Westport, New Zealand

The Māori language name for the river and the region is Kawatiri, meaning deep and swift.^[8] The town is thought to have been named after Westport, County Mayo in Ireland, although the choice of name was no doubt also guided by its location.^[7]

From an archaeological excavation site, near the mouth of the Buller River (Kawatiri), it is clear that Māori were living close to Westport by the early 14th century.^[9] Māori mostly lived in coastal areas, though they explored the mountains for pounamu (jade or greenstone), which they then traded with other iwi.^[10]

The first wave of European settlers came to Westport in 1861 as gold miners,^[11] and the first European vessel said to have entered the river was the sealing schooner Three Brothers in 1844,^[12] though other sealing vessels were recorded in the Cape Foulwind area in the 1820s.^[13] The 1840s saw many exploratory parties of geologists and surveyors combing the area for the presence of valuable resources and taking the measure of the land. Amongst them were Charles Heaphy, William Fox and Thomas Brunner. While gold brought initial interest to the area, and for example, led to large areas of the coastal areas (covered by sediment from the river) being dredged for the valuable mineral,^[14] the area soon became much more famous for coal mining, still a dominant concern in the region today.^[10]

A coal mining company was formed in 1878 called the Westport Colliery Company Ltd, and then became The Westport Coal Company in 1881 when a group of Dunedin businessmen purchased the mines.^[15] The coal fields were at Coalbrookdale (Denniston) and Granity Creek (Millerton) and coal was transported to the Westport harbour to be shipped out. By 1905 The Westport Coal Company was New Zealand's largest coal producer.^[16]

Westport was administrated as part of the Nelson Province from 1853 to 1876.

Westport has been damaged by several earthquakes, the worst the 1929 Murchison earthquake, in which several buildings collapsed, including the post office tower. The town now has a number of Art Deco buildings that were constructed after the earthquake,^[7] for example the Clock Tower Chambers.^[17]

Stats NZ describes Westport as a small urban area, which covers 11.53 km² (4.45 sq mi).^[4] It had an estimated population of 4,600 as of June 2025,^[5] with a population density of 399 people per km².

Westport had a population of 4,527 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 135 people (3.1%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 231 people (−4.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 2,313 males, 2,202 females, and 15 people of other genders in 2,157 dwellings.^[31] 2.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 50.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 684 people (15.1%) aged under 15 years, 603 (13.3%) aged 15 to 29, 2,028 (44.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,212 (26.8%) aged 65 or older.^[29]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 89.5% European (Pākehā); 14.5% Māori; 2.3% Pasifika; 4.3% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 4.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.9%, Māori by 2.5%, and other languages by 4.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 11.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[29]

Religious affiliations were 28.3% Christian, 0.7% Hindu, 0.1% Islam, 0.4% Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.8% New Age, and 1.4% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 57.6%, and 10.3% of people did not answer the census question.^[29]

Of those at least 15 years old, 378 (9.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,082 (54.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,383 (36.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $28,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 231 people (6.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,503 (39.1%) full-time, 528 (13.7%) part-time, and 126 (3.3%) unemployed.^[29]

Economic activity is based around fishing, coal mining and dairy farming. Historically, gold mining was a major industry, and coal mining was much more extensive than today (especially in terms of employment numbers). However, the region still is home to New Zealand's largest opencast mining operation in Stockton.^[39] Some native forest logging occurred in the area until cessation around 1999.

The Holcim company had a large cement plant in the southwest side of town until its closure on 30 June 2016.^[40]

Westport is also home to EPIC Westport an innovation hub, which houses software developers and business startups.^[41]

Tourist attractions in the area include Cape Foulwind, Tauranga Bay with its large fur seal colony, and fine surfing beaches. The opening of the Old Ghost Road which runs between Lyell and Seddonville to the north of Westport has seen an explosion in the number of mountain bikers visiting the area. The Kawatiri Coastal Trail is under development between Westport, Carters Beach, Cape Foulwind, and Charleston.The Pūwaha Section of the trail from Westport to Carters Beach was the first of nine sections to be built. It was officially opened on 6 December 2020. The remaining sections are expected to be completed by June 2022.^[42][43]

Rafting and jetboating in the Buller Gorge are popular.^[44] Westport is a base for trips to Karamea and the Oparara Basin Arches with the only road access to the area running north from Westport. Paparoa National Park is also located nearby.

