92-720: Mount Rochfort is a mountain peak 1,040 metres (3,410 ft) in elevation, located approximately 10 km east of Westport in the Buller District on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It rises above the south-west portion of the Denniston Plateau and overlooks the town of Westport and the plains of the Buller River . Mount Rochfort was named after John Rochfort (1832–1893), who
184-538: A book illustrated by Heaphy; this was entitled Adventures in New Zealand . Although no longer employed by the New Zealand Company, Heaphy, emboldened by the success of his report and the public reception to his paintings, sought further opportunities for similar work. From London, he wrote to the company secretary seeking support to explore the area inland of Nelson. The response was unenthusiastic;
276-561: A dominant concern in the region today. 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. 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
368-495: A large facility with seating for approximately 370 people and a stage for performing. 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. 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
460-687: A load of 34 kilograms (75 lb), trekked to the Buller River and walked its banks as far as the Maruia River . As they believed they were only 32 kilometres (20 mi) from the coast, their dwindling provisions prevented them proceeding to the mouth of the Buller River. Guided by Kehu, the party traversed the Hope Saddle on their way back to Nelson, which they reached on 1 March. Heaphy and Brunner were keen for further exploration and with Kehu, left Nelson on 17 March 1846, to scout along
552-640: A party of soldiers of the 40th and 50th Regiments, under the orders of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Marshman Havelock, Bart., V.C., G.C.B, D.L. the Senior Officer on the spot, who had moved rapidly down to the place where the troops were hotly engaged and pressed. Heaphy was presented with his VC at a parade at Albert Barracks in Auckland on 11 May 1867. The medal is now on display at the Auckland War Memorial Museum . After
644-696: A population density of 406 people per km . Westport had a population of 4,389 at the 2018 New Zealand census , a decrease of 366 people (−7.7%) since the 2013 census , and a decrease of 120 people (−2.7%) since the 2006 census . There were 1,998 households, comprising 2,214 males and 2,172 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.02 males per female, with 729 people (16.6%) aged under 15 years, 651 (14.8%) aged 15 to 29, 1,911 (43.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,092 (24.9%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 91.9% European/ Pākehā , 12.1% Māori , 1.8% Pasifika , 2.7% Asian , and 1.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas
736-498: A private venture to organise colonies in New Zealand. Wakefield sought well-educated men as staff for the planning and surveying of new settlements in the country. Heaphy sailed with William Wakefield , Edward's brother, aboard the Tory on an expedition to purchase land suitable for settlement. In late 1839, the Tory arrived in what became known as Wellington . Heaphy's contract with
828-579: A raiding party. Men of the 50th Regiment of Foot came to the aid of the defenders. Among them was Heaphy, who was in command of a group of 12 soldiers and came across the Māori reserve. After putting them to flight, he then led his men to the Mangapiko Stream to assist the British soldiers helping the besieged party. Despite being outnumbered, the British repulsed the Māori and began to pursue them into
920-519: A report to the company directors. He took six months to reach London, by which time his three-year contract had expired. The directors were impressed with his report and it was published as a book entitled Narrative of a Residence in Various Parts of New Zealand and included several lithographs prepared from Heaphy's art. Another of the Wakefield brothers, Edward Jerningham, also published
1012-670: A screen of nīkau palm leaves. They crossed the Karamea River on 20 April and reached the Buller River ten days later. This had to be crossed using an old canoe that was repaired by Kehu and Etau and after crossing, they stayed at the local pā (village). In early May, they sighted the Southern Alps and at the Arahura River, the southernmost point of the expedition, they were hosted by the local Ngāi Tahu tribe at Taramakau Pā. Poor weather plagued their return along
SECTION 10
#17327878863411104-410: A smaller boundary, covering 88.76 km (34.27 sq mi). Using that boundary, Westport Rural had a population of 1,260 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 30 people (2.4%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 285 people (29.2%) since the 2006 census . There were 498 households, comprising 624 males and 639 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female. The median age
1196-403: A statement about the conservation values of the area: The Te Kuha area is one of the last two areas of intact, elevated Brunner coal measure ecosystems. It is an undisturbed area which is precious and unique and supports complex and diverse habitats for threatened plants and wildlife including great spotted kiwi, land snails and lizards. The Mount Rochfort Conservation Area is land classified in
