Following a programme of earthquake strengthening and repair, Akaroa Museum has created three new long term exhibitions about the history of Banks Peninsula.
These have been produced in collaboration with Ōnuku rūnanga and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.
Ngā Taenga mai arrivals
This new long term exhibition focuses on a period of intense change from the 1830s to the 1850s.
The displays show objects closely related to the events and people of this period. This exhibition explores the simultaneous histories of whaling, the failed French colony, naval occupation, the arrival of Pākehā settlers, and the struggle by Ngāi Tahu to get a fair deal for their land.
Land & Sea
Settlers from both Polynesian and European origins made their living from the land and sea around Horomaka Banks Peninsula.
This exhibition is about the human relationship with the natural environment, focusing on transformation. Displays examine deforestation, overcoming isolation by improving transport routes and communication, fishing and farming.
Tales of Banks Peninsula
Local identity is an elusive subject. Its shades and nuances become visible at moments of collective celebration of the past, through the stories people tell about themselves, and of the heroes (and villains) that punctuate our history through their larger-than-life exploits.
Meet Frank Worsley and Pompey the penguin. Find out what is French (or should that be, what was French?) about Akaroa. Later, you might just want to raise a glass to the memory of Captain Bruce.