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THE BULLER GUIDE TO LIVING WELL
Come join us in
“New Zealand’s
Happiest Place”*
* The Happiness of New Zealand Report – UMR Research 2012
Top 10 reasons why
people move here
• Easy lifestyle and quality of life
• We’re kid-safe and family focused
• A strong sense of community and caring
• So much to see and do right on your doorstep
• World-renowned scenery
• Get a great house on an average wage
• Getting to work, school or play takes just minutes
• An unbeatable range of sport and recreation
• Great retail, support services and cafes
• Great transport links to main centres
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10 great
reasons
Intro
Housing,
Living
Essentials
& Climate
Perfect Place
for the Active
Retiree
Education &
Community
Learning
Sports,
Health and
Recreation,
Wellbeing
Entertainment
6
Culture,
The Arts,
Heritage
7
Relocation
Support
& Useful
contacts
SPACE & freedom
The Buller district covers
just less than 8600 square
kilometers with 84% in
conservation land and National
Park. All of this wonderful play
area for a population of around
10,000 people!
Reefton
Choose your town –
or go country
– our biggest little town of around 5,500 with all mod
cons. The service centre for the Buller sited at the mouth
of the Buller River. The Buller seaside settlements of Waimangaroa, Granity, Ngakawau and Hector – nestled
between the forested high plateau and the Tasman Sea.
These areas provide entry to the Denniston Area and
Charming Creek Walkway. The areas of Charleston,
Carters Beach, Tauranga Bay and Cape Foulwind also
surround Westport.
Renowned for their pioneering
spirit and friendly hospitality,
each of our towns is true to its
roots:
– gateway to the Buller from the Lewis Pass route from
Christchurch - born from gold in the 1860’s and now a
modern goldmining town with a wonderfully preserved
heritage main street. Entry way to the magnificent Victoria
Conservation Park.
Westport
Punakaiki
– a tourism centre right in the middle of the Paparoa
National Park on the famous Coast Road. Tiny in
population and size with huge visitor numbers to the main
attraction the spectacular Pancake Rocks and Blowholes
and so many other beautiful areas to explore by horseback,
walking or kayaking
Karamea
A MILLION DOLLAR LIFESTYLE
Pictures speak much louder than words so
click on this amazing video for a taste of
Buller.
http://www.buller.co.nz
– rich in dairy and horticulture with an amazing
microclimate. Gateway to the Heaphy and Wangapeka
Tracks, Kahurangi National Park, the Oparara Basin,
Oparara Arches and the world heritage Honeycomb Caves.
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10 great
reasons
Intro
Housing,
Living
Essentials
& Climate
Perfect Place
for the Active
Retiree
Education &
Community
Learning
Sports,
Health and
Recreation,
Wellbeing
Entertainment
6
Culture,
The Arts,
Heritage
7
Relocation
Support
& Useful
contacts
2
Moderate Climate
with few frosts
Our climate is similar to Nelson and Golden Bay –
moderate to warm (normal range of around 9 – 25 Celsius).
Our regular rainfall is something we
can count on and critical for
economic growth - Champagne for
the rainforest.
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10 great
reasons
Intro
Housing,
Living
Essentials
& Climate
Perfect Place
for the Active
Retiree
Education &
Community
Learning
Sports,
Health and
Recreation,
Wellbeing
Entertainment
6
Culture,
The Arts,
Heritage
7
Relocation
Support
& Useful
contacts
3
Transport Links
There are excellent passenger
TRAVEL TIMES TO OTHER CENTRES:
and freight services by road, rail,
air and sea linking Buller with
all major markets – including
flights operating most days.
Travel by Air - Flights operate most days see
www.soundsair.com
for information and bookings.
Charter flights to and from Westport are also available
for corporate groups, sports teams, special interest
groups and those attending events.
Westport to Nelson
2.5 hours
Westport to Christchurch
4 hours
Westport to Greymouth
1.5 hours
Westport to Picton
4.5 hours
Westport to Wellington by air
45 minutes
People and History
Early Maori arrived here by canoe around 950 A.D. but
the population was small and mostly coastal. The routes
you travel today by car were all old Maori trade routes.
The Maori name for the Buller is Kawatiri – which
means “swift and deep” referring to our mighty Buller River flowing swiftly and deeply through the rocky
gorge. ‘Buller’ is named after a British politician Charles
Buller – a director of the New Zealand Company which
was formed to set up the colony of New Zealand.
