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{{Short description|Town in Canterbury, New Zealand}}
{{For|the electorate|Akaroa (New Zealand electorate)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox settlement
    <!-- See Template:Infobox Settlement for additional fields that may be available -->
    <!-- See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage -->
| name                    = Akaroa
| other_name              = 
| area_total_km2          = 2.03
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="Area"/>
| population_footnotes    = {{NZ population data 2023 SA2||||y}}
| population_total        = {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Akaroa|y}}
| population_as_of        = {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y}}
| population_density_km2  = auto
| image_skyline           = File:AkaroaDec032024 01.jpg
| image_caption           = Akaroa township and main wharf in 2024 
| map_alt                 =
| map_caption             = 
| pushpin_map             = New Zealand Banks Peninsula
| pushpin_label_position  =
| pushpin_map_alt         =
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location of Akaroa in Banks Peninsula
| coordinates             = {{coord|43|48|15|S|172|58|00|E|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes   =
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = New Zealand
| subdivision_type1       = Region
| subdivision_name1       = [[Canterbury, New Zealand|Canterbury Region]]
| subdivision_type2       = District
| subdivision_name2       = [[Christchurch City Council|Christchurch City]]
| subdivision_type3       = Ward
| subdivision_name3       = Banks Peninsula
| subdivision_type4       = Community
| subdivision_name4       = Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula 
| seat_type               = Electorates
| seat                    = {{ubl|[[Banks Peninsula (New Zealand electorate)|Banks Peninsula]]|[[Te Tai Tonga]] (Māori)}}
| leader_title            = Territorial Authority
| leader_name             = [[Christchurch City Council]]
| leader_title1           = Regional council
| leader_name1            = [[Environment Canterbury]]
| leader_title2           = [[Mayor of Christchurch]]
| leader_name2            = {{NZ officeholder data|Christchurch City Mayor|y}}
| leader_title3           = [[Banks Peninsula (New Zealand electorate)|Banks Peninsula MP]]
| leader_name3            = {{NZ officeholder data|Banks Peninsula MP|y}}
| leader_title4           = [[Te Tai Tonga|Te Tai Tonga MP]]
| leader_name4            = {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Tonga MP|y}}
| established_title1      = European settlement
| established_date1       = 18 August 1840
| founder                 = [[Jean François Langlois]]
| postal_code_type        = [[Postcodes in New Zealand|Postcode]]
| postal_code             = 7520
| blank_name              = Local [[iwi]]
| blank_info              = [[Ngāi Tahu]]
}}

'''Akaroa''' is a small town on [[Banks Peninsula]] in the Canterbury Region of the South Island of New Zealand, situated within a harbour of the same name.  The name Akaroa is [[Ngāi Tahu|Kāi Tahu]] [[Māori language|Māori]] for "Long Harbour", which would be spelled {{lang|mi|Whangaroa}} in standard Māori. The area was also named ''Port Louis-Philippe'' by [[French colonial empire#Second French colonial empire (post-1830)|French settlers]] after the reigning [[King of the French|French king]] [[Louis Philippe I]].

The town is {{convert|84|km|mi}}<!--according to AA Times and Distances facility--> by road from [[Christchurch]] and is the terminus of [[State Highway 75 (New Zealand)|State Highway 75]]. It is set on a sheltered harbour and is overlooked and surrounded by the remnants of an eruptive centre of the [[Miocene]] [[Banks Peninsula Volcano]].{{sfn|Royal Society|February 1958|pages=207ff}}

==History==
In 1830, the Māori settlement at [[Takapūneke]], east of the current town of Akaroa, was the scene of a notorious incident. There were an estimated 400 [[Kāi Tahu]] in the pā and most were killed, with only the strongest taken as slaves.{{sfn|Ogilvie|2010|p=13}} The captain of the British brig ''Elizabeth'', John Stewart, helped North Island [[Ngāti Toa]] chief, [[Te Rauparaha]], to capture the local Kāi Tahu chief, [[Tama-i-hara-nui]], his wife Te Whe and his young daughter, Roimata. The settlement of Takapūneke was sacked. Several hundred were killed and dozens enslaved. Stewart could not be convicted of murder owing to the lack of a suitable legal system in New Zealand at the time. This incident was one of several lawless acts committed by Stewart around this time.<ref name=Ministry>{{cite web |title=Captain Stewart and the Elizabeth |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/maori-european-contact-pre-1840/captain-stewart-and-the-elizabeth |publisher=[[Ministry for Culture and Heritage]] |access-date=7 March 2020 |date=20 December 2012}}</ref> The actions of John Stewart were examples of other incidents of lawlessness among Europeans in New Zealand, which contributed to the appointment of an official British Resident [[James Busby]] to New Zealand in 1832.<ref name=Ministry/>

