The Hokitika Museum is a regional museum located in the heart of Westland and housed in the historic Carnegie Building. What began in 1869, in the new Town Hall, as the “Museum Room” has now grown into the West Coast’s largest museum and archive.

An audio-visual experience provides an excellent introduction to the West Coast’s history while our exhibitions tell stories of tangata whenua, the gold-rush, the challenges of transport and the development of Westland. Highlights are displays of poumau taonga, a giant mecanno dredge and regularly changing art and special interest exhibitions in our gallery.

Research facilities are available for historians and genealogists by appointment or by contacting us.

Wet or fine, if you have half an hour or half a day, don’t miss the Hokitika Museum which provides a great introduction to the rich heritage of this unique region of New Zealand.