AKAROA MUSEUM

Established in 1964, this small institution presents the history of the Banks Peninsula from its earliest inhabitants, the Maoris, to British sovereignty, with the abortive French colonization in between. The museum contains several collections of art, photographs, period costumes and archives. Also worth visiting are two other historic buildings: the Custom House, built in 1852, and the Langlois Eteveneaux House, one of the oldest buildings in the country, which was originally built in France and brought to New Zealand.