Monday 1 February, 2010

Takapūneke and Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Takapūneke, between Akaroa and Ōnuku, is a place of immense significance in the story of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Te Rauparaha, aided by Captain Stewart of the British brig Elizabeth, captured Ngāi Tahu paramount chief Te Maiharanu and his wife there in November 1830. The kāinga at Takapūneke was raided, and 150 people were killed.

As a direct result of British concern over the Takapūneke incident, James Busby was sent to New Zealand as ‘British Resident’ in 1833. This intervention culminated in the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi seven years later.

Learn more about Takapūneke and Ōnuku, read about Waitangi Day and treaty signings in the South Island. There's more on the Treaty of Waitangi itself and plenty of reading about local pre-European settlement in Tī Kōuka Whenua.

Fresh off the press

Frisky fun with romance writer Natalie Anderson [interview]
Waitangi Day [updated]
The Treaty of Waitangi — South Island signings
Lunar New Year
Famous New Zealanders — profiles for children
Courtney Archer — pacifist and relief worker
Golf resources at your library
Customer Code of Conduct
Randolph Caldecott Medal winners 2010
John Newbery Medal winners 2010
Children's Day (7 March 2010) [updated]
Elizabeth Francis Moody 1939 - 2010 Christchurch actress, director
Marcus Chown [interview]
Earthquakes [updated]
Searchable databases of the Irish Times (1859-2008), The Guardian (1821-2003) and The Observer (1791-2003) — contact us if you need a PIN for your library card.

New posts on the blog

Looking back

At the beginning of February 1974 the eyes of the Commonwealth were on Christchurch. Opened with a novelty marching routine by the New Zealand Army Band, the games ended on a high note, with what commentators dubbed "the greatest middle distance race of all time". Tanzanian Filbert Bayi lead from tape to gun to set a new world record time in the 1500 metres. John Walker, who also broke the existing record, was second; Ben Jipcho of Kenya third; and Kiwi Rod Dixon finished fourth.

Other notable Canterbury milestones in early February:

2 February 1960 Burnside High School opens. For a long time it was the biggest high school in the Southern Hemisphere.
2 February 1982 New central Public Library (designed by Warren and Mahoney) opens in Gloucester Street.
3 February 1915 Canterbury Battalion sustains New Zealand’s first casualties of World War I at Suez Canal.
3 February 1962 Peter Snell sets new world records for the half mile and 800 metres at Lancaster Park.
4-5 February 1868 Severe storm and gales. Several ships wrecked, floods throughout Canterbury. Waimakariri River overflows into the Avon causing serious flooding. Water flows a metre deep in Market Square (now Victoria Square).
6 February 1914 New evening paper, the "Sun" appears. This independent paper caused a sensation in the newspaper industry because of its modern style and lavish use of illustrations.
7 February 1851 “Castle Eden” arrives with settlers. There had been trouble on the voyage, and her crew was arrested and imprisoned for mutiny.

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