Akaroa - The Ngāi Tahu History
Te Pātaka a Rākaihautu is the ancient name for the Banks Peninsula, given
by the Waitaha explorer, Rākaihautu, who traversed the mountains of Te Waipounamu
[South Island] digging lakes with his kō [digging stick] before settling
in Akaroa. When glancing across from the Akaroa township you can see the
flat peak of Tuhiraki [Mt. Bossu] formed when Rākaihautu thrust his kō into
the earth. Banks Peninsula is also known as Horomaka, named after the Makawhiu
canoe, which landed at Koukourārata [Port Levy] and signaled the arrival
of Ngāi Tahu to this area. The Ngāi Tahu sub-tribes Ngāi Tarewa and Ngāti
Irakehu settled here due to its beauty and valuable sources of food, naming
the harbour Akaroa, meaning the long harbour.
In 1832 Ngāi Tahu encountered the first of several devastating assaults on the authority when the Ngāti Toa chief, Te Rauparaha, attacked the fortified village of Ōnawe, massacring its inhabitants before being later driven back to the North Island. Although the Treaty of Waitangi was signed at the local Ngāi Tahu settlement of Ōnuku by Iwikau, and John Love [Tikao]. The pressure to acquire land for French and English settlers saw the appropriation of lands leaving local Ngāi Tahu with only small reserves being set aside such as Ōnuku [5kms south of Akaroa] in 1856. Land loss also meant the loss of ability to cultivate foods and engage in the local economy which had dire consequences.
Akaroa - The Colonial History
Akaroa is the oldest town in Canterbury and one of the most historic European
settlements in New Zealand. It is the only French-founded community in New
Zealand. In fact if the French colonising plan for this part of the South
Pacific had been implemented promptly, it might have radically altered the
subsequent history of New Zealand.
In 1836, the French whaler Jean Langlois negotiated with the Māori chief
of the local Ngāi Tahu tribe, to buy Banks Peninsula for a French settlement.
He returned to France but it took until the 20 March 1840 before a ship with
59 emigrants set sail to take up their French ownership of Banks Peninsula.
While on their voyage however, the British were establishing their sovereignty
of New Zealand.
The Treaty of Waitangi had been signed on the 6th February 1840. Governor
Hobson, hearing of the French intentions, dispatched a ship which arrived
on the 10th August 1840 in Akaroa Harbour where they raised the Union Jack.
Just 7 days later the French sailed up the harbour and were dismayed to see
the British Flag flying at Green’s Point. They had little choice but to bring
their families ashore and establish a new community.
Although initially very difficult for these pioneers the fertile soils, the
forestry, the ample fishing and the temperate climate ensured the settlement
survived. The difficult residential status of the French settlers in a British
colony was resolved when they were declared naturalised British subjects
in December 1851 and were given Crown grants to their Akaroa land in 1852.
Many of the descendants of the original 59 emigrants are still in the community
ensuring a strong French flavour still contributes to the unique community
of Akaroa.
