Hokitika
| Hokitika | ||
| Geographical location | ||
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| Coordinates | 42 ° 43 ′ S , 170 ° 58 ′ E | |
| Region ISO | NZ-WTC | |
| Country |
 New Zealand
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| region | West coast | |
| District | Westland District | |
| Ward | Hokitika Ward | |
| Administrative headquarters | Headquarters of the administration for the Westland District | |
| Local foundation | 1864 | |
| Residents | 4th 326 (2013) | |
| height | 2 m | |
| Post Code | 7810 | |
| Telephone code | +64 (0) 3 | |
| UN / LOCODE | NZ HKK | |
| Photography of the place | ||
 The main street of Hokitika |
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Hokitika is a town in the Westland District of the West Coast regionon the South Island of New Zealand . The city is the seat of the Westland District Council (district council) and its administration.
geography
The city is located directly on the west coast in the north of the Westland District , about 40 km southwest of Greymouth . The Hokitika River flows into the Tasman Sea south of the city . Like the other cities and settlements on the west coast, Hokitika is isolated from the rest of the country due to the eastern New Zealand Alps .
history
Hokitika was founded in 1864 as a gold rush settlement and was one of the centers of the gold rush on the west coast. There was trouble with the large neighboring town east of the New Zealand Alps, as most of the mined gold is shipped directly from the port of Hokitika to Melbourne and usually not via a detour the mountains were made to Christchurch . Two years after its founding in 1866, Hokitika was one of the largest settlements in what was then New Zealand with over 6,000 inhabitants and even functioned as the capital of the newly created province of Westland from 1873 until this form of administrative division was abolished in 1876. The associated loss of importance led to a steady decline in population over the years.
population
In the 2013 census, Hokitika had 4,326 inhabitants, 0.9% less than in the 2006 census.
economy
For decades, the most important branches of industry were the processing of pounamu ( English : Greenstone ), a special type of jade, as well as forestry and mining , where coal and gold were primarily mined. Over the last century, however, these economic sectors largely lost their importance, which explains the negative population balance of recent years. In recent years, however, Hokitika has regained importance as the city has become an important stop for tourists in the West Coast region . It is Hokitika especially for ecotourists popular.
Furthermore, the dairy industry has become an important economic sector of the city where the dairy Westland Milk Products has received a monopoly and its catchment area almost extends over the entire northern west coast.
Infrastructure
Road traffic
Hokitika is on the New Zealand State Highway 6 , which runs in a north-south direction directly through the city and connects Hokitika in the north with Greymouth and to the southwest Haast .
Rail transport
In the 1890s, the Hokitika Branch , a branch rail line of the Midland Line from Greymouth to Hokitika , was inaugurated. In the following decades the line was expanded and extended. In 1967 the passenger traffic was stopped. Since then, the railway line has only been used for freight traffic.
The Hokitika & Kanieri Tramway also existed until the 1950s .
Personalities
- Stephen Marmion Lowe (* 1962), Catholic Bishop of Hamilton , was born in Hokitika .
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
-
↑ a b
The districts of Hokitika Urban , Hokitika Rural and Kaniere summarized:
- 2013 Census QuickStats about a place : Hokitika Urban . Statistics New Zealand,accessed June 10, 2017.
- 2013 Census QuickStats about a place : Hokitika Rural . Statistics New Zealand,accessed June 10, 2017.
- 2013 Census QuickStats about a place : Kaniere . Statistics New Zealand,accessed June 10, 2017.
- ↑ Topo250 maps . Land Information New Zealand , accessed July 17, 2016 .
- ↑ Hokitika . Westland District Council , accessed July 18, 2016 .