The sparse population was further reduced in 1832, when [[Te Rauparaha]], fresh from his successful three-month siege of [[Kaiapoi Pā]], took the [[pā]] on [[Ōnawe Peninsula]] at the head of Akaroa Harbour.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tau |first=Te Maire |date=March 2017 |title='Ngāi Tahu – Wars with Ngāti Toa', Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand |url=http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/3371/onawe-pa-akaroa-harbour |access-date=15 March 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

The earliest European settlers used Akaroa as a whaling base. Akaroa is now one of the few whaling bases in New Zealand that still exists as a town.{{sfn|Ogilvie|2010|p=20}}

===French settlement===
[[File:Charles François Lavaud (1798-1878).jpg|thumb|Charles François Lavaud (1798–1878)]]
[[File:AkaroaFRNames.JPG|thumb|An Akaroa street sign showing French-language street names]]
In the 1830s, France developed extensive plans for colonial expansion, including into the Pacific where at that time it had no colonies. The plans included the South Island of New Zealand. The tiny settlement established at Akaroa can be viewed in the context of that failed, wider project.{{sfn|Tremewan|2010|p=15}} In 1838, a whaler, Captain [[Jean François Langlois]], wrote up a questionable deed of purchase for "the greater Banks Peninsula" to which twelve [[Ngāi Tahu|Kāi Tahu]] chiefs each added their [[tā moko|moko]] or cross.{{sfn|Tremewan|2010|p=16-17}} The price was 1,000 francs (£40), with a deposit of 150 francs (£6) paid in goods{{efn|name=fn1|According to the Deed of Purchase, the goods equivalent to the 150 francs deposit were one woollen overcoat, six pairs of cloth trousers, 12 oilskin hats, two pairs of shoes, a pistol, two pairs of red woollen shirts and one oilskin coat.{{sfn|Tremewan|2010|p=26}}}} and the remainder to be paid upon Langlois' return from France with settlers.<ref>{{cite web|title=French colonists in Akaroa, South Island |url= http://history-nz.org/colonisation4.html |website=New Zealand in History|access-date=23 May 2018}}</ref><ref name=MB>{{cite web |last1=Andersen |first1=Johannes C. |title=The Mission of the ''Britomart'' at Akaroa, in August, 1840 |url= http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Heritage/Publications/Akaroa/MissionoftheBritomart/MissionoftheBritomart.pdf |publisher=The New Zealand Institute |access-date=23 May 2018}}</ref>{{sfn|Tremewan|2010|p=26}} When the settlers later did arrive, the British authorities – who had in the meantime taken possession of the whole of New Zealand – decided a valid sale had not taken place in 1838, relying for their decision on English law and Māori oral evidence.{{sfn|Tremewan|2010|p=268}}

While back in France, Langlois had raised capital from wealthy businessmen to fund the planned whaling and colonising venture. The [[Nanto-Bordelaise Company]] was set up, with the major shareholder being [[Adolphe Balguerie]]. Langlois ceded his supposed Banks Peninsula title to the company, took a minor shareholding and was entrusted with the whaling side of the venture.{{sfn|Tremewan|2010|pp=55-57}}

The company is comparable to the British "New Zealand Association" (later a company) but unlike the British, who arranged for all land sold by the indigenous Māori to go through its government representative, the French government planned to have Māori land sales arranged through the company. The model treaties for land acquisition sent out from France can be compared with the Treaty of Waitangi, used by the British as their way of acquiring Māori land. {{sfn|Tremewan|2010|p=16}} The French government became involved and in order to send out the settlers it supplied the warship, ''Mahé'', fitted out as a whaler and renamed [[Comte de Paris (ship)|''Comte de Paris'']].{{sfn|Tremewan|2010|p=268}} On 9 March 1840, 63 emigrants left [[Rochefort, Charente-Maritime|Rochefort]]. They were accompanied by the ''Aube'', a 28-gun corvette under Commodore {{ill|Charles-François Lavaud|fr}}, whose role was also to oversee French whaling interests around New Zealand.