The rest of New Zealand call us - “Coasters”. Early
Coasters came mainly from Ireland, Scotland and England to mine gold, coal, or break in the land. To survive
they had to pull together…and that ‘togetherness’ still
exists today. Coasters work hard and play hard with a
strong sense of family, community and a huge sense of
humour.
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10 great
reasons
Intro
Housing,
Living
Essentials
& Climate
Perfect Place
for the Active
Retiree
Education &
Community
Learning
Sports,
Health and
Recreation,
Wellbeing
Entertainment
6
Culture,
The Arts,
Heritage
7
Relocation
Support
& Useful
contacts
4
“Even if you win the rat
race you’re still a rat”
Lily Tomlin
Living
Essentials
By making the move to Buller, you will keep more of what you earn
and lower your stress levels – so what are you waiting for?
Housing – Spend less and get more!
A recent Fairfax Media home loan affordability survey, done
by interest.co.nz, shows the weekly mortgage repayment on
a median-priced Auckland home would swallow up 97 per
cent of the median net pay packet of people aged 30 to 34.
But not in Buller where the average house price is around the
$195,000 mark (QV May 2015). This is one third of the price
of Auckland properties and half that of the national average.
In Nelson prices have steadily risen with the average 2015
house price around $412,000. Just think what you could do
with the thousands you would save by buying in Buller.
And of course Christchurch and the surrounding Selwyn
area is also a heated market – with average house prices
there from $553,000.
Rents range from around $160 (studio) to $300 plus for a
new 4- bedroom quality home. Compare these with other
places. Follow these links to the great market rental data on
the Ministry of Business and Innovation’s site.
This means that Buller people have a much higher rate of
home ownership than in most places – and there’s a great
range from quaint early settler cottages by the sea to brand
new four and five bedroom homes in new subdivisions.
www.dbh.govt.nz/sector-information
To see the range of properties available here visit:
Buller Real Estate www.propertybrokers.co.nz
Ray White Real Estate www.rwwestport.co.nz
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10 great
reasons
Intro
Housing,
Living
Essentials
& Climate
Perfect Place
for the Active
Retiree
Education &
Community
Learning
Sports,
Health and
Recreation,
Wellbeing
Entertainment
6
Culture,
The Arts,
Heritage
7
Relocation
Support
& Useful
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5
Keep all the money
you used to spend on
city living costs
Parking at $280 to $400 a month
(based on Auckland CBD charges)
Even in places like Nelson hourly parking fees are around
$1.60 and there are no parking buildings so over a month
you can expect at least $30 a week on extra parking expense
($120 a month). It all adds up. In Christchurch as the
rebuild expands, parking is increasing – currently $3.10 an
hour or a $7 all day fee in Council car parks.
superb recreational and cultural facilities as part of business/
community partnerships. Living ‘out country’ can mean
anything from a 10 – 20 minute drive from Charleston,
Tauranga Bay or Carters Beach or a slightly longer drive from
North of Westport. These areas that surround Westport
provide a fantastic lifestyle - wherever you make your home
the commute is a stunning drive with breathtaking scenery
and sunsets with no traffic jams unlike city life!
In Buller we have no parking costs not even in the town
centres, you get more for your money when buying a home,
land or business and our rental prices also give great value
for money. Other costs not required in Buller unless you
live ‘out country’ are: Daily commuting costs and monstrous
fuel bills.
Nor do you need to keep up with the rat race – why not?
There isn’t one! Giving you the opportunity to live well in
Buller and spend that saved money on living life, socialising,
entertainment, holidays, family, fun and friends.
Westport has everything except the complications of city life
Shopping and
Everyday Services
Westport’s busy CBD provides a wide range of retail
shopping and services. All the essentials are here with
two modern supermarkets, post office, pharmacy,
service stations, and a great range of individual retailers
specialising in everything from Asian imports to fashion,
furniture and appliances.
Buller has seven different banks and building societies
based in Westport to assist with mortgages and lending
including all the big names in banking. A full range of
trade services are also available in Buller and Coast-wide
and if there’s a specialism missing visiting tradesfolk from
Nelson and Christchurch also provide services.
