District Westland
Philanthropy and community spirit. The story, intertwined with the legacy of Scottish-American industrialist Andrew Carnegie, is a journey of education, resilience, and cultural preservation
Commissioned in 1888, Reefton’s historic hydroelectric power scheme was the first public electricity supply in New Zealand. This pioneering project made Reefton the southern hemisphere’s first town with street lighting.
Recreated 19th-century gold mining town operating as an open-air museum. Offering heritage train rides, gold panning & family-friendly heritage experiences.
