Find art, music and magic through the inspired work of artists and creatives that call Akaroa and The Bay’s home.
Okains Bay Maori & Colonial Museum
Visit the Museum at the heart of historic Okains Bay, just over the hill from Akaroa.
Enjoy the relaxed environment and open spaces as you learn about life on Banks Peninsula in former times. Significant taonga Māori and early Pākehā items are among the exciting range of treasures on display in the museum’s diverse complex of heritage buildings.
Open Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-4pm.
Akaroa Art Gallery
The Akaroa Art Gallery comes to life in the warmer months when Akaroa is full of visitors and holiday-makers. The gallery hosts exhibitions featuring the work of artists from Banks Peninsula and beyond, many of whom enjoy national and international recognition. It also provides a wonderful venue for intimate musical events and varied workshops throughout the year.
The historic building where the gallery is located is officially known as The Orion Powerhouse Gallery. The building began life in 1911, housing Akaroa’s hydro-electric power equipment. Several years later it was extended to house a gas engine and workshop both of which remained in use until the mid-1950s when the equipment was sold to the Maruia Springs Hotel.
In 1970, then local resident, Patricia Bosshard, established a gallery and concert venue in the empty building. She organised concerts and a film society. In 1977 an incorporated society took over the running of the Powerhouse as a gallery and concert venue. Financial support for the project was provided by Orion the local power company.
Today, the Akaroa Art Gallery is an iconic and much-loved Akaroa institution with a membership of 150 people from all over Canterbury.
In about 2000 the hydro-electric plant at Maruia Springs became redundant. With help from local volunteers and support from the Akaroa Civic Trust the equipment was then returned to the Orion Powerhouse Gallery where it remains to this day.
For the current event on at the Akaroa Art Gallery visit our website.
2019 Committee:
Bryan Tichborne (President)
Peter Lambert (Treasurer)
Jan Collins (Secretary) (0223 186193) janandclyde@xtra.co.nz
Jeanette Elliott (Meeting Secretary)
Mary Farrell (Minders)
Sarah Ford
Keith Harris
Annette Moore
Pip Mason.
Akaroa Community Arts Council
The Akaroa Community Arts Council is a dynamic group of Peninsula volunteers who promote and encourage creativity in the communities of Akaroa and the Bays.
We aim to enable and provide subsidised opportunities for participation in arts activities across a wide range of disciplines. We do this through workshops, classes, creative events and local art exhibitions.
Please contact us if you would like to be included on our mailing list of upcoming events or join our membership.
For More details go to our website
Little River Gallery
A Peninsula landmark. Enjoy delicious food and coffee in a peaceful sculpture garden. Fantastic giftshop with quality, unique and original New Zealand art. We have regular exhibitions in our Gallery exhibiting contemporary NZ sculpture, painting and jewellery. Check out our web site for our present and up and coming exhibitions. Live viewing of our art on our web site.
Open Hours
Everyday except Christmas day
9am - 5pm weekdays
9am - 5.30pm weekends
We are open every day.
Historic Buildings Database
The Akaroa Civic Trust has developed a database of all the historic buildings and sites in the Akaroa historic area. If you would like to find the location of the cottage that used to be in your family way back or find the name of the person that build your family bach, the database is a great place to start. The database is fully searchable from the Akaroa Civic Trust website.
Akaroa Library/Te Kete Wānanga o Te Ao Marama
The Akaroa Library offers free membership for ratepayers and residents. Visitors welcome. Free wifi, email and internet access. Hours 10.00 - 4.30 Weekdays, 10.00 - 1.00 Saturdays. Akaroa Library is a joint use school and community library and is part of the Christchurch City Libraries network. Visitors in the library are welcome to browse the Christchurch City Libraries online databases. Printing/photocopying/scanning/laminating and book sales are also available. Web page HERE.
Services include:
Toilets off library foyer – wheelchair access
Wheelchair access to library
Parking across the road
Akaroa Craft Market
Akaroa Craft Market is on the grounds of the Presbyterian Trinity Church (1886). It is held on weekends and on cruise ship days over the summer months.
Akaroa Craft Market Contact:
Jose Thomson
Phone: 03 3291000
Cell Phone: 027 4302308
bandjthomson@netspeed.net.nz
Church Services in Akaroa
Akaroa has Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian Churches.
ALL SERVICES AT 9.30 am
St Peter’s Anglican, Rue Balguerie
Trinity Church, corner Rue Lavaud and Rue Brittan
https://www.akaroachurches.co.nz/services/
Every Sunday
Mass at St Patrick’s Catholic Church
29 Rue Lavaud
https://www.akaroacatholicparish.co.nz/mass-times/
We would love you to join us!