Westport is served by State Highway 67, and the 8.9 km spur State Highway 67A to Carters Beach and Cape Foulwind which terminates at the former Holcim cement plant location.

The Holcim company managed the day-to-day operations of Westport's port until ceasing operations in the district, using it to ship their cement product to market,^[45][46] for example to the Port of Onehunga in Auckland.

The first railway of the area in 1864^{[failed verification]} ran from Westport 18 kilometres (11 mi) to the coal fields, most of them north of town.^[47] The first section of railway from Westport to Fairdown via Sergeants Hill opened on 31 December 1875; this line ultimately reached Seddonville in 1895 and was known as the Seddonville Branch. From this beginning, an isolated network of branch lines was developed: a Westport-Inangahua branch line of about 12 miles (19 km) was authorised by the Railways Authorisation Act, 1904.^[48] But the lines were not linked to the national network until the completion of the Stillwater–Westport Line through the Buller Gorge in 1942.

Westport Airport is a small airport. It was formerly served twice daily on weekdays and daily in the weekend by Air New Zealand from Wellington, and prior to that, flights to Christchurch and Hokitika were also operated. The Air New Zealand service from Wellington service ceased in April 2015 and its place was taken by Sounds Air. Sounds Air announced that it would cease their service in December 2024 and from January 2025 Originair took on this route.^[49]

The town used to have one cinema/theatre, the St James Theatre, able to seat 424 patrons for film screenings, theatre productions or other activities. After being found structurally unsound, the theatre had to be demolished. A new theatre has since opened. The NBS theatre has two movie theatres, one which seats 55 people and a boutique theatre that seats approximately 20 people. This theatre also has a large facility with seating for approximately 370 people and a stage for performing.^[50]

The township also has a links-style, 18-hole, par-72 golf course. The course measures around 5,600 metres (18,400 ft) with medium to narrow fairways and small "target" greens.^[51]

The Pulse Energy Recreation Centre (originally named the Solid Energy Centre), a sports complex, was opened on 18 April 2009.

Te Taha o Te Awa Marae is based at Westport. It is a marae (tribal meeting ground) of Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō and its Pūaha Te Rangi hapū, and includes a wharenui (meeting house), also called Te Taha o te Awa.^[52][53]

The Coaltown Museum, opened in 2013, illustrates the area's local history.^[54][55]

Sue Thomson Casey Memorial Library, Buller District's library, is located on Palmerston Street.^[56]

Buller High School is a secondary (years 9–13) school with a roll of 370.^[57] It opened as Westport District High School in 1899, and moved to its current site in 1922.^[58][59]

Westport North School and Westport South School are full primary (years 1–8) schools with rolls of 192^[60] and 225,^[61] respectively. The schools were founded in 1942^[62] and 1941^[63]

St Canice's School is a full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 144.^[64] It is a state integrated Catholic school.^[65] It opened in 1882.^[66][67]

All these schools are coeducational. School rolls are as of March 2026.^[68]

A daily local newspaper is published in Westport, the Westport News. The Westport News building also houses Coast-wide local radio station Coast FM.

• Marlene J Bennetts – poet and children's author
• Ben Blair – rugby union player
• James Colvin – politician
• G. F. J. Dart – educationalist, playwright
• Alan Deere – World War II fighter ace
• Anna Harrison – netball player
• Peter Hawes – playwright, author, actor
• Laura Suisted – journalist

• 
  Clock Tower Chambers
• 
  Westport Post Office
• 
  Former Bank of New Zealand building, which now houses the Westport News
• 
  Buller County Chambers
• 
  Old Westport Library building
• 
  Church of St John the Evangelist
• 
  St Canice's Church