Born from the self-sufficiency of isolation, modern day
Buller is now digitally connected to the rest of the world
through fast broadband and internet. With New Coast
families coming to live here, Buller has invested in its
future –upgrading essential infrastructure and developing
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10 great
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Intro
Housing,
Living
Essentials
& Climate
Perfect Place
for the Active
Retiree
Education &
Community
Learning
Sports,
Health and
Recreation,
Wellbeing
Entertainment
6
Culture,
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Heritage
7
Relocation
Support
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Perfect Place for the
Active Retiree
We believe Westport and the surrounding Buller District to be an
ideal place for those looking to retire.
We have all the usual activities you would expect to enjoy
in the main centres, here, such as golf, bowls, volunteer
work and other charities and community organisations.
Southern Hemisphere - The Oparara as well as the
Honeycomb Hill caves and a variety of short and long
walks - tramps such as the Heaphy Track (Karamea is
only 1.5hours from Westport).
As well as first class recreational hubs for you to enjoy
such as The Solid Energy Sports and Aquatics Centre,
Westport’s Coaltown Museum and The NBS Theatre.
Westport itself and its immediate surrounds offers a
variety of short, medium length or longer walks and
tramps such as the breath taking Charming Creek
Walkway voted in New Zealand’s top 10 half day walks,
the Seal Colony and Cape Foulwind walkway and the
un spoilt often deserted beaches only minutes from
Westport’s centre.
We have lovely cafes, restaurants, supermarkets,
pharmacy etc and a real main street with locally owned
and operated retailers with all the main things you need.
We also have a few other things that many areas of NZ
now lack such as a great community spirit, a sense of
who your neighbours are and a safe – family friendly
living environment.
Not to mention other activities such as fishing both river
and sea fishing, kayaking, gold panning and exploring
our beautiful nature with the Seals, abundant bird life,
Hectors dolphins and more.
On top of all this we can go one better – we have the
most stunning West Coast setting for you to enjoy. If
you want to stay active or just relax in your retirement
we can offer both options.
Gateways to the Kahurangi and Paparoa National Park
as well as Reefton’s Victoria Conservation Park where
walking, mountain biking and enjoying the heritage and
wildlife are all popular.
With some of the best, most accessible and most
beautiful outdoor recreation in the country – Buller is
the place for you.
If all that sounds too energetic you can just sit back and
relax with great dining, the local theatre and many other
options for the quiet lifestyle.
With the Northern part of the district being home
to Karamea with the largest limestone arches in the
www.movetowestport.co.nz
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10 great
reasons
Intro
Housing,
Living
Essentials
& Climate
Perfect Place
for the Active
Retiree
Education &
Community
Learning
Sports,
Health and
Recreation,
Wellbeing
Entertainment
6
Culture,
The Arts,
Heritage
7
Relocation
Support
& Useful
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7
Looking to invest or start your
own West Coast business with
the lifestyle to match...
Some of the key industries that may be on the up in the coming years
are tourism and horticulture.
We have fantastic tourism attractions, accommodation
options and links to the outside world so why not explore
the existing options for yor next business venture or start
your own tourism business here in Buller. Our area is
loved by International and Domestic visitors alike year
round, including coming into Buller for some of our
fantastic annual events.
You will be amazed at our horticulture sector here in
Buller and what grows in our microclimates around the
district.
Feijoas, tamarillo, passionfruit, limes, cranberries,
lettuces, capsicum to name but a few have all been grown
successfully and commercially in growing numbers.
Why not consider an investment in growing and
producing value add produce in the Buller district such
as chutneys, pickles, ciders etc etc.
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10 great
reasons
Intro
Housing,
Living
Essentials
& Climate
Perfect Place
for the Active
Retiree
Education &
Community
Learning
Sports,
Health and
Recreation,
Wellbeing
Entertainment
6
Culture,
The Arts,
Heritage
7
Relocation
Support
& Useful
contacts
8
The best jobs are those
you create yourself
It’s so easy to be your own boss here – simply find a gap in the market, come
up with an idea and then there’s all the help in the world to get you started.
One of Development West Coast’s core functions
is to offer business support. The team at DWC
are continuously developing and expanding the
Business Toolbox which provides access to a range of
services. Including business mentoring, networking
opportunities, training and development.