The ships arrived in the [[Bay of Islands]] in the North Island on 11 July 1840, where they learned that during their voyage [[William Hobson]] had proclaimed British sovereignty over all New Zealand on 21 May, and that the main South Island Māori chiefs had signed the [[Treaty of Waitangi]]. Hobson, who was now [[lieutenant-governor]], wanted there to be no doubt that British sovereignty extended over all New Zealand and so to counter any potential threat to that situation, he dispatched the [[brig-sloop]], [[HMS Britomart (1820)|HMS Britomart]], to call first at [[Wellington|Port Nicholson]] where the [[New Zealand Company]] settlers had recently arrived and established their own fledgling government, and thence to Akaroa. Once there, Britomart and fluttering [[Union Jack|Union Jacks]] would provide a less than subtle welcome for the soon to arrive French settlers and quash any sovereignty pretentions Lavaud might have had.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Moon |first1=Paul |title=The Newest Country in the World - A History of New Zealand in the Decade of the Treaty |date=2007 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=9780143006701 |pages=47–49 |chapter=}}</ref> Back in the Bay of Islands, while discussions on land rights took place, the French colonisation continued. On 18 August 1840, the settlement at Akaroa began, with 57 settlers including 12 Germans. (Some had died en route.){{sfn|Tremewan|2010|p=158}}<ref name="King 2003 170–1">{{Cite book|last=King|first=Michael|title=The Penguin History of New Zealand|publisher=Penguin|year=2003|location=New Zealand|pages=170–1}}</ref>{{sfn|Tremewan|2010|pp=13-19}} The settlers' land was around German Bay ([[Takamatua]]),{{efn|name=fn2|It was renamed during the First World War as a mark of anti-German sentiment{{sfn|Tremewan|2010|}}}} French Town (Akaroa) and the hill behind.{{sfn|Tremewan|2010|pp=259-275}} For the first six years, the settlers were outnumbered by a large contingent of French sailors and naval officers. They were all part of a sizeable infrastructure that included Catholic missionaries, churches, and priests taking classes. In addition, there was a French mayor, French doctors in a French hospital and a French store. There were also French by-laws and a French court of justice.{{sfn|Tremewan|2010|pp=18-19}} [[Jean-Baptiste Pompallier|Bishop Pompallier]] established his first European station in Akaroa in 1840 as the French immigrants were all nominally Catholic. However, he closed the station in disgust, due to the religious apathy of the French immigrants.<ref name="King 2003 170–1"/> The area still shows a French influence, prominent in many local place names.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ourstuff/SettlementatAkaroa.htm |title= SettlementatAkaroa }}</ref> It is the oldest town in Canterbury and one of the most historic places in New Zealand.{{sfn|Ogilvie|2010|p=20}}

Meanwhile, the British dismissed the Nanto-Bordelaise Company's claim as it was not based on British law, but only after extensive and complex negotiations had taken place with Māori and the French, represented by Commadore Lavaud and the company's urbane agent, [[Pierre-Joseph de Belligny]]. Land ownership discussions dragged on until 1849, and by then both governments back in Europe had become involved. Given that the French colonists had set out for New Zealand on the assumption that they owned the land, [[Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby|Lord Stanley]], of the Colonial Office, instructed the New Zealand authorities in 1845 to grant 30,000 acres to the Nanto-Bordelaise Company. This grant never actually happened at that time and the 30,000 acres were never clearly defined, but all concerned acted as if the company now owned that land. The company by then was in a dire financial position{{sfn|Tremewan|2010|p=279}} and was keen to raise funds by selling that land, which it did before becoming insolvent in 1849. Some land was sold to individual settlers but most was bought by the [[New Zealand Company]], which had still not decided on a place in the area to establish its own settlement. To the indignation of Langlois, the Nanto-Bordelaise Company had sold all its remaining land on the peninsula for £4,500.<ref name=MB/>{{sfn|Tremewan|2010|pp=279-293}} So by 1849, the French settlers were on their own in a British colony.{{sfn|Tremewan|2010|p=279}}

Before 1840, the area of the current Akaroa town was also known as Wangaloa. The French at first called their settlement ''Port Louis-Philippe'' in honour  of [[Louis Philippe I]], who reigned as [[King of the French]] from 1830 to 1848.<ref>{{cite book
 |last= Reed
 |first= A. W.
 |title= Place Names of New Zealand
 |year= 2010
 |publisher=Raupo
 |location= Rosedale, North Shore
 |isbn= 9780143204107
 |page = 19
 |editor= Peter Dowling
}}
</ref>

===British settlement===
After being informed of the French intention to colonise Akaroa and to further its use as a whaling port, the Lieutenant-Governor of New Zealand, Captain [[William Hobson]], sent the ship {{HMS|Britomart|1820|6}} to proclaim [[sovereignty]] over the area for the British Crown. HMS ''Britomart'' arrived in Akaroa on 16 August 1840, although the captain's log shows the arrival date as 11 August. Captain Stanley raised the British flag, and held a court at each of the occupied settlements, to convince the French that the area was indeed under British control.<ref name=MB/> A monument at the eastern edge of the town commemorates the British arrival.

