Akaroa & The Bays

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. 

ALL SERVICES AT 9.30 am

1^st and 3^rd Sundays of month

St Peter’s Anglican, Rue Balguerie

2^nd and 4^th Sundays of month

Trinity Church, corner Rue Lavaud

and Rue Brittan

Every Sunday

      Mass at St Patrick’s Catholic Church

      29 Rue Lavaud

We would love you to join us!

Special tours for CRUISE SHIP GUESTS on my web site HERE.

'My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed Maja’s photography tour and learnt much from her in a few short hours. Aside from being exceedingly engaging and knowledgeable, Maja’s constructive critiques and willingness to share her own perspectives thru our cameras’ lenses were invaluable. Her enthusiasm, encouragement, and support made this one of the highlights of our trip!' Marie & Scott, San Francisco, USA

‘This tour was the highlight of our trip! Maja is a very gracious and knowledgeable host.' Susan & Gordon, Ontario, Canada

'It was fantastic - absolutely fantastic! Brilliant, phenomenal! ...very knowledgeable! And we had our own exclusive photographer for getting some really good pictures of us as a couple!' Ian & Silvia, England

'Maja exceeded my expectations in taking me to one fabulous photo opportunity to the next during my one day cruise ship stop over in Akaroa. I decided to pass on driving to Christchurch so we could just focus on all the beauty in and around Akaroa. Plus she will give you some good photography tips.' Dain Blair, Los Angeles, USA

Thank you for a wonderful experience! The booking process with Maja was easy and any ongoing communication was excellent. Having emigrated from Germany, Maja is extremely knowledgeable about the history and culture of her new home country. Amazing views with some great chances to take some awesome photos under Maja’s excellent guidance, which is second to none.
We had an amazing day and can’t find enough superlatives to describe how awesome Maja is. You are always a little skeptical when booking a private tour away from the cruise ship in a foreign country but we can not recommend Maja and her photography tour of Akaroa and Christchurch enough.
We had an awesome experience, saw many sites that would not have been possible on a larger group tour and would recommend Maja to anyone who relishes the more private, personal touch to their tour requirements. Her Land Rover Discovery is very nice, clean and well maintained, her driving excellent and we felt safe in her hands for our day in Akaroa & Christchurch.
Georgy & Richard, Los Angeles, USA

Maja is AMAZING! My husband and I spent half a day with Maja on a private photography tour while visiting Akaroa on our cruise ship. She not only took us to the most beautiful private places away from all the crowds, but her photographic expertise and kind instruction allowed us to take excellent photographs. Using both my husband’s more advanced camera and our iPhone 10s, we were able to capture phenomenal images worth framing all the while having a marvelous adventure up and down the hills! Thank you, Maja, for an experience we will never forget.

Kaye Phillips, USA

Services include:

    Toilets off library foyer – wheelchair access
    Wheelchair access to library
    Parking across the road

Akaroa Craft Market Contact:

Jose Thomson
Phone: 03 3291000
Cell Phone: 027 4302308
bandjthomson@netspeed.net.nz

Following the amalgamation of Banks Peninsula District Council with Christchurch City Council the Akaroa Community Arts Council (ACAC) no longer receives the direct grant funding that it had previously distributed to local artistic endeavours.

Was there a future for Community Arts Initiatives?

Well, of course there was !

Instead of acting as a clearing house for Council funds the members of ACAC decided to promote artistic projects themselves and seek funding for individual projects, artists materials etc directly from the Akaroa/Wairewa Community Board, Creative New Zealand and other sources.

Facebook Page HERE.

Ngā Taenga mai  Arrivals focuses on a period of intense change from the 1830s to the 1850s and explores the simultaneous histories of whaling, the failed French colony, naval occupation, the arrival of Pākehā settlers, and the struggle by Ngāi Tahu to get a fair deal for their land.

Land & Sea is about the human relationship with the natural environment, and how settlers from both Polynesian and European origins made their living from the land and sea around Horomaka Banks Peninsula.

Tales of Banks Peninsula has local identity as its theme. Meet some of the heroes (and villains) that punctuate our history - Frank Worsley, Bully Hayes, Captain Bruce, Jessie Buckland and Pompey the Penguin.

Open:
The Museum is open 7 days a week. 10.30am until 4.30 pm. Entrance is FREE. 

Open Hours
Everyday except Christmas day
9am - 5pm weekdays
9am - 5.30pm weekends
We are open every day.