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Story: Canterbury region

Whaling stations, Banks Peninsula

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In the 1830s, shore whaling stations were established on Banks Peninsula. They were the first European settlements in Canterbury, and provided bases for early exploration. This map shows the sites of whaling stations.

Using this item

Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: Nigel Prickett, Archaeology of New Zealand shore whaling. Wellington: Department of Conservation 2002

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How to cite this page

John Wilson, Canterbury region – Discovery and settlement, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/interactive/10313/whaling-stations-banks-peninsula (accessed 17 June 2026).

Story by John Wilson, published 2 March 2009.