It also partners with a number of organisations,
including New Zealand Trade and Enterprise,
Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and New
Zealand Institute of Management Southern. Partnering
with these organisations provides additional support
opportunities to our businesses through enabling access
to a greater range of information, support and funding.
These courses are run Coast-wide.
Many of our new entrepreneurs have created wonderful
new tourism ventures using the incredible landscapes
and history we have here to tell stories or let people get
closer to nature and its power.
www.dwc.org.nz
Some have developed new services like coffee importing,
roasting and blending; sandblasting and protective
coating application to sports energy foods. Others
are working to develop new horticulture ventures –
cranberries, hydroponic growing, organic sand-fly
repellents, and micro-power generation.
The best jobs are the ones you create yourself – start your
own business in Buller
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10 great
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Intro
Housing,
Living
Essentials
& Climate
Perfect Place
for the Active
Retiree
Education &
Community
Learning
Sports,
Health and
Recreation,
Wellbeing
Entertainment
6
Culture,
The Arts,
Heritage
7
Relocation
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Training for
Business and Trades
There are heaps of courses, some special
‘schools’ for those special skills we need
for our mines, our outdoor adventure
tourism and our hard stone carving.
Industry Training New Zealand is an NZQA registered and
accredited provider with 35 operational staff and specialist
trainers on the Coast and is based in Westport. It runs an
extensive range of specialist industry training courses for a
wide range of workplaces throughout New Zealand.
www.industrytraining.co.nz
Tai Poutini Polytechnic (TPP) is a large tertiary provider
on the West Coast. Their tutors are all experts in their field,
have excellent industry connections and are passionate
about teaching. They are serious about education and want
you to learn the skills you need to succeed.
TPP offer a wide range of practical programmes, with a
focus on vocational education and applied skills. All TPP
programmes have NZQA approval and are designed to
give you a strong foundation in your chosen career.
Areas of study available from Westport include:
Engineering, Science, Early Childhood Education,
Business, Hospitality and Tourism to name a few.
In addition to its campus in Westport, TPP has campuses
in Greymouth, Reefton, Christchurch, Wanaka and
Auckland, and offers industry training throughout NZ.
Planning Ahead
Although Mining has always been a big part
of the West Coast economy it won’t be around
forever.
www.tpp.ac.nz
For our important dairy and agriculture industries the
West Coast Farm Training Scheme and the Agriculture
ITO provide valuable support and training.
The Buller District Council is developing a 2050 strategy
in partnership with the community to shape Buller’s future
with a focus on sustainable employment post-mining.
The Westport Deep Sea Fishing School is a specialist
NZQA registered private training establishment teaching
vessel operations and seafood processing skills.
The school is based in Westport and offers a residential
program that is suited to the development of skills needed
by the fishing industry.
Good, affordable commercial and industrial land available
for business or industry start-ups is zoned and ready for
development – and the Department of Conservation keen to
assist in the development of concessions for innovative use
of the national park and conservation land that covers over
80 percent of Buller.
www.deepsea.co.nz
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10 great
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Housing,
Living
Essentials
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Perfect Place
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Retiree
Education &
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Learning
Sports,
Health and
Recreation,
Wellbeing
Entertainment
6
Culture,
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7
Relocation
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Education
There is a wide range of educational facilities in Buller
Pre-Schools
Community Learning Support
More than seven pre-school and early learning centres
providing safe, quality learning environments for littlies from
Karamea in the North through to Reefton. Westport has two
top class new facilities built in the last couple of years – one
of which is right next to the Solid Energy Recreation Centre.
Part of having a caring community is making sure everyone
has the chance to learn and upgrade their opportunities,
especially in isolated areas. In Buller we have several very
special educational providers who do this.
The Buller Rural Education
Activities Programme
You are spoilt for choice in Westport with three child
care centres, Kindergarten and Playcentre. There are also
Playcentres in Reefton and Karamea. There is also a full
programme in Westport every week of fantastic things for
mums with babies and young children to get out and about
meet and mingle for example movement to music.
(REAP) is a ‘Not For Profit’ organisation, that started in
1981, with a main office based in Westport. Their function
is to provide special learning opportunities and community
support uniquely tailored to the needs of people living here.
All their programmes are run to ensure that people who live
in small communities and rural areas have access to first class
learning opportunities and support while learning.
