Hokitika – Gold, Greenstone, and Whitebait

Hokitika, known as “Hoki” to the locals, like such a lot of South Island towns, was founded on gold, and was one of New Zealand’s busiest ports in the 1860s.  Little remains of this busy port these days, except for the 1897 Custom House, moved to the reconstructed quayside in 1985.  The Custom House, built in 1897

The old lighthouse, built in 1879

Among the other interesting old buildings in the town is the former Government Building, built in the early 1900s.  Hokitika’s Courthouse was based here for many years, but the building is no longer in use and up for sale at the present time.  A statue of Premier Richard John Seddon stands in front of this building, and he worked as a miner, storekeeper and hotel proprietor before becoming Mayor of Kumara, and then entered Parliament.

   The Government Building

The focal point of Hokitika would have to be the lovely old clock tower in the centre of town.  Built in 1903, it honours the soldiers from the Boer War, and also commemorates the coronation of Edward VII.

Hokitika Clock tower

Modern day Hokitika is a lively town with greenstone at it’s heart.  The local Maori population has long treasured the greenstone found in nearby rivers, and these days there are several greenstone studios around the town where people can purchase their own little piece of this special stone.  The Hokitika Museum has many beautiful pieces of greenstone, from boulders straight from the river to wonderfully worked pieces.

  Hokitika Museum

Currently on show is a display which tells the story of the other famous Hokitika product, whitebait.  There was even a whitebait cannery doing business in the old days.  There is a story told which relates that some years there was so much whitebait caught that people were feeding it to their chooks and even using it as fertiliser – seems like sacrilege to us!

Catching whitebait

By the can full 

We are currently staying at Southside Park, the NZMCA property at Hokitika.  This large area fills up quickly as the day wears on, then empties out just as quickly during the morning as the motor homes and caravans move on to their next destination.  The town centre is just across long Hokitika bridge, just a short walk into town.

  Gypsy Rover, Romany Rambler and Le Petit Chateau on site

View of the bridge from the camp

Last evening we had the most glorious sunset.  And tonight we hope to see something just as lovely, we are going to visit the “Glow-worm Grotto” when it gets dark. 

Sunset from our camp site