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  “Bringing History to Life: An Outstanding Learning Experience with Marie” - We have been working with Marie for the past four years as part of our NCEA Level 2 programme, and I highly recommend her. She is easy to deal with,... read more well organised, and makes the day highly enjoyable for both students and staff — it is a highlight of the course for both my students and me. She builds great rapport with students and keeps them interested throughout, and they consistently learn a great deal from the experience. Many comment on how interesting and inspiring the tour is, thanks to her passion and storytelling.

Marie is highly adaptable, tailoring each tour to meet assessment requirements, which adds real value to student learning. Her content is always fresh and engaging, even after multiple years.

I would highly recommend Marie not only for senior History programmes but also as a valuable opportunity for junior Social Studies classes or as part of department professional development. We look forward to continuing to work with her in the future.

  A perfect way to be introduced to Banks Penninsula and Aotearoa history  - From every perspective this is an ideal tour. Marie provides geological (so THAT is how NZ emerged as a land mass!), historical (Māori, French, English), political (I had no idea... read more the Waitangi Treaty was signed in Akaroa), personal (how a teenager fighting in Les Miserable-era Frane travels the world to NZ), and environmental (restoration of native trees through natural progression rather than chemicals and fire) context to understand the Banks peninsula and Akaroa. From the beautiful views over tea, stress-free communications, and flexible approach (we arrived by bus so had to shift our start time), our family left transformed and rejuvenated. 15 out of 10!

  Excellent tour of Akaroa  - My wife Jan and I highly recommend you take Marie's tour. She is very passionate and knowledgeable about the history of Akaroa and the role it played in the settlement... read more of New Zealand. After the tour you will remember Akaroa for more than just its natural beauty.

  A 5 Star Must-Do Akaroa Experience!  - I highly recommend Akaroa visitors to experience 7th Generation Tour, guided by a rich storyteller, Marie.
You will learn the heart and soul of Akaroa and have a clear understanding... read more of the significance and importance of Akaroa’s sea and land history. The tour includes must see landmarks and scenic lookout points.
A huge thank you to Marie for sharing her home’s profound past events and the awareness that we are all connected together.

  A Few Hours Well Spent!  - Marie was just a delight. My daughter and I learned so much from her about the early settling of Akaroa and New Zealand from an actual descendant. We... read more enjoyed spending the entire morning and early afternoon with her (she graciously extended her time) and we even had the pleasure of sharing cookies and a tea with her while overlooking the stunning landscape. She is very knowledgeable about the conservation of the land and what is being done to preserve its beauty and abundance. Highly recommend this tour.

  PHENOMENAL TOUR  - Marie was FANTASTIC. This tour has everything you need. It had nature, history, beautiful scenery and lots of culture. Book it ASAP.

  The stories Marie told us embracing seven generations of her family and their relationship with Akaroa. Her passion for past, present and future is very energising.

  Profoundly educational and meaningful

In February, 2023, Marie introduced us to Akaroa's history, flora, fauna. Four hours flashed by as we were additionally regaled with historical and personal... read more orations of the Akaroa-Hawai'i nexus. A vivid storyteller, historian, ecologist, scone and coffee maker, Marie is also a damn good driver.

  Akaroa is a magical place and Marie Haley brings the history and culture to life. Growing up in the states I heard stories of my ancestors arriving in New Zealand... read more on a ship from France. As a child it sounded like a fairy tale. When I finally made it to New Zealand, I planned to visit the Banks Peninsula. Had I not discovered Marie's Seventh Generation tour, I would have enjoyed the scenery, and left thinking it was a beautiful place. Marie helped me understand why my ancestors came to this amazing place, how they lived, and why they left. Marie's personal story gives her a deep understanding of Akaroa's multi-faceted history. Her tour exceeded all of my expectations and was a true highlight of my visit to NZ.

  We had an incredible tour with Marie. She was very knowledgeable of Akaroa and Maori history and she provided unique insights to the land that you can't get on any... read more other tour. I can't recommend this highly enough, this tour is a must-do in Akaroa!!!

  Marie provided us with an incredible personalised tour full of amazing sites and historical knowledge. As a seventh generation descendant of the original settlers of Akaroa Marie had incredible insight... read more and personal knowledge of this lovely town and its surroundings. Highly recommend to anyone.

  Marie Haley describes herself as a storyteller, historian and ecologist. But more than that, she has a unique personal perspective as a seventh-generation descendant of one of the original French... read more settlers of Akaroa. Marie combines geology with mythology, paying tribute to the original Maori inhabitants of the Banks Peninsula. She brings history to life by showing significant places that aren't in any guidebook. She then provides a spectacular overview of the village and harbor from a viewpoint hundreds of meters above sea level. To our surprise and delight, she served afternoon tea with scones and homemade jam, before venturing into the fog of the eastern bays of the peninsula. We left with a deep appreciation of the land and the people who who have made it their home.