1288-566: A term as Member of Parliament for Parnell . From 1870 to 1881, he held a variety of civil service positions. In his later years, his health declined and he retired from public service in May 1881. He moved to Queensland , in Australia , seeking a better climate in which to recover his health but died a few months after his arrival. He is buried at Toowong Cemetery in Brisbane . Charles Heaphy
1380-452: Is a full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 147. It is a state integrated Catholic school and has operated since at least 1882. All these schools are coeducational. The town's primary schools all have a decile rating of 4, and Buller High School has a decile rating of 3. School rolls are as of August 2024. Charles Heaphy Charles Heaphy VC (1820 – 3 August 1881) was an English-born New Zealand explorer and recipient of
1472-480: Is a lake to the north west called Lake Rochfort. This West Coast Region (New Zealand) geography article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Westport, New Zealand Westport ( Māori : Kawatiri ) is a town in the West Coast region of the South Island of New Zealand. Established in 1861, it is the oldest European settlement on the West Coast. Originally named Buller , it
1564-432: Is a secondary (years 9–13) school with a roll of 349. The school celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1997 but also claims to have been operating for over 100 years, due to its connection to earlier secondary schooling in the district. Westport North School and Westport South School are full primary (years 1–8) schools with rolls of 245 and 236, respectively. The schools were founded in 1942 and 1941 St Canice's School
1656-560: 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, for example to the Port of Onehunga in Auckland . The first railway of
1748-400: 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. The Coaltown Museum , opened in 2013, illustrates the area's local history. Sue Thomson Casey Memorial Library , Buller District's library, is located on Palmerston Street. Buller High School
1840-568: Is now known as Warkworth in early 1854, following his appointment as district surveyor for the Mahurangi Peninsula, which was being opened for settlement. For two years, Heaphy surveyed the plots of land that were to be sold to people moving to the area. In 1856 he became Auckland's provincial surveyor following the retirement of his predecessor. He moved back to Auckland and took up residence in Parnell . Surveying kept him busy for
1932-508: Is on the right bank and at the mouth of the Buller River , close by the prominent headland of Cape Foulwind . It is connected via State Highway 6 with Greymouth , 100 kilometres (62 mi) to the south, and with Nelson 222 kilometres (138 mi) in the northeast, via the Buller Gorge . The population of the Westport urban area was 4,680 as of June 2024. The Buller District had a population of 10,500. The Māori language name for
SECTION 20
#17327878863412024-623: Is sited on a flood-prone catchment and climate change is causing water levels to rise. A West Coast Regional Council spokesperson expressed concern about the under-investment in flood protection including dredging and river management work in Westport. In July 2021, wet weather throughout New Zealand caused more flooding, leading to the evacuation of about 2,000 people, roughly half of the town's 4,600 residents. The flood caused millions of dollars in damages and damaged hundreds of homes in Westport. 563 homes were damaged with 70 homes being red stickered and 393 homes being yellow stickered. 23% of
2116-544: Is strongly influenced by the high amount of precipitation from the Tasman Sea , with all months being rather wet on average. Despite very high annual rainfall, Westport is often prone to drought and conservation measures are sometimes triggered. While colder than the more northern parts of New Zealand, average temperature changes over the year are not extreme. Westport covers 11.53 km (4.45 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 4,680 as of June 2024, with
2208-520: The Bay of Plenty , including the famous Pink and White Terraces . Hoping to raise his profile, he sent many of his works to London and some remain on display at the offices of the Geological Society . When he was 30, Heaphy met and began courting Kate Churton, the 21-year-old daughter of a reverend. The couple were married on 30 October 1851, at St Paul's Church in Auckland. A year later, he
2300-595: The New Zealand Company in 1839. He arrived in New Zealand later that year and was commissioned to make a visual record of the company's work which was used to advertise the country to potential English migrants. Much of the next 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 years was spent travelling around New Zealand and executing paintings of the land and its inhabitants. When his contract with the company ended in 1842, he lived in Nelson for several years and explored large parts of
2392-578: The Peninsular War . The Heaphy family lived in St John's Wood in north-west London and enjoyed a comfortable, middle-class existence although his mother died sometime during his early childhood. Thomas died in 1835 and left the entire estate to his second wife, who he had married in 1833. Charles, who had obtained work as a draughtsman at the London & Birmingham Railway Company , moved out of