For more detail about the wonderful programmes they run
from film workshops for young people, to Te Reo Maori, and
home visiting programmes for house-bound or lonely oldies,
visit their website
www.bullerreap.co.nz
Primary and Secondary Schools
Eight Primary Schools provide caring creative learning
throughout the region; and three secondary schools (in
Westport, Reefton, and Karamea) cater for our Buller
secondary school students. Buller High School being the
largest secondary school facility based in Westport. For more
information and news from Buller High click here
Adult and Community
Education Programme
Tai Poutini has a good Adult and Community Education
Programme and also run the useful STAR programmes.
These help young people move more easily and successfully
from high school study to tertiary study.
buller.kiwischools.com
Both Reefton and Karamea are composite schools catering
for intermediate and high school age students. Karamea
offsets the isolation of its location by ensuring many trips
away in the school vehicle and a good library and internet
facilities for students.
www.tpp.ac.nz
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10 great
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Intro
Housing,
Living
Essentials
& Climate
Perfect Place
for the Active
Retiree
Education &
Community
Learning
Sports,
Health and
Recreation,
Wellbeing
Entertainment
6
Culture,
The Arts,
Heritage
7
Relocation
Support
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Sports & Recreation
Hailed as the envy of the country in the 2009 Nelson Marlborough Architecture
Awards – public category, it is simply magnificent! “Have fun, stay healthy, live
life” is what they’re all about. Take a look!
www.solidenergycentre.co.nz
The Solid Energy Centre is council owned and operated,
it is community rather than solely profit focused.
Accessible for older folk the hydrotherapy pool is hugely
beneficial, there really is something here for everyone.
Swim Star Swim School
@ the Solid Energy Centre
Each term our swimming lesson programme kicks into
action, with close to 250 children and adults participating.
Our qualified instructors know exactly how to motivate
your kids to learn, have fun and be safe in the water as
well as teach adults who want to enjoy the many health
benefits that come with swimming.
Enquire at reception or check out our website for all the details.
The Centre attracts many tournaments and smaller
conferences bringing revenue into the district and houses
a Sports and Recreation Adviser for local clubs and
programmes.
The Solid Energy Centre has a two court stadium,
hydrotherapy pool, children’s pool, lap pool, squash
court, multipurpose room, Hockey turf and meeting
room with lots of classes to have fun and keep fit for all
ages and abilities.
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10 great
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Intro
Housing,
Living
Essentials
& Climate
Perfect Place
for the Active
Retiree
Education &
Community
Learning
Sports,
Health and
Recreation,
Wellbeing
Entertainment
6
Culture,
The Arts,
Heritage
7
Relocation
Support
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12
Thriving Sports Clubs,
Quirky Pubs and
Award-winning Cafes
Buller has a massive range of sports and recreational clubs
and a full range of service clubs such as Rotary, Lions, and
Freemasons along with the RSA in Reefton, Westport and
Karamea, and top class Chartered Clubs such as the Club
Buller in Westport. In many rural areas the Golf Clubs and
Volunteer Fire Brigades also serve as licenced social and
networking centres for local communities where everything
from local talent quests to big funerals are held.
West Coast Pubs are legendary and Buller is rich in them.
They are true social centres with strong social clubs, family
events, and good homely local food and accommodation.
Buller has the best and most award-winning cafes on the
Coast with even rural communities well served with great
food and fun in stunning locations. As our community
becomes more and more culturally diverse, we are seeing a
rise in interesting foods being available in our supermarkets
and restaurants with more ethnic restaurants also opening.
Check them out on
www.buller.co.nz/show/activities/cafes-restaurants-bars
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10 great
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Housing,
Living
Essentials
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Perfect Place
for the Active
Retiree
Education &
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Learning
Sports,
Health and
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Wellbeing
Entertainment
6
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7
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Buller’s Past leads to new world
class visitor experiences
Three of Buller’s most exciting attractions are built around its past. Each of these is
unique, true to its roots and cannot be experienced anywhere else. Some of them have
been developed by New Coasters – entrepreneurial folk from ‘away’ who’ve fallen in
love with the area and harnessed that passion for its past to the present. We reckon
the more ‘virtual’ life becomes the more precious REAL experiences will be.