James Robinson Clough, also known as Jimmy Robinson, had arrived at Akaroa several years before. He acted as interpreter for Captain Owen Stanley at the flag-raising of 1840, and was the first European to travel up the [[Avon River / Ōtākaro]] in 1843. Clough's descendants are still prominent on the Peninsula today.

British immigrants settled in both Akaroa and German Bay ([[Takamatua]]), along with many German farmers, who set up dairy, sheep and cocksfoot (''[[Dactylis glomerata]]'') farms. The great majority of the artefacts currently held at Akaroa Museum are of the early farming community and their way of life at the time.

Arriving from England in April 1850, the ''Monarch'', needing repairs'','' sailed into Akaroa Harbour. It was bound for Auckland however forty of the passengers decided to stay in Akaroa.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=John Wilson |first=Louise Beaumont |date=June 2009 |title=Akaroa Historical Overview |url=https://ccc.govt.nz/assets/Documents/The-Council/Plans-Strategies-Policies-Bylaws/Plans/district-plan/banks-peninsula/AkaroaHistoricalOverview-part-1.pdf |access-date=2 June 2023 |website=[[Christchurch City Council]] }}</ref> The British immigrants settled at the southern end of Akaroa with the French living at the northern end with a small bay separating the two.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Turner |first=Gwenda |title=Akaroa |publisher=John McIndoe |year=1977 |isbn=0-908565-41-0 |location=Dunedin, New Zealand |pages=14}}</ref>

Akaroa was described in 1854 as “altogether very like a small seaside village in England”. In 1878, there were only ten French born residents in the town of Akaroa out of a population of 642 people. A further 27 French born people lived outside the town boundaries.<ref name=":0" />

Businesses grew in Akaroa and by 1883 there were five builders, four confectioners, eight general stores, five milk-sellers, four shoemakers, two bankers, five milliners and five blacksmiths.<ref name=":0" />

Daly's wharf was built between 1863 and 1865 and refurbished in 1914.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DALY'S WHARF |url=http://www.akaroacivictrust.co.nz/fastpage/fpengine.php/templateid/56/menuid/1/tempidx/2/catid/1/editstatus/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=www.akaroacivictrust.co.nz}}</ref> Located at the end of Rue Balguerie, it has been used by coastal ships and fishing boats. At the end of the wharf, an octagonal building with a turret roof was built by 1932.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 January 2015 |title=DALY'S WHARF, SHELTER AND SETTING 1A RUE BALGUERIE, AKAROA |url=https://districtplan.ccc.govt.nz/Images/DistrictPlanImages/Statement%20of%20Significance/Banks%20Peninsula/HID%201210.pdf |access-date=22 May 2023 |website=[[Christchurch City Council]] }}</ref>

Akaroa was described as  a “long favourite holiday haven not only for New Zealanders but visitors from Australia and the Old World” in 1903. At this time, most of Akaroa was concentrated around the waterfront with only a few houses built on the hillsides. The population living in Akaroa was 559 people with a total of 124 houses in 1901.<ref name=":0" />

The main wharf at Akaroa was built in 1887.<ref name="Akaroa Wharf">{{Cite web |title=Akaroa Wharf |url=https://ccc.govt.nz/the-council/future-projects/major-facilities/akaroa-wharf/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=[[Christchurch City Council]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> Plans were made in 2022 to rebuild the main wharf in the same position that it currently is, as it was nearing the end of its useable life.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-13 |title=$19.1 million Akaroa Wharf plan progresses |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-christchurch/191-million-akaroa-wharf-plan-progresses |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=[[Otago Daily Times]] |language=en}}</ref> The rebuild is expected to cost $19.1 million and be completed by 30 June 2025.<ref name="Akaroa Wharf"/>

== Demographics ==
Akaroa is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement, and covers {{Convert|2.03|km2||abbr=on}}.<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787|access-date=15 October 2021|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}}</ref> It had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Akaroa|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Akaroa|y}}|R}}/2.03|0}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.

{{Historical populations|2006|591|2013|645|2018|756|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2018"/>}}
Akaroa had a population of 756 at the [[2018 New Zealand census]], an increase of 111 people (17.2%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]], and an increase of 165 people (27.9%) since the [[2006 New Zealand census|2006 census]]. There were 288 households, comprising 375 males and 378 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female. The median age was 55.3 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 63 people (8.3%) aged under 15 years, 108 (14.3%) aged 15 to 29, 339 (44.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 240 (31.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 82.5% European/[[Pākehā]], 6.0% [[Māori people|Māori]], 0.8% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]], 11.9% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]], and 2.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 34.9, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 44.4% had no religion, 34.9% were [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 0.4% had [[Religion of Māori people|Māori religious beliefs]], 1.6% were [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 4.8% were [[Islam in New Zealand|Muslim]], 1.6% were [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]] and 4.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 126 (18.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 87 (12.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $31,800, compared with $31,800 nationally. 81 people (11.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 327 (47.2%) people were employed full-time, 111 (16.0%) were part-time, and 9 (1.3%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|Akaroa (333500)|akaroa|Akaroa}}</ref>