2484-566: The Victoria Cross (VC), the highest military award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that could be awarded to British and Empire forces at the time. He was the first soldier of the New Zealand armed forces to be awarded the VC. He was also a noted artist of the colonial period who created watercolours and sketches of early settler life in New Zealand. Born in England, Heaphy joined
2576-691: The West Coast to the mouth of the Buller. The expedition traced the western coast of South Island as far south as the Arahura River . Their journey began from Golden Bay and they made their way to West Wanganui where Etau, a local Māori, was hired as a porter. The local chief barred their journey south but Heaphy and Brunner mollified him with some tobacco. They continued along the coast, climbing steep cliffs and fording rivers as they went. Their movements were held up at times due to rain and high tides. At night, they sheltered in small caves, augmented with
2668-516: The West Coast . He later moved north to Auckland to take up employment as a surveyor. During the invasion of the Waikato , his militia unit was mobilised and it was his conduct at Paterangi , where he rescued British soldiers under fire, that saw him awarded the VC. As well as being the first soldier of the New Zealand armed forces to receive the VC, he was the first recipient from any militia force. After his military service ended, Heaphy served
2760-419: The 11th of February, 1864, in assisting a wounded soldier of the 40th Regiment, who had fallen into a hollow among the thickest of the concealed Maories. Whilst doing so, he became the target for a volley at a few feet distant. Five balls pierced his clothes and cap, and he was wounded in three places. Although hurt, he continued to aid the wounded until the end of the day. Major Heaphy was at the time in charge of
2852-522: The British advanced deeper into the Waikato, he was attached to the staff of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Havelock . The Waikato Māori had withdrawn to fortified positions at Pikopiko and Paterangi by early 1864. While their positions were under siege, war parties would mount raids on small groups of British soldiers. On 11 February, soldiers of the 40th Regiment of Foot were swimming in the Mangapiko Stream near Paterangi and were attacked by
Mount Rochfort - Misplaced Pages Continue
2944-490: The British forces in New Zealand. He was eventually successful and on 8 February 1867, Queen Victoria made a declaration that the local forces of New Zealand would be eligible for the VC. That day, the award of a VC to Heaphy, the first to a New Zealander and also to a non-regular soldier, was gazetted. The citation read: For his gallant conduct at the skirmish on the banks of the Mangapiko River, in New Zealand, on
3036-534: The Buller District have had several floods since 1846. In January 1868, heavy rain led to flooding, which destroyed two wharves. The town was flooded again in October and November 1926, and yet again in 1970, 2012, and 2015. In 2018, Westport was damaged by Cyclone Fehi during the 2017–18 South Pacific cyclone season . According to Land River Sea Consulting founder and river engineer Matthew Gardner, Westport
3128-416: The New Zealand Company was for three years and his primary role was to produce a visual record of its efforts that could be used as advertising. In doing so he travelled extensively around New Zealand and occasionally participated in overland treks, living out of a tent or staying with local Māori . He also sailed along the coastline aboard the Tory and learned surveying from its captain. Another employee of
3220-426: The New Zealand Company, as well as a Ngāti Tūmatakōkiri tohunga named Kehu, undertook another expedition to the south-west. Difficult terrain faced them; high mountain ranges topped with snow and ice, steep bush, numerous rivers and gorges. Food sources included roots and berries; birds were snared and eels caught from streams. Along the coast, shellfish and gull eggs were added to the diet. The party, each carrying
3312-405: The VC and thus Heaphy, as a militiaman, was not eligible. Grey argued that as Heaphy was under the effective command of British officers he should be made an exception. In London, the authorities disagreed and the recommendation was turned down. Heaphy refused to accept this and began to agitate with the British government, with support from Grey, Havelock, and General Duncan Cameron , commander of
3404-676: The VC helped raise his profile and when the nomination meeting for the 1867 by-election was held at the Parnell Hall on 6 June, he was returned unopposed as the electorate's representative in the New Zealand Parliament . Heaphy's time in parliament was undistinguished but he was a hard working representative for the people of the Parnell electorate. He met with constituents to discuss matters of concern ranging from taxes to publicly funded travel. A parliamentary colleague
3496-623: The VC is the highest gallantry award that can be bestowed on a soldier of the British Empire . The recommendation was supported by Grey, who was serving a second term as the Governor of New Zealand, despite knowing that neither Heaphy or another man also recommended for the VC for an action earlier in the campaign, were in the British Army or Royal Navy . At the time, only personnel from the regular British military could be awarded
