Hokitika

Hokitika
Town
UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)	7810
Area code	03
Local iwi	Ngāi Tahu

Hokitika is a town in the

On a clear day Aoraki / Mount Cook can clearly be seen from Hokitika's main street.

Toponymy

The name Hokitika translates from Māori as "to return directly" (from hoki, 'to return', and tika, 'direct'). According to the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, the name comes from when a band of Ngāi Tahu warriors in search of greenstone were about to attack Ngāti Wairangi pā. The chief of the invaders drowned while trying to cross the Hokitika River, and the leaderless taua (army) then returned directly to their own home.^[3]

History

The land where Hokitika stands was purchased in 1860 from Māori when Poutini Ngāi Tahu chiefs signed the Arahura Deed. This was the sale of the whole of the West Coast region, apart from small areas reserved for Māori. It was almost 3 million hectares and sold to the Crown for £300.^[4][5][6]

Founded on gold mining in 1864, it was a centre of the West Coast Gold Rush and grew very quickly.^[4] Members of the Jewish community ran stores and businesses and built a synagogue in Tancred St.^[7] One of them, John Lazar, was appointed Town Clerk in 1866 and was a prominent Freemason.^[7][8]

By late 1866, it was one of New Zealand's most populous centres. On 16 September 1867, there were 41 vessels alongside the wharf at Hokitika, in some places three and four deep. In 1867, the port of Hokitika ranked first in New Zealand in both the number of vessels entered inwards and in the total value of exports; principally gold.

On 8 March 1868 a mock funeral was held in protest about the conviction and hanging of three Irish

In 1873 Hokitika became the capital of the short-lived Westland Province which lasted from 1873 until the abolition of provinces in 1876.

In the early 20th century Hokitika had two hospitals, the Westland Hospital and the Seaview Asylum.^[10]

In October 1941,

personnel.

In the ensuing manhunt, the biggest in New Zealand history, overseen by the Commissioner of Police, Denis Cummings, more than 100 New Zealand Police and several hundred New Zealand Army & Home Guard searched the area for the gunman for 12 days, with orders to shoot him on sight if found still armed. On 20 October, after being spotted by two police constables and a local civilian carrying his rifle and ammunition belts, Graham was fatally wounded by a police constable and died the next day.^[11]

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 rate-payers live outside of Hokitika.

Geography

Climate

Hokitika has an oceanic climate, with mild summers, cool winters, and rainfall evenly distributed across the year. It is one of the wettest places in New Zealand, with over 2,800 mm (110 in) of rainfall per year.

Hokitika Gorge

Nearby Hokitika Gorge is a popular short tourist walk, with vibrant blue water and a "swing" (metal rope suspension) bridge.^[13][14]

Demographics

The Hokitika urban area, as defined by Statistics New Zealand, covers 3.91 km² (1.51 sq mi) and is coterminous with the Hokitika statistical area.^[1] The urban area has an estimated population of 3,120 as of June 2023,^[2] with a population density of 798 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	3,078	—
2013	2,967	−0.52%
2018	2,892	−0.51%
Source: [15]

glacial milk

.

Hokitika had a population of 2,892 at the

. There were 1,305 households, comprising 1,374 males and 1,521 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.9 males per female. The median age was 47.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 459 people (15.9%) aged under 15 years, 474 (16.4%) aged 15 to 29, 1,278 (44.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 687 (23.8%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 86.4% European/Pākehā, 20.1% Māori, 1.7% Pasifika, 4.9% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 11.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 47.7% had no religion, 41.3% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% were Hindu, 0.4% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 1.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 330 (13.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 654 (26.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $27,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 318 people (13.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,146 (47.1%) people were employed full-time, 408 (16.8%) were part-time, and 57 (2.3%) were unemployed.^[15]

Economy and culture

The major industries of greenstone (

Seaview Asylum was once the town's biggest employer.^[17]

Another important industry is dairying, with Westland Milk Products having its headquarters and main processing plant in the town. Westland Milk Products was established as a dairy co-operative in 1937, and was sold to the Yili Group in 2019.^[18] It is the country's third-equal largest dairy processor as of 2018.^[19]

Hokitika has a 3D digital cinema,^[20] the Regent Theatre,^[21] due to volunteer hours^[22] and grants from the Lions foundation, Lottery's commission, Development West Coast through the Major District Initiative^[23] and pub charity. The Art Deco theatre is a heritage building and narrowly avoided being demolished, thanks to a last-minute coup in the management committee.^[24] Community performances are also held there. Hokitika has a drama group which produce plays. It is also on the circuit for Arts on Tour and well known artists from many countries as well as New Zealand perform at the Old Lodge Theatre.