== Tourism ==
Akaroa is a popular resort town. Many [[Hector's dolphin]]s can be found within the harbour, and in the area of the [[Akaroa Marine Reserve]] at the harbour entrance. 'Swim with the dolphins' boat tours are a major tourist attraction.<ref>{{cite news |date=28 February 2017 |title=Swimming with dolphins in Akaroa tops NZ must-dos |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/swimming-dolphins-akaroa-tops-nz-must-dos |access-date=11 July 2017 |work=ODT |publisher=ODT}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mitchell |first1=Charlie |date=18 September 2016 |title=Ban on new dolphin tourism ventures in Akaroa Harbour |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/84388112/Ban-on-new-dolphin-tourism-ventures-in-Akaroa-Harbour |access-date=11 July 2017 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] }}</ref> Akaroa became a popular cruise ship destination after the [[2011 Christchurch earthquake|2011 Canterbury Earthquakes]] damaged the port of [[Lyttelton, New Zealand|Lyttelton]]. In the summer of 2009–10, Akaroa was visited by seven cruise ships. This increased to ninety cruise ships in 2019 and 2020. The numbers reduced to 19 cruise ships in 2022 with the opening of Lyttelton cruise ship berth.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-07 |title=From 90 to 19: Drop in number of cruise ships returning to Banks Peninsula this summer |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/466645/from-90-to-19-drop-in-number-of-cruise-ships-returning-to-banks-peninsula-this-summer |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-13 |title=Cruise ship impact on Akaroa needs more research report finds |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/400906/cruise-ship-impact-on-akaroa-needs-more-research-report-finds |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Allott |first=Amber |date=2022-10-21 |title=Fewer Hector's dolphins in harbour after cruise ship activity ramped up, study finds |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/130247929/fewer-hectors-dolphins-in-harbour-after-cruise-ship-activity-ramped-up-study-finds |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref>

==Education==
Akaroa's first primary school opened in 1857, and the first high school followed in 1883. The high school was for boys only in the first year but became co-educational in the second year. However, in 1900 it closed due to a lack of paying students. The next year, it re-opened as a free District High School. It moved to the current site in 1935. In 2007, the primary school was merged with it to form Akaroa Area School.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://akaroa.school.nz/location-map/|title=Brief School History|publisher=Akaroa Area School|access-date=25 August 2019}}</ref> This is now a co-educational composite school covering years 1 to 13,<ref>{{TKI|350|Akaroa Area School}}</ref> with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|350|y}} as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}

== Museum ==
[[Akaroa Museum]] first opened in 1964, and concentrates on the history of Akaroa and Banks Peninsula. It is located at 71 Rue Lavaud and includes within the museum complex the 1878 court house and the 1840s Langlois-Eteveneaux cottage next to it, and the 1850s customs house further down Rue Balguerie.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-02 |title=Akaroa Museum {{!}} Christchurch NZ |url=https://christchurch.co.nz/listing/akaroa-museum/ |access-date=2023-06-09 |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Organisation details {{!}} Museums Aotearoa |url=https://www.museumsaotearoa.org.nz/museums-directory/23263/details |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=www.museumsaotearoa.org.nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Home : Akaroa Museum |url=https://akaroamuseum.org.nz/ |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=akaroamuseum.org.nz}}</ref> In 2023, the museum put on an exhibition called ''Catching Shadows'' which displayed a photographic history of Banks Peninsula starting in the early 1840s.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-18 |title=Tracing a century of photography on Banks Peninsula |url=https://newsline.ccc.govt.nz/news/story/tracing-a-century-of-photography-on-banks-peninsula |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=Newsline |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Akaroa lighthouse ==
[[File:20250216-DJI_0903.jpg|thumb|Akaroa lighthouse in 2025]]
The Akaroa lighthouse has sat at Cemetery Point in the township since 1980. For the 100 years prior to that, it was located {{convert|270|ft|abbr=on|order=flip}} above sea level on a headland at Akaroa heads. The original site was chosen in 1875. In 1877, the lens and mount were ordered from France and the mechanism from Scotland. The road to the lighthouse had to be blasted out of solid rock and took ten months to complete. Construction of the lighthouse finally began in 1879. Unfortunately, a southerly storm demolished the framework completely and work had to start again from scratch, this time with a stronger design. The {{convert|28|ft|abbr=on|order=flip}} tall light house was completed in 1880 and when operating, its light could be seen {{convert|37|km|abbr=on}} away. A telephone was installed in the lighthouse in 1885, and a kerosene generator was installed in 1935, allowing the light to be automated. This was converted to diesel in 1951. In 1977 a new automatic lighthouse was built to replace the original staffed lighthouse. In 1980, the original lighthouse was moved in pieces and then reassembled in its current position in the town of Akaroa. The Akaroa lighthouse is open for viewing on Sundays and on days when cruise ships visit the town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Akaroa Lighthouse |url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/3343/Akaroa%20Lighthouse |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=[[Heritage New Zealand]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AKAROA LIGHTHOUSE |url=http://www.akaroacivictrust.co.nz/fastpage/fpengine.php/link/1/templateid/76/tempidx/2/menuid/1 |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=www.akaroacivictrust.co.nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Akaroa Head |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/canterbury/places/banks-peninsula-area/historic-akaroa-head/ |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=[[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] |language=en-nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Akaroa Lighthouse Preservation Society » Akaroa & The Bays |url=https://www.akaroa.com/members/akaroa-lighthouse-preservation-society/ |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=www.akaroa.com}}</ref>

