The Pioneers of Martins Bay is a historical book by Alice Mackenzie, describing her early life at Martins Bay in the 1870s and 1880s.

As a child, Alice Mackenzie (née McKenzie) and her family moved from Hokitika

Hokitika, New Zealand

Hokitika is a township in the West Coast Region of New Zealand's South Island, 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...

 to Jackson Bay

Jackson Bay

Jackson Bay is a gently curving bay 24 kilometers wide, located on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. It faces the Tasman Sea to the north, and is backed by the Southern Alps...

 in Westland

Westland District

Westland District is a territorial authority on the west coast of New Zealand's South Island. Its population is - Government :The Westland District is governed by an elected Council, headed by an elected Mayor. The Mayor is elected at large. The current Mayor is Maureen Pugh. Councillors are...

. After that they moved to Jamestown on Lake McKerrow

Lake McKerrow

Lake McKerrow, also known by the Maori name of Whakatipu Waitai, lies at the northern end of Fiordland, in the southwest of New Zealand's South Island. The lake runs from southeast to northwest, is 15 kilometres in length, and covers 28 km²....

. The township of Jamestown flopped and the McKenzies drifted down to Martins Bay. The hardships and isolation that followed the move are innumerable. Alice grew up in these isolated and lonely conditions and grew up to write the book.

The book was first published in 1947 by the Southland Historical Committee, and a revised edition was self-published in 1952.