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Akaroa Museum's collections relate to Banks Peninsula. The museum welcomes all forms of enquiry related to its collections.

Undertaking research

Visitors can access family history information and view copies of many photographs from our collections without an appointment.

To consult our reference library, archives, original photographs or any other collections not currently on display, an appointment is required. Please contact the museum to discuss your enquiry.

We are happy to help any researcher on any project, big or small.

• Akaroa Museum Researcher Guidelines [PDF 30KB]
• Akaroa Museum Research and Access Policy [PDF 40KB]

Research service

Akaroa Museum will undertake research on your behalf - email us at akaroa.museum@ccc.govt.nz.

Fees for staff-assisted research are $20 for an initial search and $20 per hour thereafter.

Costs of photocopies and copy photographs are charged to researchers.

Akaroa Museum has a range of resources that are useful for family history research.

Files on families with copies of documents, family trees etc., and references to other sources are kept in the reception area of the museum and are available to visitors without an appointment.

Full family histories are collected by the museum and become part of the reference library (access by appointment).

Other useful sources include cemetery records and electoral rolls. Contact our museum staff to advance your research.

Researchers who find a connection to the French or German settlers who arrived in Akaroa on the ship Comte de Paris in 1840 may like to contact the Comte de Paris Descendants Group.

The museum has collections relating to many individuals, families, organisations and industries on Banks Peninsula.

Akaroa Mail

Akaroa Museum has a complete run of the Akaroa Mail, beginning with the first issue published on 21/07/1876.

This newspaper is available digitally between the years 1877 to 1939 on the National Library's website Papers Past. Researchers needing to access the years 1876 or 1940 onwards may utilise the museum's collection by appointment.

Local government collections

Within the museum's archives are minute books, letter books, statements of accounts, and lists of ratepayers related to the Akaroa Borough Council, Akaroa County Council, and the four Roads Boards [PDF 30KB].

Maps, photographs and pictures

A variety of historic maps, charts and plans are held by the museum. The photograph collection contains a large number of identified individual and group portraits, and also photographs of particular buildings, locations and occasions. 

A smaller collection of paintings may also provide a useful record. Staff can usually supply a date or date range for individual photographs.

Researchers may request a digital copy for a standard fee although copyright restrictions may apply. Additional fees apply when publishing images of Akaroa Museum collections for commercial purposes.

Reference library

Published and unpublished books, articles, theses and family histories related to Banks Peninsula.

Schools

School rolls and attendance registers for the following schools:

• Akaroa primary and high schools (1875 to1967)
• Pigeon Bay School (1880 to 2002)
• Takamatua School (1876 to 1936)
• Kukupa School (1878 to 1949)
• Holmes Bay School (1935 to 1943)
• Flea Bay School (1903 to 1908, 1919)
• Robinsons Bay (1935 to 1937)
• Duvauchelle School (1883 to 1979)

School reunion records, school photographs, teaching diaries, and other associated materials also accompany some of these archives.

We can offer assistance with the development of programmes for school visits.

The museum's new exhibitions have been developed with the needs of school students in mind. For senior school groups with specific research topics, the museum can provide access to some primary source material.

Akaroa and Banks Peninsula history is summarised in the form of a 20-minute DVD, in the form of a 20-minute DVD, Akaroa - The Long Harbour. 

Bookings essential 

• Email: akaroa.museum@ccc.govt.nz
• Phone: 03 304 1013