Reefton

31/08/2020

My town: Reefton

Great wee article about My town: Reefton! 🌟

Find a hidden gem or two, visit the ‘Town of Light’ 💡

As we are making great strides to see more of our own backyards, we asked people from around the South to tell us about their favourite places....

10/07/2020

Capital Video Productions Ltd

Capital Video Productions Ltd

The small town of Reefton is a sparkling jewel in the New Zealand South Island's West Coast crown. Reefton's gold rush in the 1860's helped to establish a rich heritage and triggering it to be the first to switch on an electric street lighting system in the Southern Hemisphere.

In February 1892, the railway was opened to Reefton, but it terminated on the southern bank of the Inangahua River opposite the town. Early in the 20th century, a bridge was built across the river and the present-day station was established in the Reefton township.

Many of the heritage buildings, including the railway station precinct, have been restored and offer an insight to the past as well as providing a range of accommodation, places to eat and shop that help to make Reefton an iconic destination.

Capital Video Productions has been exploring this area and is currently producing a feature length documentary to unveil its rich and diverse history, to be released later in 2020.

25/02/2020

Tour Aotearoa riders are starting to venture through town ‼️

Riders will be making their way from Cape Reinga to Bluff, with many passing through Reefton on their journey 🚵🏻‍♂️

How cool is the ‘Merrijigs Hotel Snack Bar’ ⁉️

22/01/2020

Some of the friendly Reefton locals who you’ll come across on your next Reefton outing 🤗

Have you popped in to the cool little West Coast town of Reefton this summer?

If you haven't, you're seriously missing out! Not only are there choice activities like gold mining, gin-tasting, heritage walks, river swimming and mountain biking, the town is jam-packed with some of the most friendly locals you'll ever meet.

www.tohuwhenua.nz

📷 Claudia Babirat

02/12/2019

The Reefton Races are fast approaching...

This event is one not to be missed, whether you enjoy the competition of fashion or betting, this is a fun day out!

-30th of Dec 2019-

If you’re wanting more info on the Fashion in the Field competition, see below! (Lots of great prizes to be won!)

Reefton Trotting Club Presents: Glamour in The Goldfields

29/11/2019

Pick up a copy of NZBusiness Magazine to see this awesome feature on Reefton.

"Driving out of Reefton that afternoon, I reflect on the amount of pride I’ve just witnessed from the people I’ve spoken to. It’s everywhere.

"Dave Hawes referred to Reefton as a place to get that “healing feeling” – a place to unwind the stress. I get that." Glenn Baker | NZBusiness Magazine

https://nzbusiness.co.nz/article/boomtown-revival-metamorphosis-mining-community

The Broadway Tearooms & Bakery Reefton, Reefton Powerhouse Charitable Trust Inc, Dawsons Hotel, The Coasters Club

28/11/2019

West Coast, New Zealand

Some exciting things happening in Blackball this weekend, just 40 mins from Reefton.

Looking forward to the opening of Paparoa Track, make sure you head down for the opening! 🌿🏔

The Paparoa Track officially opens on the West Coast this Sunday!

Here’s a little behind-the-scenes peak at what hikers and bikers can look forward to.
doc.govt.nz/paparoatrack


⛰🌿🌊

15/11/2019

Power to the People

Listen to Greg Topp discuss the Powerhouse Restoration Project with RNZ reporter Cosmo below.

⚡️💡

Born and bred Reefton sparky Greg Topp is part of a team of locals who formed the Reefton Powerhouse Trust in 2011. Their goal is to restore the old hydro scheme on the Inangahua River to its former glory.

14/11/2019

Country Life

This Friday (15th Nov), Radio New Zealand's Country Life programme will share the story on the 'Reefton Power House Project'.

The programme airs Friday nights between 9pm - 10pm and Saturday morning from 7am - 8am 101.7 FM. Alternately, this will be available via the link below post show.

Reefton i-SITE Visitor Centre Reefton Powerhouse Charitable Trust Inc The Coasters Club



https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/countrylife

Country Life takes you down country roads to meet ordinary people achieving their dreams. We live in a beautiful country...

10/11/2019

Griff’s Kiwi Road Trip starts this evening, 7:30pm on Prime.

The four part series features an episode on the West Coast, with an emphasis on Reefton and our people.

Sunday’s 7:30pm on Prime - Griff’s Great Kiwi Road Trip

Griff's Great Kiwi Road Trip is screening 7.30pm-8.30pm from tonight, over the next four Sundays.

We expect the 3rd or 4th episode will be the one featuring the legendary MacKay Twins, Biddy and our distiller Nick Secker, along with other Reefton personalities.

Prime TV airs on Freeview Channel 10 and Sky Channel 4. There is also a Plus 1 channel - Freeview 1010 and Sky 514 for anyone who would like to record the show.

12/10/2019

Buller District Council

Buller District Council

Preliminary Election Results can be found on our website via the link below:
http://bullerdc.govt.nz/elections/

08/10/2019

Reefton certainly is the place to be!

It was great fun showing Glenn from NZBusiness Magazine around Reefton.
What an awesome little town - full of interesting characters and great businesses.
Forget about Arrowtown ... Reefton’s the place to be!



