Inspiring stories, real news and the hard questions

Welcome to Coasters Weekly!

We know Coasters are fiercely protective of their independence and the unique lifestyle the West Coast offers. It is our aim to keep Coasters connected, no matter where in the world they may be.

At Coasters Weekly we are prepared to ask the hard questions for you that others won’t. We will bring you news as it really is and share stories of courage, initiative and ingenuity that will make you even more proud to be a Coaster!

Have a listen to editor and publisher Bruce Smith as he talks about Coasters Weekly.

Get your Coasters Weekly at 5pm every Tuesday and enjoy the news from home.

Every Tuesday a limited number of The Coasters Pass will be made available to readers to encourage you to come home to the Coast. The packages The Coasters Pass offers will save you hundreds of dollars.

If you are already part of the Coasters Club you will automatically be subscribed to Coasters Weekly. You will receive an email each week with your link to each weekly edition.

New subscribers can sign up to Coasters Weekly here

Mining: the lifeblood of the Coast’s economy

We are fortunate on the coast to have an enviable mineral resource that underpins our economy.

Pattrick Phelps, CE Minerals West Coast, explains the vital role that mining plays in our lives.

Bucket and spade-ready projects that could create 120 mining jobs on the West Coast

There are initiatives afoot to ensure this resource is utilised efficiently and wisely for the future well-being of the coast.

One such initiative comes from Bathurst Resources who wish to link the Stockton and Denniston Plateaus via a road across LINZ land. This will make both the current Stockton Mine and the Proposed Escarpment mine more viable upon completion and move the Denniston project from care and maintenance to development and production. Minerals West Coast’s understanding is subject to regulatory approval, this operation could be up and running within six months, creating 60 new mining jobs in the Buller District.

The Te Kuha, Lake Ianthe and Blackwater

Another planned initiative is the Te Kuha mine. This project, previously rejected by the present Conservation and Energy and Resources Ministers, is a proposed mine for which the business case has already been established. All that is required now is regulatory approval for access to twelve hectares of conservation land. Once operational, the mine will fund pest control over 5,000 hectares of forest for the next 35 years, safe guarding the natural home of kiwi, gecko, and other endangered species. On reaching full production the Te Kuha mine would create 60 jobs.

The Birchfield mine at Lake Ianthe is a mining project on the Coast that has been providing high paid mining jobs for over 10 years. See the video here:

A further mining initiative is The Blackwater Project. This is a joint-venture, underground mine at Waiuta which promises 30 jobs initially, rising to 100 once fully operational. It has already received PGF support and is currently seeking further investment from capital markets.

Unlocking our mining resource

The Kaniere Mine

Heavy rain did not deter Bruce Smith from venturing to Kaniere to check up on how the gold mining sector is going.
Mining has taken place at Kaniere since 1865.

Alluvial goldminers look for greater ease of access to conservation land

As of yet the proposed ban on mining on conservation land is yet to be confirmed. Nonetheless many miners are reporting difficulty with the process of obtaining access agreements. Some are reporting a wait of up to eighteen months for their access application to be granted. Many miners have spare plant and machinery which could be utilised, and if this could be achieved more employment would be created.

Experience the joys of the Coast

There is something deep in our hearts that is always attracted to home – no matter how far away we might be. The brand new The Coasters Pass offers a weekly opportunity for Coasters to come home and experience afresh, the joys of the Coast.

Every Tuesday from 5.00pm, a limited number of The Coasters Pass will be made available to readers of The Coasters Weekly. The Pass offers a package of travel, accommodation and sightseeing that will save you hundreds of dollars.

We would love to see you come home as it will help our economy.

All major towns on the Coast will be included over time.

• The Coasters Pass is only available over a 24 hour period between 5.00pm each Tuesday through to 5.00pm on Wednesday.
• There are a limited number of passes on offer each week so it is first come, first served.
• If you secure a pass you also get the right to purchase 5 others to ensure your group or family can all travel together on the same dates and make use of the other vouchers at the same time.
• The Coasters Pass can be used at any time within 90 days of purchase. It’s an individual transferable pass.
• Once the booking dates for accommodation, attractions and restaurants are confirmed they can’t be changed.

Come Home to Hokitika

This week’s The Coasters Pass opens at 5pm today, Tuesday 16 June 2020, and numbers are capped at 20.

The Coasters Pass this week is: Come Home to Hokitika

Cost of The Coasters Pass: $300

Here is what you get:

• 3 Nights accommodation at the Beach Front Hotel (twins), including breakfast
  
• 1 evening meal, main course, at the Ocean View Restaurant
• 1 evening meal at Fat Pippies Pizza (try the whitebait Pizza)
• 1 evening meal at Easteat, a fabulous Chinese restaurant

But wait, there is more, and it’s not steak knives!