== Churches ==

=== Onuku Church ===
Onuku Church is a historic undenomnational church located in [[The Kaik]], near Akaroa.<ref name="kaik">{{cite journal |editor1-last=Wilson |editor1-first=John|title=Onuku Church, The Kaik, Akaroa |journal=Historic Places in New Zealand |date=June 1988 |issue=21 |page=8 |publisher=New Zealand Historic Places Trust}}</ref> This church had its foundation stone laid in November 1876 and was completed in 1878. It is located at the Ōnuku marae. Built out of timber with a pitched shingle roof, it has a bell turret and room for 60 parishioners. After falling into disrepair around 1939, work was completed to restore the church and add traditional carved panels to the porch. Services were held regularly until 1963.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 August 2014 |title=Te Whare Karakia o Ōnuku and Setting – 392 Onuku Road, Akaroa |url= https://districtplan.ccc.govt.nz/Images/DistrictPlanImages/Statement%20of%20Significance/Banks%20Peninsula/HID%20683.pdf |access-date=21 May 2023 |website=[[Christchurch City Council]] }}</ref>

=== Saint Patrick's Catholic church ===
This was the third [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] church to be built in Akaroa, replacing the two earlier churches. It was designed by Christchurch architects [[Benjamin Mountfort]] and [[Maxwell Bury]] and built in 1865 out of timber. A porch was added in 1886 and a bell tower in 1893. A stained glass window depicting the crucifixion was added in 1930.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ST PATRICK'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH |url= http://www.akaroacivictrust.co.nz/fastpage/fpengine.php/templateid/15/menuid/1/tempidx/6/catid/1/editstatus/ |access-date=21 May 2023 |website=www.akaroacivictrust.co.nz}}</ref>

=== Saint Peter's Anglican church ===
Saint Peter's [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] church was built out of timber in the [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic revival]] style and was completed in 1863. It replaced the previous Anglican church which was built eleven years earlier in 1852. A pipe organ was added in 1869. Benjamin Mountfort designed the transepts and chancel in 1877.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ST PETER'S ANGLICAN CHURCH |url= http://www.akaroacivictrust.co.nz/fastpage/fpengine.php/templateid/16/menuid/1/tempidx/6/catid/1/editstatus/ |access-date=21 May 2023 |website=www.akaroacivictrust.co.nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=St Peter's Church (Anglican) |url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/267/St%20Peter%27s%20Church%20(Anglican) |access-date=21 May 2023 |website=[[Heritage New Zealand]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

=== Trinity Presbyterian church ===
The Trinity [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]] church was completed in 1886, thirty years after the first Presbyterian services were held in a private home. Built in the Gothic revival style with a steep roof, it was designed by Christchurch architect, John Whitelaw. In 1912, a church hall was added. It was listed by Heritage New Zealand as a category two historic place in 1990.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH |url= http://www.akaroacivictrust.co.nz/fastpage/fpengine.php/templateid/62/menuid/1/tempidx/2/link/1 |access-date=21 May 2023 |website=www.akaroacivictrust.co.nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Trinity Church (Presbyterian) |url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/5288/Trinity%20Church%20(Presbyterian) |access-date=21 May 2023 |website=[[Heritage New Zealand]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref><gallery>
File:Onuku - Eglise (1).jpg|Ōnuku church
File:Church of Saint Patrick (1864), Akaroa.jpg|Saint Patrick's Catholic church
File:Saint Peter's Anglican Church (1864).jpg|Saint Peter's Anglican church
File:Trinity Church, Akaroa 01.jpg|Trinity Presbyterian church
</gallery>

