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Akaroa and the French Trivia Quiz

The charming, romantic town of Akaroa (Banks Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand) has a fascinating history. Originally settled by Maori, the French arrived in the mid 19th century. This quiz tests your knowledge of this unique settlement.

A multiple-choice quiz by voreqe. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
voreqe

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
272,706

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
363

Question 1 of 10

1. Captain Langlois, the French whaling captain that eventually brought the French settlers to Akaroa, operated a whaling ship in the 1830s. What was it called? Hint

Lancelot

Cachalot

Laughalot

Costalot

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Question 2 of 10

2. In 1838 Captain Langlois purchased Banks Peninsula from the local Maori tribe and returned to France to finance a colonial settlement expedition. He duly returned aboard which ship? Hint

Josephine

Comte de Paris

HMS Herald

La Fleur de Lys

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Question 3 of 10

3. All the 63 settlers were French.

Yes

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Question 4 of 10

4. The command of the French frigate L'Aube was a Capt. C.F. Lavaud. How does Akaroa commemorate this man? Hint

La Piscine d'Akaroa - the local swimming pool

Rue Lavaud - a street in Akaroa

Lavaud's Snail Emporium and Garlic Market

La Vie en Lavaud - a restaurant

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Question 5 of 10

5. The six German settlers were allocated land in the adjacent bay. What was it called? Hint

Baltic Bight

Luebecker Bucht

German Bay

Village du Rhin

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Question 6 of 10

6. When did the first significant arrival of British settlers occur? Hint

With the "First Four" ships heading for Christchurch in December 1850

Immediately - the week after

10 years later - April 1850

The British never settled in Akaroa

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Question 7 of 10

7. Who said "If I were to ever be crossed in love, I would return to Akaroa to repair the damage"? Hint

General de Gaulle

Napoleon Bonaparte

Lord Lyttelton

Brigitte Bardot

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Question 8 of 10

8. What name did the French have in mind for Akaroa? Hint

Nouvelle Paris

Port Louis Philippe

Rochfort du Sud

Port Nouvelle Zelande

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Question 9 of 10

9. What type of migrant did the French encourage to come to Akaroa Hint

Wealthy landowners

Agricultural labourers and the working classes

Military people to defend their land

Sealers and whalers

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Question 10 of 10

10. As Akaroa was the first Canterbury settlement it had the first church which was called Hint

Church of St Louis

Church of St. Patrick

Church of the Assumption

Church of St Francis

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Captain Langlois, the French whaling captain that eventually brought the French settlers to Akaroa, operated a whaling ship in the 1830s. What was it called?

Answer: Cachalot

Many sealers and whalers of the time plundered the coast around Banks Peninsula for whale oil and seal skins - which were the then commodity equivalent of kerosene and gortex! In the late 1820s and throughout the 1830s, this trade was almost akin to the later gold rushes.

The seals and whales were hunted to near extinction - but have recovered their numbers under NZ conservation laws.

2. In 1838 Captain Langlois purchased Banks Peninsula from the local Maori tribe and returned to France to finance a colonial settlement expedition. He duly returned aboard which ship?

Answer: Comte de Paris

In 1840 the Comte de Paris arrived in Akaroa and had 63 settlers on board and was escorted by the French frigate L'Aube. HMS Herald was around at the time and actually reached Akaroa before the French settlers and signed the local Maori tribe under British sovereignty. The other answers were just made up.

3. All the 63 settlers were French.

Answer: No

Six settlers were German. Despite the settlers finding the land British, they readily accepted such soverignty and went about building Canterbury's first colonial settlement. British migrants joined them over the next 10 years as New Zealand became a very fashionable place to find new land.

4. The command of the French frigate L'Aube was a Capt. C.F. Lavaud. How does Akaroa commemorate this man?

Answer: Rue Lavaud - a street in Akaroa

Many of the street names of Akaroa demonstrate the French heritage. Rue Jolie, Rue Grehan, Rue Balguerie being other examples. If there ever was such a thing as a snail emporium, we would like to know more about it. All other answers are made up.

5. The six German settlers were allocated land in the adjacent bay. What was it called?

Answer: German Bay

The unoriginality of naming it German Bay was brought into focus with the outbreak of the Great War (WWI). In New Zealand, like everwhere in the British Empire, anything "German" was highly unpopular at the time (not least the name of the reigning monarch's dynasty), so the government changed the name of the bay back to the old Maori name of Takamatua.

6. When did the first significant arrival of British settlers occur?

Answer: 10 years later - April 1850

The barque "Monarch" arrived in Akaroa after being damaged in a storm. She was destined for Auckland with her migrants, but the settlers loved Akaroa so much they got off and decided to stay there.

7. Who said "If I were to ever be crossed in love, I would return to Akaroa to repair the damage"?

Answer: Lord Lyttelton

Akaroa is an incredibly romantic place - but the three wrong answers are stretching it a wee bit!

8. What name did the French have in mind for Akaroa?

Answer: Port Louis Philippe

You could be excused for answering Rochefort du Sud because Rochefort was the port where the French settlers set sail from - but still wrong. The others are made up.

9. What type of migrant did the French encourage to come to Akaroa

Answer: Agricultural labourers and the working classes

Each migrant was promised 5 acres of land (about 2 hectares) if they joined the venture. This was so that the colony could flourish quickly. Wealthy French landowners were not encouraged and as there were plenty of sealers and whalers were considered a bit rough, and were definitely not encouraged.

The French actually did send the frigate L'Aube to protect their interests in the early stages, but such migrants were not the focus.

10. As Akaroa was the first Canterbury settlement it had the first church which was called

Answer: Church of the Assumption

This church was burnt down and a second church of the same name was erected. this blew down in a storm and in 1864 the Church of St. Patrick was started and remains today. It was built from totara and matai and completed in 1886. The stained glass windows are stunning at sunrise.

Source: Author voreqe

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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