Coaltown Museum
Purpose-built on Westport’s main street, Coaltown is an
industrial Museum dedicated to telling the stories of the
pioneers that battled our rugged environment in search
of a better life.
https://www.facebook.com/Coaltownmuseum
Visitor Centre and Information
Centre - Westport I-Site
Entry into Coaltown Museum is through the Westport
I-site.
These two projects are another community/business partnership led by the
Buller District Council which is very much focused on making Buller a great
place to live work and play.
One of New Zealand’s most accessible seal colonies can be
found just out of Westport on the edge of Tauranga Bay. The
10 -minute track from the car park is suitable for wheelchairs
and leads to viewing platforms directly overlooking the
colony. Although this is a year-round colony, the best time
to view is October to March when the BIG BULL SEALS
return to mate and the pups are at their most playful. The
Seal Colony is also part of a longer walking track The Cape
Foulwind - Lighthouse Walkway to walk the full length of
this track on to Cape Foulwind takes one-and-a-half hours
(three hours return) and is well graded as it crosses rocky
granite bluffs, grassy downs, swampy streams and sandy
beaches. Be sure to take good windproof clothing if it’s
windy. The walk offers panoramic views of the cape and
rugged coastline including rock stacks and steeples. A side
track leads to Cape Foulwind lighthouse.
The Old Ghost Road
The Old Ghost Road - part of the New Zealand Cycle
Trail - is an epic 80km cycling and tramping trail through
some of the most diverse and awe-inspiring natural and
cultural heritage in New Zealand.
Day trips or multi-day adventures await you! Information
and hut bookings available at
www.oldghostroad.org.nz
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10 great
reasons
Intro
Housing,
Living
Essentials
& Climate
Perfect Place
for the Active
Retiree
Education &
Community
Learning
Sports,
Health and
Recreation,
Wellbeing
Entertainment
6
Culture,
The Arts,
Heritage
7
Relocation
Support
& Useful
contacts
14
The Great
Outdoors
Over 84% of Buller land is
national park and conservation
land. Making it not only wild
and beautiful but packed with
activities to enjoy!
Buller is a mecca for many things in the great outdoors
especially short walks, tramping and mountain biking.
Other popular pursuits include kayaking, white water
rafting, surfing, fishing, exploring our deserted beaches,
experiencing the local heritage and enjoying the eco /
nature experiences. No matter what outdoor pursuit
takes your fancy you are spoilt for choice in Buller. With
the Heaphy Track, Charming Creek Walkway, the Old
Ghost Road, Denniston, The Buller River, Victoria Forest
Park, The Seal Colony, Kahuranghi and Paparoa National
Parks and The Oparara to name but a few. Find out more
from the department of conservation.
www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation
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Intro
Housing,
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Retiree
Education &
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Learning
Sports,
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Wellbeing
Entertainment
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Support
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Entertainment
& Events
The NBS Theatre
This state of the art film and performance complex is one
of Buller’s community/business partnership projects. It is
incredible. Take a look!
www.nbstheatre.co.nz
Buller folk get to see the latest film releases at the same time
Aucklanders do and at much better prices! The small arthouse theatre in the complex caters for less mainstream
interests from opera, to art and foreign film – it’s also the
home of the new and active Westport Film Club.
Best of all its giving Buller locals old and young an
outstanding venue to feature and grow local talent of
all kinds and the chance to perform in front of sold out,
admiring audiences.
Regular live shows from theatre and live drama, to ballet
and symphony are featured throughout the year.
There is almost always an event in Buller with some of the
most popular being The Buller Gorge Marathon, The Best
of The West, Westport Performing Arts Competition to
name but a few.
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Health and Wellbeing
The West Coast health system has a shared vision, to be clinically
sustainable, financially viable and wrap care around people to help them
stay well in their own homes and are absolutely committed to providing
quality health services for the people of the Coast, throughout their lives.
This journey starts with the Find Your Midwife website (www.
findyourmidwife.co.nz) and an ensuing trip to the Kawatiri Birthing
Unit at Buller Health, for low risk pregnancies, or onwards to Grey Base
Hospital when required.
Maori Health Care Services
Poutini Waiora delivers culturally appropriate health
services to the West Coast Maori community. Their
Buller offices are based at Buller Health. Services
include whanau support, rural nurse specialists,
mental health and community health.