3588-404: 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, the area soon became much more famous for coal mining , still
3680-517: The area in 1864 ran from Westport 18 kilometres (11 mi) to the coal fields, most of them north of town. 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)
3772-490: 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
Mount Rochfort - Misplaced Pages Continue
3864-510: 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. Westport is also home to EPIC Westport an innovation hub, which houses software developers and business startups. A daily local newspaper is published in Westport, the Westport News . The Westport News building also houses coast-wide local radio station Coast FM . Tourist attracts in
3956-416: The art critic Eric Hall McCormick considered him the finest New Zealand artist of the colonial period, a view also shared by later authors. Prints of Heaphy's paintings began to be produced in 1953 and on the hundred year anniversary of his death, a limited edition portfolio of his watercolours was published. At the time, it was the most expensive book produced in New Zealand, retailing for NZ$ 750. His name
4048-531: The burial site in 1960 and a headstone was erected by the New Zealand government. The inscription reads: He served New Zealand in peace and war as artist, explorer and member of parliament. He was the first non-regular soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross . In addition to being the first New Zealander to be awarded the VC, Heaphy was an accomplished artist. His watercolours, mostly produced between 1841 and 1855, are an important record of many scenes in
4140-516: The bush. A soldier was wounded and Heaphy and three others went to his aid. In doing so, Heaphy and one of the other soldiers were wounded while another was killed. Unable to extricate themselves, Heaphy and the remaining fit soldier provided cover to prevent the wounded men from being killed by the Māori. They were eventually relieved by reinforcements, but the two wounded men that Heaphy and the soldier were trying to protect died of their injuries. Despite wounds to his arm, hip and ribs, Heaphy remained in
4232-521: The census's question about religious affiliation, 55.7% had no religion, 32.9% were Christian , 0.7% had Māori religious beliefs , 0.5% were Hindu , 0.5% were Buddhist and 1.2% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 129 (12.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 285 (28.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $ 24,900, compared with $ 31,800 nationally. 144 people (14.2%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
4324-543: The cessation of hostilities, Heaphy was contracted as the "Chief Surveyor to the General Government of New Zealand" and surveyed much of the land seized from the Waikato Māori by the British, which included that on which the towns of Hamilton and Cambridge were established. In Hamilton, Heaphy Terrace, a thoroughfare in the suburb of Claudelands , is named after him. His contract ended in early 1866 and he
4416-556: The chance to explore. Wakefield's replacement as resident agent in Nelson for the New Zealand Company, William Fox , was a keen advocate of expansion for settlement in the area around Nelson. Fox authorised Heaphy and a surveyor to scout south-west to the Buller River in November 1843. In a subsequent expedition undertaken the following month, Heaphy and two Māori trekked to what is now known as Golden Bay , and returned to Motueka via
4508-454: The coast but they reached Nelson on 18 August. The harsh conditions he had experienced during his travels left him disillusioned with the potential prospects for settlements along the West Coast region. Life in Nelson remained difficult for Heaphy, who had by now lost his appetite for exploration. He eked out a living taking occasional jobs for the next six months. For much of 1847, he undertook survey work around Tasman Bay and later that year
4600-518: The coast, a journey which he regarded as the most difficult he had undertaken at the time. Both expeditions failed to locate suitable land for settlement as did an expedition back to the Buller River in March 1845. Heaphy was reasonably well compensated for his exploration efforts and for additional funds, he undertook art commissions for Nelson's more wealthy residents. In February 1846, Heaphy, accompanied by Fox and Thomas Brunner , another employee of
4692-435: The company travelling on the Tory was Ernst Dieffenbach , who taught Heaphy basic geology . Heaphy painted a variety of subjects including landscapes, flora and fauna and Māori people, including Te Rauparaha , the notable rangatira (chief). The success of the company depended on attracting emigrants to New Zealand so his work was almost always intended to present the land and its inhabitants in its best light. Heaphy
SECTION 50
#17327878863414784-474: The company was concentrating on developing its settlements rather than undertaking in further exploration. Despite this, Heaphy returned to New Zealand and arrived in Nelson on 22 December 1842. There was little in way of work opportunities for Heaphy in Nelson and he based himself in Motueka . Here he farmed land with a friend, Frederick Moore, and this took much of what little funds he had. His farming venture
