Significant Māori sites in the Cape Foulwind area
The Cape Foulwind to Okari area was a key stopping point on the ancient
pounamu (greenstone) trading route down the West Coast.
• Kawau point – At the western end of Carters Beach, the old trail led up on to the Cape
Foulwind headland. Fires were lit to signal people at the Kawatiri of travellers heading north.
At low tide the nearby reefs provided good sources of kai moana.
• Omau (Cape Foulwind) – The trail lead through bush and scrub over the headland. Weka
were plentiful in this area.
• Tauranga Bay Evidence in caves of use by Māori. Abundant seals, penguins, weka, mussels,
paua, kina. Large middens have been discovered here and there are reports of a urupa. The
was a small village used on a seasonal basis.
• Ōkari lagoon – numerous shell middens and artefacts found, Excellent food area – whitebait,
flounder, pipis, eels, pigeons, weka. Also potato beds.
CAPE FOULWIND RAILWAY
The Cape Foulwind railway was built in 1885-87 to transport rock from the Cape Foulwind quarries
to the Westport harbour development and from the eastern tiphead on the Buller River, the railway
was 18km long. Over 1.2 million tonnes of rock were carried. In addition to rock, the railway
transported timber and flax while there was also a daily passenger and goods service. The line
operated almost continuously up to 1930 and then only intermittently until closure in 1940.
