Photo: Chen Te / PexelsHaast
Haast is the gateway to Te Wāhipounamu, the vast South West New Zealand World Heritage Area of hidden lakes, ancient forests and untouched coastline that gained UNESCO status in 1990. Māori walked this route long before Europeans in search of pounamu, with the pā Ōkahu standing at the mouth of the Arawhata River. The present township began life as a Ministry of Works road camp and grew into a permanent settlement when the Haast Pass opened in 1962, finally linking South Westland to Otago and the rest of the country.
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Haast questions
What is Haast known for?
Haast is the gateway to Te Wāhipounamu, the vast South West New Zealand World Heritage Area of hidden lakes, ancient forests and untouched coastline that gained UNESCO status in 1990. Māori walked this route long before Europeans in search of pounamu, with the pā Ōkahu standing at the mouth of the Arawhata River. The present township began life as a Ministry of Works road camp and grew into a permanent settlement when the Haast Pass opened in 1962, finally linking South Westland to Otago and the rest of the country.
What region is Haast in?
Haast is in the West Coast region of New Zealand.
What is the population of Haast?
Haast has an estimated population of around 250 (Stats NZ estimate).
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