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. The West Coast Historical Museum is housed in the restored Carnegie Building situated on the corner of Tancred and Hamilton Streets, Hokitika.

Artifacts, displays and records now fill the Carnegie Building (built 1908), and both the Pioneer Hall and the Drummond Hall erected in 1976.

Pounamu – Mana Pounamu ki tai ki uta (sea to the mountains) New Zealand’s most significant traditional pounamu exhibition. Considered the most treasured of treasures within Te Ao Maori (Maori world). This display tells the Te Tai o Poutini story of the creation of pounamu, right in the heart of greenstone country and draws together a collection of Taonga (treasures) from around the country which represents the many forms of pounamu - from ancient jewellery to weapons of war.

An 18 minute audio visual Display tells the fascinating story of Greenstone and Gold and brings the West Coast’s pioneering past to life.

Displays - Schools, religion, crime, business, Hotels, the port, timber, aviation, fire brigade and of course the gold! A rich tapestry of life on the West Coast is revealed through a wealth of original relics and artifacts on display.

Research Facilities for those who would like to delve more deeply into the past,
Wealth of local and regional information contained in our large archival collection, local government records, Hokitika Borough Council Rates books, local school records, cemetery records (headstone inscriptions, plot maps etc), West Coast Times 1865–today, biographical index and files, subject files, collection of over 16000 photographs (catalogued) and much, much more!

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