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Banks Peninsula Gets Its First Look At An European War Ship – 8th June 1838
It is quite a thought that, upon the arrival of the French corvette naval ship ‘Heroine’ at Akaroa on 8th June 1838, 16 French whaling ships were carrying out their barbaric trade on Waitaha (Canterbury) waters. They weren’t the only ones out on the water: American, Australian and British whalers also fought for their position …
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New Zealand’s First German Settler – 20th March 1837
On 20th March 1837, German whaler, Captain George Hempleman started up his whaling station at Piraki Bay(now known as Peraki and original French spelling), Banks Peninsula for the Australian firm of ‘Clayton and Duke’. He and his brave men were the first Europeans to make a permanent go of things, against incredible odds. Hempleman was …
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Te Rauparaha Sacked Kaikai-a-waro (Kaiapoi Pa) 1831
In 1700, a great migration of the Ngai Tahu came down from the North Island, under Chief Tu Rakautohi. In celebration, his little brother Moki, built a Pa which Tu Rakautohi named Kaikai-a-waro. We now call this surrounding area Kaiapoi. It was soon regarded as the largest and safest stronghold of the Ngai Tahu in …
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John Robert Godley Was Born – 29th May 1814
On 29th May 1814, the Founder of Canterbury, John Robert Godley was born to John and Katherine Godley in Dublin, Ireland. As a teenager, he was educated at Christ Church College in Oxford and graduated in 1836. He studied the classics and decided to pursue a career in law. He had always been a sickly …
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