13 History in Akaroa

Year 13 History enjoyed a superb day out exploring the historical sites of Akaroa Harbour in connection to our Takapūneke Topic. It was such a beautiful spring day to take a short but brisk stroll up Onawe Peninsula and enjoy the panoramic views of the harbour. We also retraced the footsteps of Ngai Tahu who built a supposed impenetrable fortress to defend themselves against the warring Ngati Toa and the formidable chief Te Raupahara. Unfortunately, trickery saw their pa besieged and Ngai Tahu suffered very high casualties. This was very similar to the infamous massacre at Takapūneke. The class has studied the consequences of this fateful event, making links with its national significance and being a critical step in Te Tiriti o Waitangi being signed. It was great to see the progress made at restoring the historical site. It went from being the location of the town dump and sewage treatment plant to finally, after a hard-fought battle, being granted National Historic Reserve status in 2018. Work has begun restoring the site and creating beautiful spaces for the public to come and learn and reflect about the historical events that took place.

As well as having the privilege to experience these sites first hand, we were accompanied by Akaroa History Teacher Garry Brittenden who provided us with great insights into the history of the area. This was followed by an iconic fish and chip lunch on the Akaroa shorefront. It was a great day and a lovely way to finish off the term before we knuckle down with exam revision in term 4.