The signing of the Treaty of Waitangi was only a matter of months before the first European ship arrived in Akaroa to annex New Zealand’s South Island for France. Had they been successful we might well have been singing La Marseillaise and eating escargot.
However, while the French missed out on claiming New Zealand, the small Banks Peninsula town of Akaroa has still been claimed for France, albeit unofficially. When we visited, the town had recently celebrated its 175th anniversary and the bunting was still up, giving the town an even more festive air.
The best mountain walks in Rotorua and Taupō
Nestled in the heart of Aotearoa NZ’s North Island, the Rotorua and Taupō regions are a haven for avid walkers and outdoor enthusiasts alike