== Utilities ==
A water supply scheme in Akaroa provides drinking water for around 1000 properties in the Akaroa township, and a further 130 properties in Takamatua. Water is sourced from four streams and two wells, and is treated at the L'Aube Hill water treatment plant.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Where our water comes from |url=https://www.ccc.govt.nz/services/water-and-drainage/water-supply/about-the-water-supply/where-our-water-comes-from |access-date=27 April 2024 |website=[[Christchurch City Council]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> The waste water treatment plant and harbour outfall is located at Takapūneke.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mitchell |first=Charlie |date=18 May 2024 |title=Pushing s... uphill: A tiny town's giant waste problem |url=https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/350281000/pushing-s-uphill-tiny-towns-giant-waste-problem |access-date=19 February 2025 |work=[[Stuff News]]}}</ref>

==Climate==

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y 
|location = Akaroa (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1979–present)
| Jan record high C = 38.0
| Feb record high C = 35.5
| Mar record high C = 35.5
| Apr record high C = 30.0
| May record high C = 27.0
| Jun record high C = 23.0
| Jul record high C = 21.6
| Aug record high C = 23.0
| Sep record high C = 26.8
| Oct record high C = 32.0
| Nov record high C = 31.1
| Dec record high C = 35.0
| year record high C = 
|Jan record low C  = 4.5
|Feb record low C  = 4.4
|Mar record low C  = 0.5
|Apr record low C  = 0.0
|May record low C  =  -5.0
|Jun record low C  = -5.5
|Jul record low C  = -3.0
|Aug record low C  = -3.5
|Sep record low C  = -3.0
|Oct record low C  = -2.3
|Nov record low C  = 1.0
|Dec record low C  = 2.5
|year record low C = 
|Jan high C = 	22.7
|Feb high C = 	22.4
|Mar high C = 	20.6
|Apr high C = 	17.6
|May high C = 	15.3
|Jun high C = 	12.6
|Jul high C = 	12.0
|Aug high C = 	13.2
|Sep high C = 	15.4
|Oct high C = 	17.5
|Nov high C = 	19.2
|Dec high C = 	21.3
| year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 	17.5
|Feb mean C = 	17.2
|Mar mean C = 	15.6
|Apr mean C = 	13.0
|May mean C = 	10.8
|Jun mean C = 	8.3
|Jul mean C = 	7.6
|Aug mean C = 	8.7
|Sep mean C = 	10.6
|Oct mean C = 	12.3
|Nov mean C = 	14.0
|Dec mean C = 	16.2
| year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 	12.4
|Feb low C = 	12.1
|Mar low C = 	10.7
|Apr low C = 	8.4
|May low C = 	6.2
|Jun low C = 	4.0
|Jul low C = 	3.3
|Aug low C = 	4.2
|Sep low C = 	5.6
|Oct low C = 	7.1
|Nov low C = 	8.8
|Dec low C = 	11.1
| year low C = 
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 	46.9
|Feb rain mm = 	55.1
|Mar rain mm = 	86.4
|Apr rain mm = 	72.0
|May rain mm = 	74.1
|Jun rain mm = 	107.2
|Jul rain mm = 	159.5
|Aug rain mm = 	124.7
|Sep rain mm = 	66.6
|Oct rain mm = 	79.8
|Nov rain mm = 	70.7
|Dec rain mm = 	67.5
|year rain mm = 
| Jan sun  =244.8
| Feb sun  =210.9
| Mar sun  =189.3
| Apr sun  =152.6
| May sun  =129.6
| Jun sun  =96.0
| Jul sun  =115.2
| Aug sun  =140.6
| Sep sun  =182.8
| Oct sun  =219.7
| Nov sun  =237.2
| Dec sun  =242.2
| year sun = 
| Jan percentsun  =53
| Feb percentsun  =54
| Mar percentsun  =49
| Apr percentsun  =47
| May percentsun  =44
| Jun percentsun  =36
| Jul percentsun  =40
| Aug percentsun  =44
| Sep percentsun  =52
| Oct percentsun  =53
| Nov percentsun  =54
| Dec percentsun  =51
| year percentsun =
| Jan light = 15.0
| Feb light = 13.8
| Mar light = 12.4
| Apr light = 10.9
| May light = 9.6
| Jun light = 9.0
| Jul light = 9.3
| Aug light = 10.4
| Sep light = 11.8
| Oct light = 13.3
| Nov light = 14.6
| Dec light = 15.4
| year light=
|source 1 = NIWA (rainfall 1971–2000)<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/
|title = CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent numbers: 4951, 36593)
|publisher = NIWA
|access-date = 20 May 2024}}</ref>
|source 2 = Weather Spark<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://weatherspark.com/y/144837/Average-Weather-in-Christchurch-New-Zealand-Year-Round
|title = Climate and Average Weather Year Round in Christchurch
|publisher = Weather Spark
|access-date = 10 Dec 2024}}</ref>
}}

