With deep sadness Akaroa Museum acknowledges the passing of Nigel Harrison who has had a long association with Akaroa Museum.
It was with deep sadness we heard news on Tuesday (03/02/2026) of the passing of one of our team members, Nigel Harrison.
Since March last year Nigel has been working at the Museum, assisting on the front desk welcoming visitors. The role brought him full circle back to Akaroa Museum, as 60 years ago he spent a lot of time in the Museum with his mother, Daphne Harrison, who was then curator at the Museum; she gave him pocket money for polishing the glass cases.
Nigel’s enthusiasm for local history and collectables and the easy connections he made with visitors meant the Museum job was a perfect fit.
Outside the Museum, Nigel was Deputy Chair of the Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula Community Board, a role with responsibilities he took very seriously. The community and its well-being were always front of mind for Nigel. As a member of the Community Board he sat on the Akaroa Museum Advisory Committee, part of the Museum's governance structure.
He was also on the committee of the Friends of Akaroa Museum and organised the annual Antiques Fair, an important fund-raiser for the Museum.
His involvement with a large number of organisations in Akaroa means that we won’t be the only ones missing him, but he had a special bond with the Museum that we will always remember with gratitude and fondness. Our sympathy goes out to his whānau. RIP