Founded on gold mining in 1864, it was a centre of the West Coast Gold Rush. By late 1866 it was one of the country's most populous centres. It became the capital of the short-lived Westland Province from 1873 until the abolition of provinces in 1876.
The population has declined greatly since that time but the population of the Westland District is now on the rise thanks to "lifestyle inhabitants". Almost 30% of the district's ratepayers live outside of Westland
