Akaroa Harbour's waterfront has been continually inhabited since the 1840s.
Ōnuku,
Akaroa,
Takapūneke,
Takamatua, Robinsons Bay,
Duvauchelle, Barrys Bay, French Farm, Tikao Bay and Wainui lie on the shoreline of the harbour. They are connected to the rest of Canterbury via
State Highway 75. French Bay, the site of the French settlement of Akaroa, was originally known as Paka Ariki.
Demographics The Akaroa Harbour statistical area covers the settlements around the harbour with the exception of Akaroa. It covers . It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Akaroa Harbour had a population of 729 at the
2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 27 people (−3.6%) since the
2013 census, and an increase of 18 people (2.5%) since the
2006 census. There were 330 households, comprising 363 males and 366 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female. The median age was 57.9 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 78 people (10.7%) aged under 15 years, 63 (8.6%) aged 15 to 29, 333 (45.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 255 (35.0%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 93.8% European/
Pākehā, 6.6%
Māori, 1.2%
Pasifika, 2.5%
Asian, and 2.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 21.0, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 49.4% had no religion, 39.9% were
Christian, 1.2% had
Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% were
Buddhist and 1.2% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 159 (24.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 90 (13.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $28,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 84 people (12.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 279 (42.9%) people were employed full-time, 132 (20.3%) were part-time, and 3 (0.5%) were unemployed. == Geography and natural features ==