4876-464: The country, inspecting land and negotiating with Māori landowners, a process he did not always enjoy, particularly when rival tribes disputed ownership. He also had to arrange for the acquisition of Māori land for utilities, such as telegraph lines. He occasionally advocated for compensation for aggrieved Māori, whose land had been stolen by colonials. An added stress in Heaphy's first year as commissioner
4968-548: The early days of European settlement in New Zealand. The best of these were those produced for the New Zealand Company. Much of his later work was in the form of sketches and his output decreased in his middle age. Other than the publications relating to the New Zealand Company, his work received little exposure during his lifetime. His paintings were only exhibited on a few occasions, the first in February 1866 in Auckland. The New Zealand Centennial Exhibition in 1940 increased
5060-612: The family home soon after. As a child, he had been taught to paint by his father and in December 1837, sponsored by a family friend, he entered the Royal Academy school of painting. He was the only child of the Heaphy family to receive this level of education. In May 1839, after 18 months at the Royal Academy, Heaphy joined the New Zealand Company as a draughtsman. The company was established by Edward Wakefield as
5152-479: The field for much of the remainder of the day, until the ambushed party was relieved. Following the action at Mangapiko Stream, Heaphy was promoted to major ; a month later, with the end of the war in the Waikato, he ceased active duty and returned to civilian life. In late 1864, Major General Thomas Galloway , the commander of the New Zealand colonial forces, recommended Heaphy for the Victoria Cross (VC) for his actions at Mangapiko Stream. Instituted in 1856,
5244-543: The floods that struck the city in July 2021. Of the 563 flood damaged homes, just over 100 had fully completed their repairs. The Buller District Council and the West Coast Regional Council submitted a NZ$ 54 million business case for the region which includes investing in flood walls, subsidising people to move from flood-prone areas, and investing in Westport's stormwater system. The Westport climate
5336-563: The following month and with his wife, moved to Brisbane , in Queensland , Australia . The couple hoped the warmer climate would help with Heaphy's health but he died on 3 August 1881. Having no children he was survived only by his wife. Buried at Toowong Cemetery , formerly the Brisbane General Cemetery, his grave was at first marked with a numbered plaque and soon became overgrown. A descendant of his wife discovered
5428-455: The harbour and deliberately overstated their number, to give an impression of a busy port. A few months later, in early 1841, he joined Arthur Wakefield on the expedition that led to the founding of Nelson , in the South Island . Heaphy was among several employees of the New Zealand Company to scout the area around what is now known as Tasman Bay , before the location for Nelson was decided upon. He executed several watercolours highlighting
5520-688: The interim, he picked up more civil service duties; he became a justice of the peace and presided over cases of petty crime brought to the Resident Magistrates Court in Wellington. In April 1878 he was appointed "Government Insurance Commissioner" and later that year became a judge of the Native Land Court . By May 1881, Heaphy's health was in severe decline and, still affected by his rheumatism, he caught tuberculosis . He resigned from all his civil service positions
5612-518: The islands around New Caledonia , to indulge his interest in languages. He also wanted to investigate French claims on the islands. Heaphy accompanied him as his private secretary and took the opportunity to execute artworks of the islands he visited and their inhabitants. He gave some of his works to Grey, who took them back to England in December 1853 and donated them to the British Museum . Heaphy and his wife moved north of Auckland to what
SECTION 60
#17327878863415704-516: The mountains for pounamu (jade or greenstone), which they then traded with other iwi . The first wave of European settlers came to Westport in 1861 as gold miners , and the first European vessel said to have entered the river was the sealing schooner Three Brothers in 1844, though other sealing vessels were recorded in the Cape Foulwind area in the 1820s. The 1880s saw many exploratory parties of geologists and surveyors combing
5796-429: The next few years but in early 1859, he accompanied Ferdinand von Hochstetter on an expedition south of Auckland; Hochstetter had been invited by the government to make a report on a recent coalfield discovery in the area. The two became friendly and Hochstetter was impressed with Heaphy's bush skills, although privately did not accord him much respect for his scientific knowledge. When Hochstetter left for Europe later in
5888-497: The preparation of maps and plans. After a few years, he began to spend a greater amount of time in the field, where he carried out survey work. As he had done when living in Nelson, he supplemented his income with commissioned artworks. He also began to build on his geological knowledge, taking a particular interest in volcanology . He wrote an article on Auckland's volcanoes for a geological journal in England and completed several paintings of volcanoes as well as thermal attractions in