Every January, Hokitika beach hosts the Driftwood and Sand Festival. The festival involves members of the public and a sponsored artist constructing sculptures out of beach debris. Driftwood and Sand originated in beach festival run by Hokitika artist Donald Buglass in November 2002, and it has been run as an annual festival since 2003.^[25]

The Hokitika Museum is housed in the town's Carnegie library building. The Hokitika Sock Machine Museum in Revell Street has on display a collection of antique sock-knitting machines. Visitors are invited to knit their own socks.^[26] Hokitika also has a modern library, thriving community groups, and many excellent artists.

Marae

Arahura Marae is located near Hokitika. It is a marae (tribal meeting ground) of Ngāi Tahu and its Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae branch, and includes the Tūhuru wharenui (meeting house).^[27][28]

In October 2020, the Government committed $161,131 from the

Transport

Road

State Highway 6 passes through the town.

Rail

The first rail transport was the Hokitika & Kanieri Tramway laid with wooden rails was established in 1868, with cars drawn by horses.^[30] A road followed in 1873.^[31]

A

was open from 1909 to 1980.

Passengers to Hokitika were initially served by

]

Since then, the line to Hokitika has been freight only with traffic primarily coming from Westland Milk Products.

Shipping

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, 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.^[32]

Air

Air New Zealand provides two flights a day to Christchurch. The Hokitika Airport is adjacent to the town, immediately to the north-east in the suburb of Seaview.

Hokitika's Southside airfield was the base of Air Travel, New Zealand's first airline. Air Travel carried passengers, mail and freight south from Hokitika to the glaciers and remote landing strips beyond Haast and north up to Westport. Its first scheduled flight was in December 1934. Directors were Hokitika residents: Bert Mercer, Paul Renton and Harry Newman.

After

.

Education

A school was described as "recently opened" in Hokitika in 1875, and had nearly 350 students.[33] The Hokitika District High School provided both primary and secondary education for the area for many years. Its name was changed in 1963 to Westland High School, which caters for years 7 to 13 and has a roll of 407.^[34]

Hokitika School is a contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of 198.^[35]

St Mary's School is a full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 118.^[36] It is a state integrated Catholic school^[37] and is connected with St Mary's Catholic Church.

All these schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of February 2024.^[38]

Notable people

• Agnes Addison (c.1842–1903), Scottish draper who was one of Hokitika's early businesswomen.
• Margaret Andrews Alcorn (1868–1967) and her sister Mary Alcorn (1866–1928) were interior designers and business owners
• Charles Button (1838–1920), mayor of Hokitika, solicitor, judge, and MP
• John Urquhart Cropp (1927–2016), Olympic yachtsman
• Edward St John Daniel (1837–1868), Victoria Cross recipient, died and is buried in Hokitika
• Charlie Douglas (1840–1916), explorer and surveyor
• Alice Eyton (1874–1929), journalist, screenwriter, playwright, and novelist in Hollywood
• Stanley Graham (1900–1941), a farmer who killed seven people and was the target of New Zealand's biggest manhunt
• Bess Hudson (1875–1961), early nurse, for Dr Teichelmann
• Al Hunter (born 1950), musician, singer-songwriter
• John Lazar (1840–1916), actor, town clerk, mason
• Sharlotte Lucas (born 1991), road cyclist
• Fayne Robinson (born 1964), Māori carver
• Holly Robinson (born 1994), athlete born in Hokitika
• John Rutherford Ryley (1837–1884), who introduced antiseptic technique to New Zealand, was surgeon at Hokitika Hospital at the time
• Richard Seddon (1845–1906), New Zealand politician and Premier
• Ebenezer Teichelmann (1859–1938), surgeon, mountaineer, photographer and conservationist

