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.
![Raglan: winter beach life](https://nzmcd.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/raglan-winter-july-24-1200x900-1-300x211.jpg)
Raglan: winter beach life
Mel de Jongh discovers that Raglan is not just a summer destination and offers plenty to spark joy over the winter months