==Gallery==

<gallery>

File:Akaroa Head Lighthouse.jpg|Akaroa Head Lighthouse (built {{Circa|1878}})

File:Akaroa-ViewOfHarbour.jpg|View of Akaroa harbour; the long, thin peninsula extending out into the harbour is [[Ōnawe Peninsula]], and the middle of the volcano

File:The Gaiety, Akaroa (c.1879).JPG|The Gaiety, Akaroa (built {{circa | 1879}})

File:16 Akaroa, New Zealand - free stock photo.jpg|Akaroa Main Wharf

</gallery>

==Notable residents==
[[File:NZ - Akaroa - Frank Worsley bust.jpg|thumb|A bronze bust of Frank Worsley located in the Britomart Reserve, on the foreshore]]
* [[Jessie Buckland]] (1878–1939), photographer<ref>{{DNZB|last=Main|first=William|id=2b47|title=Jessie Lillian Buckland|accessdate=23 April 2017}}</ref>
* [[John Buckland (New Zealand politician)|John Buckland]] (1844–1909), politician<ref>{{cite web |title=Buckland, Jessie Lillian |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2b47/buckland-jessie-lillian |website=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=13 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Buckland, Jessie Lillian, 1878–1939 |url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22356136 |website=National Library of New Zealand |access-date=13 December 2021 |language=en-nz |date=1 January 1878}}</ref>
* [[Bob Parker (mayor)|Bob Parker]] (born 1953), former mayor of Banks Peninsula and former resident<ref name="Kia ora: Akaroa">{{cite news |last=Easther |first=Elisabeth |title=Kia ora: Akaroa |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=11193402 |access-date=18 February 2014 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=31 January 2014 |location=Auckland}}</ref>
* [[William Penlington (mayor)|William Penlington]] (1832–1899), sawmiller, builder and mayor of Akaroa<ref>{{Macdonald Dictionary|716180|William Penlington|5 October 2022}}</ref>
* [[William Penlington (teacher)|William Penlington]] (1890–1982), school principal and educationalist<ref>{{DNZB|Boyd|Mary|4p7|William Arthur Greener Penlington|10 December 2011}}</ref>
* [[Hugh Wilson (New Zealand botanist)|Hugh Wilson]] (born 1945), botanist living at [[Hinewai Reserve]] over the hill from Akaroa<ref name="Kia ora: 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 (1912 ship)|Endurance]]''<ref>{{DNZB|last=Dennerly|first=P. Y.|id=3w28|title=Worsley, Frank Arthur|access-date=15 February 2014}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book | title=Banks Peninsula : Cradle of Canterbury |year=2010 | first=Gordon | last=Ogilvie | author-link=Gordon Ogilvie | edition=3rd | isbn=978-0-9583315-7-9 | publisher=Phillips & King Publishers}}
*{{cite book | ref={{sfnRef|Royal Society|February 1958}} |author=The Royal Society of New Zealand |title=New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics |url= https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_KKg4AAAAIAAJ | page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_KKg4AAAAIAAJ/page/n19 207] |date=February 1958 |publisher=The Royal Society of New Zealand}}
*{{cite book | title=French Akaroa |year=2010 | first=Peter | last=Tremewan | edition=2nd | isbn=978-1-877257-97-1 | publisher=CUP}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{Wikivoyage inline}}
*[https://picryl.com/topics/akaroa+n+z Images of Akaroa in the 1850s by Charles Meryon]
*[https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22620926 Land tenure - New Zealand - Canterbury Region]
*[https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-JacTale-t1-body-d1-d6-d3.html THE STORY OF THE FRENCH COLONISATION OF AKAROA]
* [http://www.akaroa.com/ Akaroa official website]
* [http://www.akaroacivictrust.co.nz/ Akaroa Civic Trust]
*[https://www.christchurchnz.com/explore/cruise/christchurch-cruise-schedule Cruise Ship schedule &nbsp;]

{{Banks Peninsula}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Akaroa| ]]
[[Category:Banks Peninsula]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Canterbury Region]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1840]]
[[Category:Miocene volcanoes]]
[[Category:Volcanoes of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Landforms of the Canterbury Region]]
[[Category:English-New Zealand culture]]
[[Category:French-New Zealand culture]]
[[Category:Louis Philippe I]]