5980-509: The public awareness of Heaphy's art as a record of colonial life in New Zealand. The Alexander Turnbull Library had purchased an archive of New Zealand Company paintings in 1915 from a bookseller in London, which included around 30 of Heaphy's paintings. These were shown during the centennial exhibition and from there his reputation as a significant artist of colonial New Zealand grew. In his book Letters and Art in New Zealand , published in 1940,
6072-402: The quality of the land intended for settlement and these were forwarded to London. The New Zealand Company regularly published Heaphy's work as lithographs, often having extra details added when being redrawn for printing purposes. By late 1841, his services as an artist were no longer required, given the number of works that he had produced, and Wakefield decided to send him to London to make
6164-504: The river and the region is Kawatiri, meaning deep and swift. 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. 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. Māori mostly lived in coastal areas, though they explored
6256-487: The south. From October 1840, Heaphy was based in Wellington. With a friend, he built a small cottage and from there executed several views of Wellington Harbour, which were much used in advertising for the New Zealand Company. One example of his work, a view of the fledgling Wellington settlement, was reproduced as a lithograph for distribution in England. As an example of how Heaphy manipulated his work for commercial appeal, this painting depicted several ships anchored in
6348-534: The stewardship category by the Department of Conservation. Mount Rochfort is one of two locations where the nationally critical moth Arctesthes avatar can be found. There is a 4WD access road from the Denniston Plateau to the summit of Mount Rochford, for servicing a transmission site on the peak. There is a water supply reserve for the town of Westport on the slopes of Mount Rochfort. There
6440-577: The sympathy of the public. The dispute did not stop Hochstetter from using Heaphy's artwork in a book he published on New Zealand's geology. Soon after returning to Auckland in 1856, Heaphy joined a militia unit, the Auckland Rifle Volunteers , with the rank of private . In early 1863, during a period of hostilities of the New Zealand Wars , his unit was mobilised and Heaphy commissioned as an officer. Later that year he
6532-415: The town's 983 dwellings required repairs. By mid-October 2021, 450 homes remained uninhabitable or damaged. 140 remained in temporary accommodation including cabins, motels, or relatives' homes. In February 2022, Westport and the Buller District had heavy rain and significant flooding, which damaged homes, infrastructure, farms, and roads. Residents were also evacuated. On 10 February, a state of emergency
6624-555: 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. Rafting and jetboating in the Buller Gorge are popular. 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
6716-408: The year, he took with him many examples of Heaphy's artwork. The two later fell out, when Heaphy had an article published in a geological journal. Hochstetter felt usurped by someone he considered an inferior scholar and publicly questioned Heaphy's credentials. He also made allegations that Heaphy had plagiarised portions of his work on the coalfield. Heaphy mounted a spirited defence and generally had
6808-476: Was 50.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 249 people (19.8%) aged under 15 years, 96 (7.6%) aged 15 to 29, 606 (48.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 306 (24.3%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 94.0% European/ Pākehā , 8.8% Māori , 0.7% Pasifika , 1.7% Asian , and 2.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 9.0, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer
6900-560: Was 9.2, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.3% had no religion, 33.6% were Christian , 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs , 0.5% were Hindu , 0.1% were Muslim , 0.3% were Buddhist and 1.5% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 303 (8.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,179 (32.2%) people had no formal qualifications. 351 people (9.6%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
6992-547: Was Fox, his old acquaintance from Nelson. When Fox became Premier of New Zealand in June 1869, Heaphy was a supporter. Offered a well paid position as "Commissioner of Native Reserves" by the Fox administration, he resigned from parliament on 13 April 1870. As commissioner, Heaphy's role was to administer Māori land set aside by the government and to determine areas of land that could be opened to migrants. His work took him up and down
7084-574: Was New Zealand's largest coal producer. 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, for example the Clock Tower Chambers . Westport and
7176-529: Was a representative for the New Zealand Company, when the government investigated the amount of land set aside by the company for the local Māori. Work had dried up by early 1848 and when he was offered employment with the Auckland Survey Office in April 1848, he accepted. Moving north to Auckland , Heaphy's new role as the chief draughtsman for the Auckland Survey Office kept him occupied with
