Westland District is located in the southern part of the West Coast region of New Zealand’s South Island, between the Tasman Sea to the west and the Southern Alps to the east. It covers approximately 11,880 square kilometres and has a resident population of about 9,400.

The district council is based in Hokitika, its administrative and commercial centre. Other principal settlements include Ross, Kumara and Haast. More than 80% of the district’s land is managed by the Department of Conservation, encompassing extensive native forests, glaciers, lakes and mountain reserves.

The West Coast gold rush of the 1860s drove the rapid development of Hokitika and other towns. After the gold rush, farming, forestry and related industries gradually developed. Today, the economy is based on tourism, dairy farming, agricultural services and retail. Westland Milk Products, based in Hokitika, is a major local economic pillar and employer. The company is now controlled by China’s Yili Group and represents an important achievement in dairy-industry cooperation between China and New Zealand.

Westland has abundant natural tourism resources. Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier, located in Westland Tai Poutini National Park, are among the district’s most internationally recognised attractions.

Westland established a sister-city relationship with Huanggang, Hubei Province, in 2018.

The current mayor is Helen Lash.