  Marie's knowledge, passion and connection to the land was inspiring. She was able to combine history, ecology, culture, geology, storytelling and more into a very informative three hours. I felt... read more we had a much greater understanding of the Banks Peninsula and it therefore gave much more meaning to our visit.

  We joined Marie’s tour after a chance meeting with her at the Benmore Dam lookout earlier this year. And what a tour.

We had a warm welcome outside... read more of the old post office on the main drag. Here she outlined where she would be taking us and the focus for the tour. Then off we set travelling beyond the wharf along the coast road to learn about some of the Maori history of the area and it’s significance in the overall NZ context. We then moved on to European history in Akaroa in which her family history played a significant part.

Some yummy scones for morning tea in the reserve overlooking the town provide the transition from the history to the nature aspect of the tour. Background on native plant restoration on the peninsula was then followed with a trip over the hill to learn the story of Hugh Wilson’s efforts over decades to start and expand the Hinewai Reserve. Beautiful native bush supplanting the bare land and gorse to give a ‘summit to sea’ reserve. It adjoins farmland that has been in Marie’s family for generations.

What sets this tour apart is the detail of information and Marie’s passion for the area. She interweaves her own family story and philosophy into the tour and the business name is intertwined into this.

Thanks Marie

  A very special experience with a “living treasure”,this is an excursion that should not be missed. Who better to recount the local history and stories but a 7th generation local.... read more Respectful of the Māori narrative, Marie weaves human endeavour, geological activity and recent ecological initiatives into a feast of information that held us enthralled for the afternoon. We are planning a return trip to Akaroa, and hope she will have a Part 2 itinerary for us then.

  We took our two kids with us on this tour with Marie.they are 12 and 14. Originally the tour was because I have a familial French connection to the Akaroa... read more area. The kids were way more into it than I thought they would be and asked lots of questions which Marie answered willingly and with enthusiasm. I think the positivity that Marie maintains toward the future of the environment and the planet was catching and my children felt a flicker of hope to discover through the tour just how much some people are doing for the planet they love.
Josie

  We took our two kids with us on this tour with Marie.they are 12 and 14. Originally the tour was because I have a familial French connection to the Akaroa... read more area. The kids were way more into it than I thought they would be and asked lots of questions which Marie answered willingly and with enthusiasm. I think the positivity that Marie maintains toward the future of the environment and the planet was catching and my children felt a flicker of hope to discover through the tour just how much some people are doing for the planet they love. Josie

  We joined Marie’s tour after a chance meeting with her at the Benmore Dam lookout earlier this year. And what a tour. We had a warm welcome outside... read more of the old post office on the main drag. Here she outlined where she would be taking us and the focus for the tour. Then off we set travelling beyond the wharf along the coast road to learn about some of the Maori history of the area and it’s significance in the overall NZ context. We then moved on to European history in Akaroa in which her family history played a significant part. Some yummy scones for morning tea in the reserve overlooking the town provide the transition from the history to the nature aspect of the tour. Background on native plant restoration on the peninsula was then followed with a trip over the hill to learn the story of Hugh Wilson’s efforts over decades to start and expand the Hinewai Reserve. Beautiful native bush supplanting the bare land and gorse to give a ‘summit to sea’ reserve. It adjoins farmland that has been in Marie’s family for generations. What sets this tour apart is the detail of information and Marie’s passion for the area. She interweaves her own family story and philosophy into the tour and the business name is intertwined into this. Thanks Marie

  We enjoyed an excellent tour with Marie this afternoon. The tour certainly lived up to the high ratings of previous customers. We would recommend the three hour tour, which allows... read more Marie full scope to set out her fascinating historical, cultural and ecological insights. Her storytelling begins with the geological origins of Banks Peninsula (26 million years ago) through to Maori settlement, the arrival of British and French settlers, the Treaty of Waitangi, farming practices (ecological decline and restoration), and much more. Marie herself is a seventh generation local family member, and this shows in both the passion and the realism she brings to her wide ranging tour. A delicious home made picnic at Akaroa Heritage Park, with stunning views of the Harbour, topped off a most memorable afternoon.

  We enjoyed an excellent tour with Marie this afternoon. The tour certainly lived up to the high ratings of previous customers. We would recommend the three hour tour, which allows... read more Marie full scope to set out her fascinating historical, cultural and ecological insights. Her storytelling begins with the geological origins of Banks Peninsula (26 million years ago) through to Maori settlement, the arrival of British and French settlers, the Treaty of Waitangi, farming practices (ecological decline and restoration), and much more. Marie herself is a seventh generation local family member, and this shows in both the passion and the realism she brings to her wide ranging tour. A delicious home made picnic at Akaroa Heritage Park, with stunning views of the Harbour, topped off a most memorable afternoon.