Akaroa Harbour

The harbour enters from the southern coast of the peninsula, heading in a predominantly northerly direction. It is one of two major inlets in Banks Peninsula, on the coast of Canterbury, New Zealand; the other is Lyttelton Harbour on the northern coast.

Akaroa Harbour
A photo of Akaroa Harbour from the northwest with Ōnawe Peninsula clearly visible
Akaroa Harbour
Nautical chart "NZ 6324 Akaroa Harbour"
Location	Banks Peninsula
Coordinates	43°50′40.56″S 172°55′30.719″E / 43.8446000°S 172.92519972°E / -43.8446000; 172.92519972
Type	Harbour
Islands	The Long Boat
Settlements	Akaroa, Duvauchelle, Takapūneke, Takamatua
References

The name Akaroa is an alternative spelling of Whakaroa, Whangaroa or Wangaloa from the Kāi Tahu dialect of Māori. Whakaroa means "Long Harbour".

The harbour was used commercially in the mid-19th century for ship-based and shore-based whaling. Cruise ships occasionally enter the harbour, with the passengers visiting Akaroa.

Ōnawe Peninsula is at the head of the harbour, the former site of a Māori pā.

Akaroa Harbour's waterfront has been continually inhabited since the 1840s.

Akaroa, Duvauchelle, Takapūneke, Takamatua, Barrys Bay, French Farm and Wainui lie on the shoreline of the harbour. They are connected to the rest of Canterbury via State Highway 75. French Bay, the site of the French settlement of Akaroa, was originally known as Paka Ariki.

Demographics

The Akaroa Harbour statistical area covers the settlements around the harbour with the exception of Akaroa. It covers 162.14 km² (62.60 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 720 as of June 2023, with a population density of 4.4 people per km².

Akaroa Harbour had a population of 729 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 27 people (−3.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 18 people (2.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 330 households, comprising 363 males and 366 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female. The median age was 57.9 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 78 people (10.7%) aged under 15 years, 63 (8.6%) aged 15 to 29, 333 (45.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 255 (35.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 93.8% European/Pākehā, 6.6% Māori, 1.2% Pasifika, 2.5% Asian, and 2.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 21.0, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 49.4% had no religion, 39.9% were Christian, 1.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% were Buddhist and 1.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 159 (24.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 90 (13.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $28,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 84 people (12.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 279 (42.9%) people were employed full-time, 132 (20.3%) were part-time, and 3 (0.5%) were unemployed.

The harbour is one of two eroded volcanic centres from the extinct Banks Peninsula Volcano.

The 475-hectare (1,170-acre) Akaroa Marine Reserve was given approval in 2013 after a 17-year campaign to get it established.

As of 2011^[update], of the seven sites that are sampled in the harbour for water quality, six are graded as "good" and one as "fair" in terms of recreational use. Rainfall affects the grading.

• Coastline of New Zealand