Also included in The Coasters Pass this week:

• A pass for the West Coast Scenic Waterways boat tour up the protected Mahinapu Creek
• Your pass to the West Coast Tree Top Walkway
• Your pass to experience the National Kiwi Centre

And when you visit, also allow time to see: The Hokitika Gorge, Lake Mahinapua, Lake Kaniere, The Wilderness Gallery, Hokitika Glass Studio, Glow Worm dell, Watch the sunset from the Hokitika beach, Bonz ‘n Stonz – Carve your own.

Buy your Coasters Pass here>

Attractions Abound

The attractions featured in this weeks Coasters Pass are:

The National Kiwi Centre

www.thenationalkiwicentre.co.nz

Get up close and interactive with living icons of the West Coast. At the National Kiwi Centre you will find Kiwi, Tuatara, Giant Eels, Crayfish and Whitebait. The Centre is situated in the heart of Hokitika and provides the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of New Zealand’s national icons.

Kiwi

The Kiwi is New Zealand’s national icon and part of our world-wide image.  New Zealanders have been ‘Kiwis” since the days of the First World-War.  It is a nickname bestowed by fellow Australian soldiers using their boot polish that had the image of a Kiwi on the tin – placed there in honour of the makers wife’s homeland and it stuck.  Kiwi are a natural fit with New Zealander’s national psyche – we relate to their quirkiness.

The Kiwi is flightless, largely nocturnal and more like a mammal than a bird. Their feathers are hair-like, they have whiskers like a cat and heavy, marrow-filled bones with strong, muscular legs. At the tip of their very long beak are the external nostrils which Kiwi use to find food in the ground. The Kiwi’s large feet have fleshy pads with strong claws, well adapted for digging burrows.

The National Kiwi Centre

At the Kiwi exhibition, you can engage directly with the centre’s wildlife keeper to learn more about these fascinating flightless birds.  You can see them up close in their nocturnal home, which is a custom-built replica of their natural environment.

Kiwis are an endangered species found only in New Zealand and the National Kiwi Centre takes great pride in supporting conservation efforts to keep these wonderful birds alive and thriving.

West Coast Kiwi

The populations of Kiwi endemic to the West Coast are among the most critically endangered.

The Rowi Kiwi is found in the Okarito Forest in South Westland. It is distinguished by its greyish colour and often has white patches on its face. Their feathers are soft to touch.

The Haast Tokoeka Kiwi live in the sub-alpine grasslands near Haast and its distinguishing feature include a brown/grey plumage with a reddish tinge.

Also found on the West Coast is the Great Spotted Kiwi. Its habitat spreads from Arthurs Pass through to the Paparoa Ranges and the north Western top of the South Island.

and abound...

West Coast Treetop Walkway

www.treetopsnz.com

An exhilarating treetop adventure among temperate rainforest giants. Experience life with the birds, high in the ancient Rimu and Kamahi tree canopy. Easy access for all to enjoy along a steel platform 20 metres high and over 450 metres long through the beautiful West Coast rainforest tree tops. A leisurely 45 minute to one hour stroll and only a 15 minute drive south of Hokitika.

Thrill seekers will feel their hearts pump and the adrenalin rush as they climb to the top of Hokitika Tower 40 metres above the forest floor. A sensational vista of the majestic snow capped Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea are just reward for the climb. Gently sway in harmony with the forest on the cantilevered Mahinapua Springboard. View the exquisite Lake Mahinapua through the richly diverse forest foliage. And enjoy great local foods in the comfort of the Mahinapua Café nestled quietly beside the tranquil Johnnies Creek. The café is open daily from 9 am until 3 pm.

West Coast Scenic Waterways

www.westcoastscenicwaterways.co.nz

Relax to the birdsong tranquillity as you take in the scenery; the mirror-finished lake amid ancient Rimu and Kamahi trees with the snow-capped mountains in the distance.

Enjoy freedom kayaking or a cruise aboard the Eco Adventurer. Capture the picturesque beauty of the Mahinapua waterways along the original route used by pioneers, gold diggers and early explorers. Experience majestic views of Mt Cook /Aorangi and the Southern Alps along with outstanding West Coast flora, fauna and native rainforests.

Hokitika – cool little town

There is always a welcome on the West Coast and Hokitika is no exception.

Kia Ora! Welcome to Hokitika

Hokitika, cool little town is a ‘must-stay’ destination on the West Coast, South Island, New Zealand. When you think of the West Coast, you think untamed natural wilderness, genuine experiences and friendly characters who love to share a story. Hokitika is all that and more.

Stay a bit longer

Imagine those fun-filled, relaxed holidays you used to have, then throw in better coffee, a wild beach, awesome sunsets, mountain views and great cafes and galleries.

But don’t rush! It’s common to hear “I wish we had stayed in Hokitika longer. There is so much to see and do.” So stay awhile to enjoy the slower pace of life, have a chat and soak in the view with us.

