Westland has a long history of Maori occupation and, as a result of this, there are many important archaeological sites in the District. The main focus of settlement in Westland was believed to be in the Hokitika area where pounamu was abundant. Access to the District was generally from walking along the sea beach, or through river valley and mountain pass routes because canoe voyaging was a dangerous undertaking on the hazardous Tasman sea.

Most early Maori communities lived in the coastal fringes around river mouths and sheltered bays. Archaeological sites indicate that Maori utilised the pounamu of the District and lived off fish and forest birds. The natural environment held great importance for the Maori, a factor which remains relevant today.

Read about our commitment to consultation and engagement with Mana Whenua.

In its early years of European settlement, Westland’s fame was due to the gold rushes of the 1860s. After the discovery of gold in the Taramakau valley in 1864, prospectors started arriving at the Hokitika River mouth, the closest anchorage to the diggings. At that time, Hokitika was part of Canterbury province. The town was laid out by surveyor John Rochfort, and many street names commemorate Canterbury politicians of this period.

See the Original Hokitika Town Plan below.

Hokitika Townhall speech of 1921

"The reference is to Park Street which was not named after any individual, but was so called because it led the way to the Public Park of something like 200 acres which the founders of Hokitika placed on the outskirts of the town’s eastern boundary, and which is now a municipal endowment.

In addition Park Street leads past Whitcombe and Howitt Squares, each of eleven acres.

There are other educational and endowment areas along the route of the street all undeveloped, so that it is clear the thoughtful founders of the municipal area intended Park Street to be the main thoroughfare tapping all sources for outdoor recreation which should be the lungs of the city to be."

The Westland District Council has a number of zoning plans in place, which are designed to guide development and ensure that the district grows in a sustainable way. The current zoning plans are:

• The District Plan, which sets out the overall vision for the district and provides guidance on land use, development, and infrastructure.
• The Hokitika Town Centre Plan, which provides detailed guidance on development in the town centre.
• The Franz Josef Village Plan, which provides detailed guidance on development in the Franz Josef village.
• The Fox Glacier Village Plan, which provides detailed guidance on development in the Fox Glacier village.

The Council is currently considering a number of proposed changes to the zoning plans. These changes are designed to address a number of issues, including:

• The need to provide more housing for the growing population.
• The need to protect the district's natural environment.
• The need to create a more vibrant and attractive district.

The current zoning plan of the former Hokitika Racecourse site is shown in the image below.

• The Residential Mixed zone incorporates the established residential areas as well as potential areas for growth around the old hospital to the north and the racecourse to the northeast. A flexible approach has been adopted for the residential areas which allows a wide range of activities to potentially locate in the zone.
• The Industrial/Commercial Zone aims to permit a wide range of service and industrial activities in three main areas within Hokitika around Walker Place, East Town Belt/Hau Hau Road, and the airport. The zone recognises existing industrial activities as well as providing a framework within which other industrial and commercial activities can locate.
• The Racecourse Terraces Development Area – the 7.8ha Racecourse Terrace new development area is subject to a concept plan in order to ensure development proceeds in a manner which protects important environmental features on the site, in particular indigenous vegetation on the escarpment area; and the proposed Council reserve at the northern end of the site. The plan also provides for appropriate pedestrian and vehicle connections with adjoining areas. The retention of the escarpment indigenous vegetation will maintain the natural character of this part of the site, which is the most visible part of the site from Hokitika.
• The Rural Zone, managed by the Rural Policy Unit, covers all non-urban land within Westland District. Rural-residential areas will be included in the Rural zone. One area at Brickfields previously zoned rural-residential has been included in the Rural zone in recognition that it would be inappropriate to allow development down to small lots. Development in this, and any other rural-residential areas can develop in accordance with resource consents.