Westland Tai Poutini National Park is a park on the western coast of New Zealand's South Island. It was created in 1960 as Westland National Park to celebrate the 100th anniversary of European settlers arriving in the Westland District. The park covers 1,320 square kilometers (330,000 acres) of mostly mountainous areas and forests. It shares a border with Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park along the Main Divide of the Southern Alps and includes many glaciers, such as the Fox (Te Moeka o Tuawe) and Franz Josef (Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere) glaciers.

The main towns near the park are Fox Glacier and Franz Josef (Waiau), while remains of old gold mining towns can be seen along the coast. The park allows hunting for red deer, chamois, and tahr, and helicopters help hunters reach rough, mountainous areas. The Copland Track runs upstream from the Karangarua River bridge. Visitors can enjoy views of mountains along the track and find hot springs near Welcome Flat Hut.

History

Ngāi Tahu people traveled along the Westland coast to collect pounamu. Their settlements were located along the shoreline, with larger villages at Maitahi and Makāwhio, and a pā at Ōkārito. The Ngāi Tahu were familiar with the inland areas now within the park, knowing the landmarks well. Many local Māori climbers were remembered for guiding European explorers.

European settlers arrived in the area partly because of coal and gold, leading to a gold rush on the West Coast in the mid-1860s. Gold found in rivers and beaches led to mining in these areas, which are now part of the park. This caused settlements at Gillespies Beach, Ōkārito, Three Mile Beach, and Five Mile Beach to grow or be established. The gold rush ended within a decade, but European interest in the area continued. As access improved, tourism and businesses related to hospitality expanded quickly.

Although many registered archaeological and historic sites are in the park, few are from before European arrival. This lack of representation is noted in park management, with existing Māori wāhi tapu (sacred sites) not being shared publicly.

The park has grown over time by adding nearby forest reserves and conservation land. Ōkārito and Waikukupa State Forests were added in 1982, followed by the upper Karangarua Valley in 1983. North Ōkārito and Saltwater State Forests were added in 2002, and over 4,400 hectares (11,000 acres) of land scattered across the park were added in 2010.

Geography

Westland Tai Poutini National Park spans 1,320 square kilometres (510 sq mi) and is located only on the western side of the South Island's main divide. It is New Zealand's fifth largest national park. The park includes many different environments, from high mountain areas with cold, treeless land near its border with Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park to wetlands along the coast near Ōkārito Lagoon. This variety causes the park's elevation to range from sea level up to 3,498 metres (11,476 ft) at Mount Tasman. The mountains create heavy rainfall in the park because winds from the west push moist air upward, leading to the growth of thick rainforests in a temperate climate.

Ecology

Coastal wetlands are good homes for wading birds. Lake Māpōurika is home to the threatened Kāmana / Pūteketeke, and Ōkārito Lagoon is famous for having kōtuku. Kea are usually found all over the park. The only group of Okarito kiwi (rowi) live in the lowland forests of the park.