Well Child/Tamariki Ora services are delivered in Buller by Plunket and
the DHB public health nurses. These are a package of health services
offered free to all New Zealand families/whānau for children from birth
to five years.
Health Services Contacts
A new oral health mobile unit screens Buller pre-schoolers and school-aged
children for any dental problems. When required, they are subsequently
treated at a newly refurbished clinic at Westport South School.
If you’re not enrolled with a general practice on the
Coast, you can call Buller Health Medical Centre.
General Practices
To make an appointment with your general practice,
or talk to a nurse or GP at your practice:
• Buller Health Medical Centre,
cnr Derby and Cobden Sts, Westport,
phone (03) 788 9030
• Coast Medical, 161 Palmerston St, Westport, phone (03) 789 5000
• Reefton Health Medical Centre, 103 Shiel St, Reefton, phone (03) 732 8605
• Karamea Clinic, 126 Waverley St, Karamea, phone (03) 782 6710
• Ngakawau Clinic, Main road, Hector,
phone (03) 788 5062
Buller Health provides primary health care services (includes the likes of
doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, community
mental health, sexual health etc), and there’s a second private general
practice, Coast Medical.
Buller health services cover the geographical area from Punakaiki in
the South to Karamea in the North, and Inangahua Junction in the East.
Rural clinics based in Karamea and Ngakawau are staffed by highly
qualified rural nurses, supported by visiting doctors and specialists.
If you need healthcare urgently, ring 111.
For health advice any time phone your usual general
practice team.
Pharmacy
Buller Pharmacy, Palmerston St, phone (03) 789 7629
Community Dental Care
When Buller residents need more specialised health care, this is either
provided by appointment through Buller Health for a time when
specialists visit Westport, or at Grey Base or Christchurch. The West
Coast District Health Board is able to offer telehealth video conferencing
for some appointments. Telehealth connects Buller clinicians and patients
to specialists in Christchurch and other parts of the country.
Reefton Hospital is equipped with beds for assessment and observation,
emergencies awaiting transfer, palliative care and aged residential care.
The Reefton Medical Centre provides general practice and emergency
care from Monday to Friday, and weekend emergency clinics.
When our Buller residents get older, the West Coast health system works
with them to try and help them to stay well at home while it is safe to do so.
Our home-based support services provide assistance for residents and it is
worth asking your general practice team about this service.
The DHB provides some aged residential care services at Kynnersley
Home, and hospital level care at Dunsford Ward (Buller Health). An
independent trust runs the O’Conor Home in Buller, which provides rest
home, hospital and dementia level care.
0800 TALK TEETH (0800 8255 83384)
Plunket Line (available 24/7)
0800 933 922
Mental health Emergency Services
0800 75 76 78
Green Prescription
(physical activity for health and wellness)
03 768 6182
Giving up smoking?
•
•
Quitline on 0800 778 778
Aukati Kai Paipa is a Coast-wide
Maori-based face-to-face service
Phone (03) 768 1160 ext 712 or 027 212 7390
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Culture, Heritage, and
Support for New Coasters
“A people without the knowledge of their past history,
origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”
MARCUS GARVEY
Wonderful stories
Buller Library Services
Buller has a fantastic library service on offer – far more than
just books. No matter if you want to enjoy the latest Bestsellers,
picture books for the kids, or research a topic; the library is
easy to use, engaging and enjoyable.
It also provides a wide range of services most New Zealand
public libraries nowadays make available including computer
access, scanning facilities and free internet or Wifi services.
The library is a great place to meet and bring the children
as well. Holiday activities and reading programmes are very
popular with kids of all ages.
The district library is located in Westport and a branch library
in Reefton. Library membership is free to all residents.
As a library member you can access the whole collection. A
24/7 online service is available to browse the catalogue, renew
or request a book. If you find expiry dates an inconvenience,
use the virtual library and download e-books or audio-books
or even research full-text-databases. This helps save trees and
is a great alternative if you can’t travel to town.
To get a taste of our library, check out the latest library news or
visit their Facebook page….
Buller’s wonderful stories of the past are told and displayed in a
network of museums and living history walking trails through
the region, and through some fantastic new experiences
developed by tourism business operators and volunteers. Each
one reflects its past and present and the people who shaped it.
There are so many we can’t cover them all but here’s a great link
to get a taste
www.buller.co.nz/show/activities/
heritage-experiences
The Art Scene
The creative arts flourish here – but in a shy West Coast way.
