Akaroa
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 Kāi Tahu Māori for "Long Harbour", which would be spelled Whangaroa in standard Māori. The area was also named Port Louis-Philippe by French settlers after the reigning French king Louis Philippe I.
Akaroa
Port Louis-Philippe | |
|---|---|
Akaroa township and its Main Wharf | |
Akaroa Location of Akaroa in Banks Peninsula | |
| Coordinates: 43°48′15″S 172°58′00″E | |
| 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 |
|
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Christchurch City Council |
| • Regional council | Environment Canterbury |
| • Mayor of Christchurch | Phil Mauger |
| • Banks Peninsula MP | Vanessa Weenink |
| • Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.03 km2 (0.78 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2023) | |
| • Total | 770 |
| • Density | 380/km2 (980/sq mi) |
| Postcode | 7520 |
| Local iwi | Ngāi Tahu |
The town is 84 kilometres (52 mi) by road from Christchurch and is the terminus of 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. Akaroa is entirely dependent upon rainfall on the hills.
Akaroa is a popular resort town. Many Hector's dolphins can be found within the harbour, and 'swim with the dolphins' boat tours are a major tourist attraction. Akaroa has become a popular cruise ship destination after the 2011 Canterbury Earthquakes damaged the port of Lyttelton. In the summer of 2009–10, Akaroa was visited by seven cruise ships. This has 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.
Ōnuku marae, a marae (tribal meeting ground) of Ngāi Tahu and its Ōnuku Rūnanga branch, is located in Akaroa. It includes the Karaweko wharenui (meeting house).