Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture Money Videos
Westport
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics
Images
Westport harbour
Read Next
New Zealand. Political/Physical map. Includes locator.
Where Is “Old Zealand”?
Discover
The Lost Colony of Roanoke, North Carolina, where 115 people mysteriously disappeared c. 1590. John White discovers the word Croatoan carved onto a tree upon his return to the deserted Roanoke Colony in 1590
The Lost Colony of Roanoke
Group of children and their parents playing trick or treat on Halloween.
Why Do We Celebrate Halloween?
Vincent Van Gogh, Self Portrait. Oil on canvas, 1887.
Rediscovered Artists: 6 Big Names That Time Almost Forgot
King Cobra snake in Malaysia. (reptile)
9 of the World’s Deadliest Snakes
Philippine President Corazon Aquino (b. Maria Corazon Cojuangco) greets officials in airport terminal. Andrews Air Force Base, U.S., Maryland September 15, 1986. President of the Philippines 1986-1992.
6 of the First Women to Become Heads of State
Andrew Jackson delivering a speech while on his way to Washington, D.C., for his inauguration in 1829. From Harper's Weekly, 1881.
5 Remarkably Close U.S. Presidential Elections
Chapter 4 pg 42 - Chapter header of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. Published in 1884 by The American Publishing Company
Periods of American Literature
Westport harbour
Westport harbour Fishing boats in the harbour at Westport, South Island, N.Z.

Westport

New Zealand
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

Print
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/place/Westport-New-Zealand
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Article History

Westport, port town, northwestern South Island, New Zealand. It lies at the mouth of the Buller River.

Coal and gold were discovered in the area in 1859, and the town was surveyed in 1862. Gold was exploited for only a half-century or so, but coal mining (well developed by the 1870s) continues. The mines around Westport remain one of New Zealand’s principal sources of bituminous coal. Other exports include dairy products and cement from local works. Westport also has breweries; furniture, coal gas, knitwear, hosiery, and flax plants; sawmills; fish canneries; and general engineering and rail workshops. It is connected by rail and road with the coal mines and Seddonville to the northeast and with Greymouth to the southwest. Pop. (2006) 3,900; (2012 est.) 4,170.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.