About us
Who We Are:
Heritage West Coast (HWC) stands as a regional organisation dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the rich heritage of New Zealand’s West Coast. Its mission revolves around fostering collaboration among heritage organisations, local iwi, regional authorities, and government agencies.
The tapestry of collaboration seen today wasn’t always woven seamlessly. The West Coast heritage scene began experiencing a shift towards unity around 1998 when heritage organisations initiated informal collaboration through regional heritage forums. This initial spark of cooperation culminated in formally incorporating Heritage West Coast in 2004.
Comprising representatives from heritage organisations, Te Runanga o Ngati Waewae, Te Runanga o Makaawhio, the Buller, Grey, and Westland District Councils, the Department of Conservation, and other heritage-focused entities or individuals seeking involvement, Heritage West Coast became a unifying force in the preservation and promotion of the region’s rich heritage.
A significant milestone occurred in 2011 when changes within the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT), now Heritage New Zealand (HNZ), prompted the disbandment of the New Zealand Historic Places West Coast Branch Committee. The functions of this committee were seamlessly integrated into the fabric of Heritage West Coast, solidifying its role as a critical player in heritage conservation and collaboration on the West Coast.
Today, Heritage West Coast continues to be a beacon of unity, bringing together diverse stakeholders to ensure that the West Coast’s heritage remains not only preserved but also celebrated for generations to come.
West Coast heritage must be valued and conserved, now and in the future, and this legacy for the future will be at least as rich as what was passed down previously and hopefully enhanced. Understanding the past allows West Coast people and visitors to more readily comprehend what our place, the West Coast / Te Tai o Poutini, is about and what may be shaped for the future.
Our Purpose:
“The purpose of the Society is to enhance and promote the discovery, conservation, development, interpretation and marketing of the heritage (including the history, culture, and any other factors which make up the regional community identity) of The West Coast Region, to increase the social and economic well-being of the region’s communities, whanau, hapu, iwi, and families.”
Vision & Mission:
Heritage West Coast’s vision for heritage on the West Coast comprises the following five outcomes:
- Increased collaboration between heritage organisations to elevate further the protection, conservation, understanding and appreciation of West Coast heritage.
- Cultural / heritage tourism will become a much more substantial part of West Coast tourism and contribute to the economic well-being of communities and the region. Several places representing the Coast’s distinctive history will become significant places of visitor interest and provide engaging and quality visitor experiences.
- A coordinated approach will be taken to marketing and promotion.
- The capacity of those involved in heritage management is substantially extended, and the level of professionalism of those in the heritage sector is developed and enhanced.
- Heritage West Coast is sustained for the longer term to extend its facilitative role and contribute to heritage development from a regional perspective.