early Akaroa harbour

The Akaroa harbour near the eastern tip of Banks Peninsular in Canterbury was too far from Christchurch to have ever had more than local significance, but it was notable for being the only place the French came close to establishing a colony in NZ.  For much of the latter 19th century, French and English communities of immigrants co-existed in Akaroa and today there are still French streetnames and signage in the town, which is popular with tourists in summer.

The first illustration of unknown origin shows sizable ships anchored, probably mid-19th century, and the second is a postcard from the 1900s.