing repairs, it was restored. Traditional carved panels were added to the porch.

Saint Patrick's Catholic Church

This was the third Catholic church built in Akaroa. It replaced two older churches. It was designed by architects Benjamin Mountfort and Maxwell Bury. It was built of timber in 1865. A porch was added in 1886, and a bell tower in 1893. A stained glass window showing the crucifixion was added in 1930.

Saint Peter's Anglican Church

Saint Peter's Anglican church was built of timber. It was designed in the Gothic revival style. It was completed in 1863. It replaced an earlier Anglican church built in 1852. A pipe organ was added in 1869. Benjamin Mountfort designed parts of the church in 1877.

Trinity Presbyterian Church

The Trinity Presbyterian church was completed in 1886. This was thirty years after the first Presbyterian services. It was built in the Gothic revival style with a steep roof. John Whitelaw, an architect, designed it. A church hall was added in 1912. It is listed as a historic place.

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  Onuku church

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  Saint Patrick's Catholic church

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  Saint Peter's Anglican church

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  Trinity Presbyterian church

Town Services: Utilities

Akaroa has a water supply system. It provides drinking water to about 1000 homes in Akaroa town. It also supplies 130 homes in Takamatua. Water comes from four streams and two wells. It is treated at the L'Aube Hill water treatment plant.

Akaroa's Weather: Climate

Images for kids

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  Akaroa Head Lighthouse (built c. 1878)

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  View of Akaroa harbour; the long, thin peninsula extending out into the harbour is Ōnawe Peninsula, and the middle of the volcano

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  The Gaiety, Akaroa (built c.  1879)

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  Akaroa Main Wharf

Notable Residents

• Jessie Buckland (1878–1939), photographer
• John Buckland (1844–1909), politician
• Bob Parker (born 1953), former mayor of Banks Peninsula and former resident
• William Penlington (1832–1899), sawmiller, builder and mayor of Akaroa
• William Penlington (1890–1982), school principal and educationalist
• Hugh Wilson (born 1945), botanist living at Hinewai Reserve over the hill from Akaroa
• Frank Worsley (1872–1943), sailor and explorer who served on Ernest Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914–1916, as captain of the Endurance