Story: Nearshore islands

Te Awaiti, Arapawa Island

Te Awaiti, Arapawa Island

Arapawa Island, near Tory Channel in the Marlborough Sounds, was the most long-lived whaling settlement in New Zealand history. John Guard set up a shore-based station at Te Awaiti in the late 1820s (the exact date is disputed). In 1911 an Italian fisherman, Joe Perano, revived whaling from the bay. These two whaling boats from that time have harpoonists at the ready. The Peranos continued whaling from Arapawa Island until 1964.

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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: 1/2-027003

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Eileen McSaveney, 'Nearshore islands - Early inhabitants', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/13020/te-awaiti-arapawa-island (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Eileen McSaveney, published 24 Sep 2007