Hokitika, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Hokitika is a township in the West Coast Region of New Zealand
's South Island
, 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) south of Greymouth
, and close to the mouth of the Hokitika River
. According to the 2006 census
, the usually resident population of the Hokitika urban area was 3,078, a decrease of 12 people since 2001. A further 828 people live in the surrounding area, an increase of 180 since 2001. On a clear day Aoraki / Mount Cook can clearly be seen from Hokitika's main street.
Founded on gold
mining
in 1864, it was a centre of the West Coast Gold Rush
. By late 1866 it was one of the country's most populous centres. It became the capital of the short-lived Westland Province
from 1873 until the abolition of provinces in 1876.
The population has declined greatly since that time but the population of the Westland District is now on the rise thanks to "lifestyle inhabitants". Almost 30% of the district's ratepayers live outside of Westland.
, coal
, and forestry
have all dwindled over the last century, but a growing ecotourism
industry has grown up and the town is starting to show signs of recovery. It has become a major tourist stop on the West Coast's main highway route, with carving of greenstone an important local industry. It is also gaining a reputation for its annual wild food festival
which has been running since 1990. Seaview Asylum
was once the town's biggest employer.
Another important industry is dairying, with Westland Milk Products
being based in the town. A co-operative that has been producing dairy products for many years, it is increasing its production at about 10% annually, and in recent years has installed plants to produce new products such as different types of proteins, AMF and others. The vast majority of its production is exported.
The Hokitika Sock Machine Museum in town has on display a collection of antique sock-knitting machines and invites visitors to knit their own socks.
Hokitika now boasts one of the South Islands best 3D digital cinemas, the Regent Theatre, due to volunteer hours and grants from the Westland development trust, Lion's foundation, Lottery's commission, the Major District Initiative and pub charity. The Art Deco theatre narrowly avoided being demolished, thanks to a last minute coup in the management committee.
passes through the town.
Air New Zealand Link
provides up to five flights a day to Christchurch operated by Eagle Airways
. The airport is adjacent to the town, immediately to the north-east.
A branch line
railway known as the Hokitika Branch runs to the town from Greymouth; it opened in 1893 and an extension to Ross
was open from 1909 to 1980. Passengers to Hokitika were initially served by "mixed" trains that carried both goods and passengers, and in 1936, these services were augmented by a Leyland diesel
railbus
service that ran from Hokitika to Greymouth, Christchurch
, and briefly Reefton
. In the early 1940s, the Vulcan railcars
were introduced and they provided a twice-daily service between Ross and Christchurch via Hokitika. The "mixed" trains continued to operate until 1967, and all passenger services to Hokitika ceased when the Vulcan railcars stopped running past Greymouth in 1972. Since then, the line to Hokitika has been freight-only with traffic primarily coming from Westland Milk Products
.
In 1865, after the discovery of gold in the area, the town became the official port of entry of the West Coast. A boom period ensued when Hokitika was second only to Auckland, with reports of over 40 ships in the harbour at one time, with more waiting offshore. It was a dangerous port, however, with 108 strandings and 32 ships lost from 1865 to 1867. The lack of nearby coal meant that the port declined rapidly along with the gold, though Hokitika remained an official entry port until the 1950s.
The current high school is Westland High School, which caters for years 7-13 and has a decile rating
of 6 and a roll of 479. Hokitika School is a contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a decile rating of 4 and a roll of 170.
St Mary's School is a full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 5 and a roll of 108. It is a state integrated Catholic school.
All these schools are coeducational.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
, 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) south of Greymouth
Greymouth
Greymouth is the largest town in the West Coast region in the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the Grey District Council. The population of the whole Grey District is , which accounts for % of the West Coast's inhabitants...
, and close to the mouth of the Hokitika River
Hokitika River
The Hokitika River is in the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is about long, beginning in the Southern Alps and flowing into the Tasman Sea next to the town of Hokitika. The Hokitika River, and its eastern tributary, the Kokatahi River, have formed the Kowhitirangi-Kokatahi...
. According to the 2006 census
New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings
The New Zealand government department Statistics New Zealand conducts a census of population and dwellings every five years. The census scheduled for 2011 was cancelled due to circumstances surrounding the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, however, and legislation introduced to hold the next...
, the usually resident population of the Hokitika urban area was 3,078, a decrease of 12 people since 2001. A further 828 people live in the surrounding area, an increase of 180 since 2001. On a clear day Aoraki / Mount Cook can clearly be seen from Hokitika's main street.
History
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
in 1864, it was a centre of the West Coast Gold Rush
West Coast Gold Rush
The West Coast Gold Rush on the West Coast of New Zealand from 1864 to 1867 populated the area, which up till then had been visited by few Europeans. Gold was found near the Taramakau River in 1864 by two Māori, Ihaia Tainui and Haimona Taukau...
. By late 1866 it was one of the country's most populous centres. It became the capital of the short-lived Westland Province
Westland Province
The Westland Province was a province of New Zealand from 1873 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. The capital was Hokitika.-Area:...
from 1873 until the abolition of provinces in 1876.
The population has declined greatly since that time but the population of the Westland District is now on the rise thanks to "lifestyle inhabitants". Almost 30% of the district's ratepayers live outside of Westland.
