We see the old towns struggling to adapt to the needs of new modern industries. They were built for gold, timber coal and harbours. Sadly among the regenerating rainforests forests there are many old towns that have disappeared completely

Others are surviving with people friendly, optimistic and adapting from a world of mining and milling to one of farming and tourism.

Our KANES guide tells of the hardships and successes of the peoples and their contributions over the years to New Zealand.

See also:
Ross
Reefton
Lyell
Hokitika
Greymouth
Whataroa & Harihari
Rununga
Murchison
Kaneri
Brunner
Kumara
Springs Junction
Settlements in the zone
 

Located on river deposits at the mouth of the large Buller River and its beautiful gorge we find one of the zone's more active communities. Exciting caving and river adventures can be accessed from here.

This peaceful community provides services for coal mining, cement manufacturing, tourism, fishing and farming industries.

Studies:
When time permits, a visit to Coaltown (museum) offers insights unto the coal mining over the centaury.  Westport has the zone's only fully working river harbour.

Nearby are some New Zealand's most rugged coastlines, old derelict and working coal mines and even a seal colony. round the region there are numerous ghost towns all telling their stories of better times.

This is a great base for accessing old and operating coal mines and the towns that supported them. There is the harbour, cement industry, seal colony, the large river historic river and wild costs.

See also:
Lewis Pass Highway
Settlement Studies in the Zone
Link Wikipedia
Link Harbour