Many artists from well-known to emerging work here. Artists
working with oils, to water colour, to textile arts, and crafts.
Then there’s the talented furniture and wood artisans working
with our red beech, kahikatea, and rimu. Timber’s in the blood
here and treasured. Quilting is big too with knitting and home
crafts popular.
www.bullerdc.govt.nz/libary
www.facebook.com/Buller-District-Library
Most artists and crafters display their work at cooperative
galleries in Punakaiki, Westport, Granity and Karamea but
some are open at their own galleries along the way.
Sculptors, jewellers, ceramic artists and some of the best hard
stone and jade carvers in the world work here – no surprise as
one of the top hard carving courses in the country is taught here.
West Coast Kete
There are so many stories to tell to capture the true spirit of our
place. The West Coast Kete –is for groups and individuals who want
to digitally preserve stories, photos, memories and other living
histories on a safe and accessible website.
The “kete” – a maori word used for a woven flax basket – is a free
service. You can even use it to keep safe irreplaceable materials you
have collected. It is important that we don’t lose the stories of our
people. Look up the memories of Denniston mining and other early
settlers locations. Listen to some of the old folks interviewed and
find images of unique heritage sites in our region.
The West Coast Kete is a joined project between West Coast
libraries and National Library to preserve the historical and current
memories to be shared with all New Zealanders. Be part of it!
ketewestcoast.peoplesnetworknz.info
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Media –
we have our own opinions!
There’s no Rupert Murdoch influence here. We still have
our own voice with one of New Zealand’s last remaining
privately owned daily newspaper and radio network giving
Buller people a mix of national and local news, views and
information uniquely tailored to them.
Relocation Support
More and more New Coasters are coming to live in Buller
and we are becoming less ‘European’ and more diverse
culturally and ethnically. Two of our recent imports now
run the following help groups for recent arrivals. New
Coasters is an award winning Coast Wide organisation with
bases in Westport and Greymouth.
The Newcomers Network
This is a social network group for all those new to Westport
& surrounds who wish to share their experiences and meet
new people
The Settling-in Programme
The New Coasters contact offers migrant support and advice.
There’s an email network, a monthly newsletter, and several get
togethers a month including coffee mornings and social events
like pot luck dinners, movie nights, group walks, crafting etc.
Currently we have people from 30 different countries living
in the Buller. The biggest groups of migrants are from The
Philippines, South Africa and India. We have people from
Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Chile, Czech Republic,
Cambodia, Fiji, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Mexico,
The Netherlands, Nepal, Norway, Russia, Scotland, Sri
Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, UK, Ukraine, USA
and Zimbabwe. We love ‘em all.
www.newcomers.co.nz
New Coasters come from around the world and from all
over New Zealand
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Start Now
Invest in Yourself & Your Future
All the essential information and services you need to:
check us out
make a move
find a job
develop a new idea
build or buy a business
invest in the region
USEFUL LINKS:
Relocation Resources
and Information
Education and
Training
Buller Information Centres
www.buller.co.nz/show/collections
Buller High School
buller.kiwischools.com
Buller District Council
www.bullerdc.govt.nz
Industry Training New Zealand
www.industrytraining.co.nz
Buller Real Estate
www.propertybrokers.co.nz
Tai Pountini Polytechnic
www.tpp.ac.nz
Ray White Real Estate
www.rwwestport.co.nz
Buller Reap
www.bullerreap.co.nz
Sounds Air
www.soundsair.com
Development West Coast
www.dwc.org.nz
New Coasters Newcomers Network
www.newcomers.co.nz
Westport Deep Sea
Fishing School
www.deepsea.co.nz
Buller Events
www.bullerdc.govt.nz
Buller’s
Great Outdoors
Recreation, Sport
& Entertainment
The Old Ghost Road
www.oldghostroad.org.nz
Buller Top of The West Coast
www.buller.co.nz
Department of Conservation
www.doc.govt.nz
The Solid Energy Centre Westport
www.solidenergycentre.co.nz
Find the perfect retirement lifestyle
www.movetowestport.co.nz
NBS Theatre
www.nbstheatre.co.nz
Coaltown Facebook Page
www.facebook.com/Coaltownmuseum
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Produced by Buller District Council
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