Economy
The major industries of greenstone (pounamu), goldGold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
, coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
, and forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
have all dwindled over the last century, but a growing ecotourism
Ecotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, intended as a low impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial tourism...
industry has grown up and the town is starting to show signs of recovery. It has become a major tourist stop on the West Coast's main highway route, with carving of greenstone an important local industry. It is also gaining a reputation for its annual wild food festival
Hokitika Wild Food Festival
The Hokitika Wild Food Festival is an annual event held in Hokitika, New Zealand. The main attraction of the event is food stalls offering items not normally consumed on a regular basis...
which has been running since 1990. Seaview Asylum
Seaview Asylum
The Seaview Asylum was a psychiatric hospital located to the north of Hokitika, in the West Coast Region of New Zealand's South Island. Once the town's biggest employer, the hospital was staffed by a superintendent, matron, attendants, and a labourer...
was once the town's biggest employer.
Another important industry is dairying, with Westland Milk Products
Westland Milk Products
Westland Milk Products is the trading name of Westland Co-operative Dairy Company Limited, an independent co-operative dairy company. It is owned by over 340 farmer shareholders, who supply milk to the factory for processing...
being based in the town. A co-operative that has been producing dairy products for many years, it is increasing its production at about 10% annually, and in recent years has installed plants to produce new products such as different types of proteins, AMF and others. The vast majority of its production is exported.
The Hokitika Sock Machine Museum in town has on display a collection of antique sock-knitting machines and invites visitors to knit their own socks.
Hokitika now boasts one of the South Islands best 3D digital cinemas, the Regent Theatre, due to volunteer hours and grants from the Westland development trust, Lion's foundation, Lottery's commission, the Major District Initiative and pub charity. The Art Deco theatre narrowly avoided being demolished, thanks to a last minute coup in the management committee.
Transport
State Highway 6New Zealand State Highway 6
State Highway 6 is a major New Zealand State Highway. It extends from the northeastern corner of the South Island across the top of the island, then down the length of the island, initially along the West Coast and then across the Southern Alps through inland Otago and finally across the Southland...
passes through the town.
Air New Zealand Link
Air New Zealand Link
Air New Zealand Link is a brand name under which three regional airlines operate feeder flights for Air New Zealand. They primarily connect regional centers with New Zealand's three main international airports.-History:...
provides up to five flights a day to Christchurch operated by Eagle Airways
Eagle Airways
Eagle Airways is a regional airline based in Hamilton, New Zealand with ten crew bases from Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands to Blenheim in the Marlborough region. It is wholly owned by Air New Zealand and operates regional services under the Air New Zealand Link brand...
. The airport is adjacent to the town, immediately to the north-east.
A branch line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
railway known as the Hokitika Branch runs to the town from Greymouth; it opened in 1893 and an extension to Ross
Ross, New Zealand
Ross is a small town located on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island.It lies 27 kilometres south-west of Hokitika and 46 kilometres north-east of Harihari...
was open from 1909 to 1980. Passengers to Hokitika were initially served by "mixed" trains that carried both goods and passengers, and in 1936, these services were augmented by a Leyland diesel
NZR RM class (Leyland diesel)
The NZR RM class Leyland diesel railcar or Midland railcar was the first diesel-powered vehicle to enter revenue service on New Zealand's national rail network. Two were built, RM 20 and RM 21, and they commenced service in August 1936 as temporary short-use vehicles that would operate until...
railbus
Railcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
service that ran from Hokitika to Greymouth, Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, and briefly Reefton
Reefton, New Zealand
Reefton is a small town on New Zealand's West Coast region, some 80 km northeast of Greymouth, in the valley of the Inangahua River. State Highway 7 passes through the southern part of the town, and State Highway 69 runs north to connect to State Highway 6...
. In the early 1940s, the Vulcan railcars
NZR RM class (Vulcan)
The NZR RM class Vulcan railcars were operated by the New Zealand Railways Department in the South Island of New Zealand. All New Zealand railcars were classified as RM, and these were known as Vulcan railcars, from the name of the manufacturer, Vulcan Foundry of Britain. - Background :On 9 May...
were introduced and they provided a twice-daily service between Ross and Christchurch via Hokitika. The "mixed" trains continued to operate until 1967, and all passenger services to Hokitika ceased when the Vulcan railcars stopped running past Greymouth in 1972. Since then, the line to Hokitika has been freight-only with traffic primarily coming from Westland Milk Products
Westland Milk Products
Westland Milk Products is the trading name of Westland Co-operative Dairy Company Limited, an independent co-operative dairy company. It is owned by over 340 farmer shareholders, who supply milk to the factory for processing...
.
In 1865, after the discovery of gold in the area, the town became the official port of entry of the West Coast. A boom period ensued when Hokitika was second only to Auckland, with reports of over 40 ships in the harbour at one time, with more waiting offshore. It was a dangerous port, however, with 108 strandings and 32 ships lost from 1865 to 1867. The lack of nearby coal meant that the port declined rapidly along with the gold, though Hokitika remained an official entry port until the 1950s.
Climate
Education
A school was described as "recently opened" in Hokitika in 1875, and had nearly 350 students. The Hokitika District High School provided both primary and secondary education for the area for many years.The current high school is Westland High School, which caters for years 7-13 and has a decile rating
Socio-Economic Decile
Decile, Socio-Economic Decile or Socio-Economic Decile Band is a widely used measure in education in New Zealand used to target funding and support to more needy schools....
of 6 and a roll of 479. Hokitika School is a contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a decile rating of 4 and a roll of 170.
St Mary's School is a full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 5 and a roll of 108. It is a state integrated Catholic school.
All these schools are coeducational.