7268-549: Was a surveyor and engineer involved in mineral surveys in the Buller District. Rochfort was the first pākehā to climb the peak and Julius von Haast named it. In 2018, the Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage and Minister of Energy Resources Megan Woods declined an application to mine 12 hectares (30 acres) near Te Kuha , in the Mount Rochfort Conservation Area. The announcement including
7360-486: Was an enquiry into his conduct during the period he was "Chief Surveyor to the General Government of New Zealand" and working in the Waikato. Allegations had been raised that he took bribes to illegally adjust land boundaries. The enquiry, headed by an acquaintance from his days in Nelson, Alfred Domett , cleared Heaphy of corruption, although he was criticised for taking payments from young trainee surveyors in return for work. In 1872, he and his wife moved to Wellington, which
7452-585: Was appointed captain of the Parnell Company. In July 1863, as part of the invasion of the Waikato , he was sent to survey the military road being constructed into the Waikato . He also charted the riverways while pilot of the gunboat Pioneer . He was present at the Battle of Rangiriri and later made a sketch of the action, which unusually for him, included representations of British casualties. As
7544-479: Was appointed "Commissioner of Gold Fields" at Coromandel , following the recent discovery of gold. His role required him to supervise claims made by miners and negotiate land sales with local Māori. The gold rush in Coromandel soon petered out and he returned to his work at the Auckland Survey Office by mid-1853. In November 1853, Sir George Grey ended his first term as Governor of New Zealand and sailed to
7636-535: Was at times exposed to some danger; on an expedition to the Chatham Islands , his party intervened in a skirmish between two warring tribes and he was wounded in the leg. It is unlikely it was a serious wound, for a few weeks later he went on a trek back in New Zealand to the Taranaki Region , where he produced some of his more notable landscapes, including an exaggerated view of Mount Taranaki from
7728-663: Was authorised by the Railways Authorisation Act, 1904. 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
7820-473: Was born sometime in 1820 in London , England. He was the youngest child of Thomas Heaphy , who was a professional painter, and three of his siblings also became noted painters. His grandfather John Gerrard Heaphy was a merchant from Ireland . Thomas Heaphy earned painting commissions from high society and in 1812 accompanied Arthur Wellesley, who was later to become the Duke of Wellington , as staff artist during
7912-485: Was declared in the Buller District. Minister of Rural Affairs Damien O'Connor described the February flooding in Westport as "one of the worst he had seen" and attributed it to climate change. On 23 February, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a NZ$ 500,000 scheme to assist farmers in Westport and the wider West Coast region with flood damage called "Task Force Green." In July 2022, Stuff reported that over 400 homes in Westport had not been fully repaired since
8004-547: Was hard work and not particularly successful. By late 1843, the New Zealand Company was in need of good pastoral land around Nelson. It had clashed with Māori in the Wairau Affray in the Wairau Valley to the south-east of Nelson, and several company employees, including Arthur Wakefield , another brother of Edward Wakefield, were killed. The company needed to scout the area to the south-west and Heaphy finally got
8096-478: Was more centrally located and thus convenient for his work, which now included an appointment as "Trust Commissioner for the Wellington District", dealing with land fraud. By 1875, Heaphy, beginning to suffer from rheumatism , had reduced the amount of time he spent in the field determining ownership of Māori land and its availability for colonial settlement and the work ended altogether in 1880. In
8188-563: Was reinstated to his pre-war position as Auckland's provincial surveyor. In April 1867, Frederick Whitaker resigned his posts as Superintendent of the Auckland Province and Member of Parliament for the Parnell electorate in Auckland. Whitaker's resignation became known soon after Heaphy's award of the VC was announced and Heaphy declared his candidacy for the vacant seat, declaring that he would be an independent representative for Parnell. The publicity around his award of
8280-499: Was taken by Sounds Air . 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
8372-412: Was that 1,398 (38.2%) people were employed full-time, 561 (15.3%) were part-time, and 159 (4.3%) were unemployed. Westport Rural surrounds Westport on the west, south and east, and includes Carters Beach . It covers 90.06 km (34.77 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 1,390 as of June 2024, with a population density of 15 people per km . Before the 2023 census, Westport Rural had
8464-537: Was that 441 (43.6%) people were employed full-time, 192 (19.0%) were part-time, and 21 (2.1%) were unemployed. 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 . Some native forest logging occurred in
#340659