Hokitika

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.^[6]

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.^[7][8][9]

Founded on gold mining in 1864, it was a centre of the West Coast gold rush and grew very quickly.^[7] Members of the Jewish community ran stores and businesses and built a synagogue in Tancred St.^[10] One of them, John Lazar, was appointed Town Clerk in 1866 and was a prominent Freemason.^[10][11]

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 Fenians in Manchester – the Manchester Martyrs. The funeral was led by Roman Catholic Father William Larkin and a Celtic Cross was erected in the Hokitika Cemetery. Larkin was later arrested, charged, and convicted of riot and seditious libel.^[12]

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

Panoramic view Hokitika, New Zealand, c. 1875

In the early 20th century Hokitika had two hospitals, the Westland Hospital and the Seaview Asylum.^[13]

In October 1941, three Hokitika police officers (and a policeman stationed in the neighbouring locality of Kaniere), along with a field instructor for the Canterbury education board, were killed when a local farmer, Stanley Graham, went on a shooting rampage and killed seven people, including two armed Home guard 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.^[14]

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.

Hokitika is described as a small urban area by Stats NZ, and covers 11.78 km² (4.55 sq mi).^[4] It has an estimated population of 3,420 as of June 2025,^[5] with a population density of 290 people per km².

Hokitika had a population of 3,267 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 171 people (5.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 102 people (3.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,587 males, 1,677 females, and 6 people of other genders in 1,461 dwellings.^[21] 3.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 46.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 528 people (16.2%) aged under 15 years, 465 (14.2%) aged 15 to 29, 1,491 (45.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 786 (24.1%) aged 65 or older.^[19]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 86.1% European (Pākehā); 21.3% Māori; 2.0% Pasifika; 5.2% Asian; 0.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.8%, Māori by 4.3%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 6.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.6% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[19]

Religious affiliations were 33.2% Christian, 0.9% Hindu, 0.4% Islam, 0.7% Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.9% New Age, and 0.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.0%, and 8.7% of people did not answer the census question.^[19]

Of those at least 15 years old, 429 (15.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,524 (55.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 795 (29.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $35,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 189 people (6.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,320 (48.2%) full-time, 396 (14.5%) part-time, and 63 (2.3%) unemployed.^[19]

The major industries of greenstone (pounamu), gold, coal, and forestry have all dwindled over the last century, but a growing ecotourism industry has grown up and the town is starting to show signs of recovery. It has become a major tourist stop on the West Coast's main highway route, with carving of greenstone an important local industry. It is also gaining a reputation for its annual wild food festival which has been running since 1990.^[22]

Seaview Asylum was once the town's biggest employer.^[23]

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.^[24] It is the country's third-equal largest dairy processor as of 2018.^[25]

Hokitika has a 3D digital cinema,^[26] the Regent Theatre,^[27] due to volunteer hours^[28] and grants from the Lions foundation, Lottery's commission, Development West Coast through the Major District Initiative^[29] 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.^[30] 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.^[31]

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.^[32] Hokitika also has a modern library, thriving community groups, and many excellent artists.

Westland High School caters for years 7 to 13^[40] and has a roll of 416. It opened in 1880, became a high school in 1884 and then the Hokitika District School in 1891. It was renamed Westland High School in 1963.^[41]

Hokitika School is a contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of 156.^[42] A primary school was open in Hokitika in 1865.^[43]

St Mary's School is a full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 129.^[44] It is a state integrated Catholic school^[45] and is connected with St Mary's Catholic Church. It was open by 1869.^[46] In 1877 there were both girls' and boys' state schools in Hokitika, and St Mary's which was a boys' or coeducational school.^[47] The girls' school was run by the Sisters of Mercy from 1878^[48] and the boys' school from 1892.^[49] They also ran a high school, but that school closed in 1973. The schools were called St Mary's Primary School and St Mary's High School.^[48]

All these schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of March 2026.^[50]

• 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

• 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

Hokitika has one sister city.

• Deloraine, Australia

The events of The Luminaries, by Eleanor Catton, take place within and around Hokitika. The book won the Man Booker Prize 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 filmed and set in Hokitika.^[51]

• Mayor of Hokitika
• Westland Pioneers' Memorial