Notable buildings

• Hokitika Customhouse, built 1897, a Category I historic place
• The Hokitika Clock Tower, built 1902/3, the most prominent landmark in Hokitika
• Hokitika Museum, housed in the former Carnegie Library, built 1908
• Seaview Asylum, founded 1872 and once the town's biggest employer
• All Saints' Church, a prominent landmark and early unfaced concrete church
• St Andrew's United Church, built in 1935, a good example of a small Gothic parish church
• Renton Hardware building (also known as the Okitiki building), completed in 1908, a Category 2 historic place
• Government Buildings (also known as Seddon House), completed in 1913, a Category 1 historic place
• St Mary's Catholic Church, a Category 1 historic place
• Hokitika Savings Bank building, a Category 2 historic place

Sister cities

Hokitika has one

.

• Deloraine, Australia

In popular culture

The events of

in 2013.

The novel Hokitika Town, by Charlotte Randall, is set in Hokitika.

The 2004 historical novel The Colour by Rose Tremain is partially set in 1860s Hokitika.

The 1999 movie Magik and Rose was set in Hokitika.^[39]

See also

• Mayor of Hokitika

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
3. ^ "Hokitika – NZHistory, New Zealand history online". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
4. ^ ^{a b} Nathan, Simon (1 September 2016). "West Coast region – European arrival and settlement". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
5. OCLC 39014539, retrieved 16 September 2020{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link
   )
6. ^ "The Arahura Deed, 1860". Ngāi Tahu. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
7. ^ ^{a b} Goldman, Lazarus Morris (1958). "A Ghost Synagogue". The History of the Jews in New Zealand. Wellington: Reed. pp. 109–112 – via NZETC.
8. OCLC 154673040
   .
9. ^ What is Truth, Newsletter – Friends of the Cathedral, Number 71, September 2007, Cathedral House, Christchurch
10. ^ "Westland and Seaview hospitals". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
11. ISBN 978-0-7233-0629-0
12. ^ "CliFlo – National Climate Database". NIWA. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
13. ^ https://www.backpackerguide.nz/23-unforgettable-walks-hokitika/ "Arguably the most scenic swingbridge in New Zealand!"
14. ^ "Hokitika Gorge Walk". www.doc.govt.nz. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
15. ^ ^{a b} "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Hokitika (311500). 2018 Census place summary: Hokitika
16. ^ "The story so far..." Archived from the original on 3 March 2007.
17. ^ "Greymouth unit open". The Press. 1 January 2009. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
18. ^ Carroll, Joanne (4 July 2019). "Sale of Westland Milk Products was 'inevitable'". Stuff. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
19. ^ Fox, Andrea (3 October 2018). "Fonterra hold on raw milk market still 80 per cent despite predictions". NZ Herald. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
20. ^ Xpand news Archived 9 February 2013 at archive.today
21. ^ "Hokitika's Regent Theatre – movie times & tickets". www.hokitikaregent.com. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
22. ^ "Regent Theatre in Hokitika, NZ – Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
23. ^ "$340k funding". Archived from the original on 25 May 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
24. ^ "today 3d article". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
25. ^ Carroll, Joanne (24 January 2017). "Driftwood becomes art in Hokitika Beach festival". Stuff. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
26. ^ Hokitika Activity Guide.
27. ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
28. ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
29. Provincial Growth Fund
    . 9 October 2020.
30. ^ Rogers, p 63
31. ISBN 0-7900-1022-4
    .
32. ^ "Hokitika Customhouse". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
33. ^ "Hokitika School". No. 3129. West Coast Times. 15 October 1875. p. 2.
34. ^ Education Counts: Westland High School
35. ^ Education Counts: Hokitika School
36. ^ Education Counts: St Mary's School
37. ^ "Education Review Report: St Mary's School Hokitika". Education Review Office. May 2008.
38. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
39. ^ "Magik and Rose". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 18 September 2020.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hokitika.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Hokitika.

• Hokitika tourism website
• Hokitika Wild Food Festival
• Westland Milk Products
• Westland High School