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Hokitika is a township on the West Coast of New Zealand, 38 kilometres south of Greymouth, and close to the mouth of the Hokitika River.
Founded on gold mining in 1864, it was a centre of the West Coast goldrush. By late 1866 it was one of the country's most populous centres. It became the capital of the short-lived Westland province in 1873.
The population has declined greatly since that time, and now only a little over 1500 people live in the town. The major industries of gold, coal, and forestry have all dwindled over the last century, but a growing ecotourism industry has grown up and the town is starting to show signs of recovery. It has become a major tourist stop on the West Coast's main highway route, with carving of greenstone an important local industry. It is also gaining a reputation for its annual famous for its wild food festival.
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