Cool Ideas 

Visit the driftwood strewn beach – the water practically laps the main street! You won’t find another town centre like it on the West Coast.

We probably have more galleries per capita than anywhere in NZ where you can watch artists at work. And as the birthplace of pounamu/NZ jade, it is a great place to shop for this precious stone.

Art, culture & quite a bit of history

Learn about Hokitika’s interesting art, culture and heritage. It can be experienced first-hand on many walks including the Points of Interest Loop which features historical buildings and monuments as well as public art.

There is easy access to untamed, natural wilderness in all directions. Cycle the West Coast Wilderness Trail, visit Lake Kaniere and Lake Mahinapua, and see the unbelievably beautiful Hokitika Gorge.

Constructing the West Coast

A look back at construction company Contract Cultivation

Contract Cultivation was a West Coast construction company founded in the late 1920s by Jock and Clare Smith, originally from Timaru.

Through their company the Smith family established many Coast connections which exist to this day. The Karamea Airfield and the Haast Road are just two of the construction projects they completed.

Son of Jock and Clare, Tim Smith, joined the company in 1957 as an 18-year-old Timaru Boys High School leaver and worked on the Haast Road.

“It was certainly the last of the pioneering work in the country,” Tim recalls. “Probably some of the more interesting work that I’ve done. I’d worked on several projects but that one stood out … There were no cabs, no heaters; we worked seven days a week in rain, snow or hail. On a really bad day, you probably knocked off a bit early but most days it was 10 hours a day. There was little else to do.”

Tim finally sold Contract Cultivation to Whitestone several years ago and is now semi-retired on a farm block near Lake Waihola in South Otago.

You can view archival footage of the 1958 Haast Road construction by following the links below. Tim recounts the experiences of the company and the initiative shown in those early days, overcoming the numerous challenges presented by an often-harsh environment.

Contract Cultivation: Haast Road construction 1958.

Contract Cultivation: Pioneer construction company

Contract Cultivation: The opening of the Haast Road in 1965 by the Prime Minister Sir Keith Holyoake where he promised he would be back to open the Haast to Hollyford highway.

A big thank you to the Smith family for the old footage.

Williams Hotels & The Coaster’s Pass

Williams Hotels are a platinum member of The Coasters Pass. Want to know what The Coasters Pass is? Then watch out for the Coasters Weekly, published every Tuesday at 5.00pm. Within its pages there will be an opportunity buy a Coasters Pass that will let you come home and experience the hospitality that only a Coaster can provide.

Gillian Williams - a Coaster through and through

Gillian Williams is part of the Williams Hotels family. She is now 80 years old and tells in this video about life on the Coast.

A chat around the fire

How many times in recent times has someone said to you we are blessed indeed to be living on the West Coast during this time where covid-19 has triggered an economic downturn greater than most have experienced before.

Let’s look not at where we have been, but where we are going as we navigate the road in front of us. Cars have a large front window and a small rear vision mirror for a reason.

By focusing on the natural advantages, we will have a diverse economy, build strong communities and they are the basis for bringing up our families caring for the elderly and having a life style the envy of many.

We are on a level playing field with the rest of New Zealand in relation to tourism as we go forward.

Our untamed natural Wilderness does not care if our guests are domestic or international and this is a huge advantage.

Most of our attractions are free and whether we like or not it’s a big draw card for tourism where every dollar counts, promoting it to bring coasters home to visit or even stay permanently will be an increased focus.

We have a huge advantage 600,000 people in Christchurch, Nelson, Ashburton South and Wanaka Queenstown 1.5 hours away from our south Westland tourism gems.

We have a farming sector that has an advantage now that did not exist a few years ago with the shareholder in Westland milk, Yili group. It’s not just a financial advantage they also bring longer-term advantages for the exporting of high-quality product and my hope is one day this will include water.

Markets Like China require specialist knowledge of the internal politics and processes to get the best possible result.

The mineral sector has an advantage that can’t be taken away. We have the much-needed minerals in the ground and that’s the first step for any increased investment.

Stewardship land is the key to this, and Doc have had 32 years to carry out the evaluations intended by parliament in 1987 and clearly are incapable of doing the job.

Politicians should reclassify the land, place its control outside of Doc where both the productive and environmental sectors can compete on a level playing field for access and ownership. Make it rateable to bring in some commercial incentives to act.

I believe that the West Coast will indeed be a great place to live as we weather the economic storm over the next few years and we’re fortunate indeed to be surrounded by coasters.

Bruce Smith | Mayor
Westland District Council

What’s happening on the Coast

Breaking news

Ag-Fest has been confirmed in Greymouth for the 13th and 14th of November.

Buller Gorge Marathon is confirmed for the 13th of February 2021.

Hokitika Wild Foods Festival has been confirmed for the 13th of March 2021.

For all three events we recommend you book your accommodation now while the prices are so attractive.