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West Coast| Region on the west coast of South Island, New Zealand, extending from Buller District in the north to Awarua Bay in the south; population (1996) 35,700. The region consists of a narrow, flat coastal strip between the Tasman Sea and the Southern Alps, supporting extensive indigenous forests, and is one of the most rugged and remote parts of New Zealand. The region is a popular tourist venue. Coal and gold mining, forestry, and fishing industries are important, and there is dairy farming and cattle rearing. The main towns are Westport and Greymouth. |
| The region was more prosperous in the past, in particular during a gold rush in the late 19th century. |
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