A massive thanks to all the businesses who shared their inspiring stories ... and a special thanks to John Bougen for the amazing tour (and for enough stories to fill a book!)

14/09/2019

Lots on offer around town tonight!
💙 Alfrescos
♥️ Base / Spit Roast
💘 Reef Cottage
💛 Dawsons
💚Wilson’s

09/08/2019

Public Meeting | Reefton I-Site

Next Friday (16th August), Maureen Pugh MP will be hosting a public meeting 12:30pm - 1:30pm

If you've got a burning question for Maureen, make sure you come along!

More detail to follow

04/08/2019

SPCA CUPCAKE DAY APPEAL 🐶🐰🐱🐾

Get down to local stores Nana Ni’s, Olsen’s Pharmacy and Reefton I-Site and grab yourself a tasty morning tea treat!

Cupcakes are $2 but feel free to donate more as all proceeds go to the SPCA ❗️

04/08/2019

A few snowy pictures from this afternoon near/around Reefton ❗️

📍Road to Big River (Soldiers Road)
📍Powerhouse
📍Start of Alborns track
📍Road towards chch (Rahu saddle)

Share your snowy photos below ⬇️

04/08/2019

It’s a white out in Reefton ❄️ ! Be careful out there on the roads - Lewis pass and Rahu saddle both closed.

Be safe and enjoy the snow ⛄️

Winter has arrived! With Lewis Pass closed & snow throughout the region, we’ve shut our doors for the day.

If you need us, we’ll be playing in the snow ❄️☃️

10/06/2019

Department of Conservation

Calling all mountain bikers and trampers ‼️

Paparoa track bookings open this Wednesday, June 12th 9:30am - How exciting 🏔🍃

⚫️Paparoa Track opens 1, December 2019⚫️

The start to the track is at Blackball, a short 45 minute drive from Reefton

Book using this link ⬇️

https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/west-coast/places/paparoa-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/paparoa-track/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw3PLnBRCpARIsAKaUbgt6QUR7CWyZSMBseYdO2pSuzxfmWsMARz0jHfS5502f9BtuhuN2unYaAjneEALw_wcB

Winter is definitely here with the days getting shorter and shorter. What better way to brighten your spirits than booking your spot on the Paparoa Track?

Bookings open on Wednesday 12 June at 9.30am. The first day you can walk or bike the track will be 1 December 2019.

Find out more: www.doc.govt.nz/paparoatrack

08/06/2019

“West Coast's coolest little town Reefton is characterised by its hospitable locals who are 100% passionate about their town's colourful history.”
..you said it Tohu Whenua! We are a very proud community and John is a fantastic example of a local working to showcase and maintain Reefton’s unique history.

💡⛏👷🏻‍♂️🏔

West Coast's coolest little town Reefton is characterised by its hospitable locals who are 100% passionate about their town's colourful history.

One of Reefton's most enigmatic residents is John Bougen. Founder of New Zealand's largest outlet shopping mall Dress Smart, John made Reefton his home a number of years ago.

He now owns, restores and repurposes many of Reefton's historic buildings, such as the School of Mines, Reefton jail and the former area school - all for you to enjoy.

Reefton has been named one of 24 Tohu Whenua - Landmarks that tell our stories in Aotearoa New Zealand.

www.tohuwhenua.nz

05/06/2019

Revitalisation is a Marathon, Not a Sprint | Latest News | Development West Coast

“The revitalisation of Reefton has actually been a three-decade plus initiative, starting with the Reefton Community Company in the 1980s, then ‘Reefton Revival’ group in the mid 1990s that gave attention to building design and a strategic direction based on the heritage values of the town.”

Paul Thomas, joint-owner of the Broadway Tearooms, shares his insights on Reefton. The revitalisation of Reefton has actually been a three-decade plus initiative, starting with the Reefton Community Company in the 1980s, then ‘Reefton Revival’ group ...

04/06/2019

West Coast, New Zealand

Come and explore our Historic

Big thank you West Coast, New Zealand ♥️

💡

Reefton, the Town of Light, will make you feel like you've stepped back in time with its historic charm.

It also happens to be a fantastic outdoor playground, with mountain biking trails, walks, river rafting and more!

31/05/2019

Have you met our local cheeky duo: Bob & Agnes? 🐶🐾

This pair can be seen wandering (or should we say strutting) around Reefton, receiving pats and treats; keeping an eye on happenings.

🐶 Bob is a mischievous Jack Russell; always keeping older Agnes on her toes.
🐾 Agnes is an old (but spritely) black lab, particularly fond of a tummy rub.

If you see these two about, never fear, their owners are usually not too far away. Give them a pat, they don’t bite ♥️

22/05/2019

Remember to grab your tickets to MOTRO this Saturday @ Reefton Community Centre 🎸🥁

Tickets are $10 and are available from ‘This & That Lotto’

Golden Oldies weekend is a great weekend out, not to be missed ‼️

28/04/2019

Tohu Whenua - Landmarks that tell our stories

Tohu Whenua - Landmarks that tell our stories

Meet John Bougen, who lives in Reefton on the West Coast, New Zealand. Like many of the locals, John is passionate about breathing new life into the buildings that tell the stories of the town's intriguing pioneer days. Such as the building he's standing in front of - the partially restored original Reefton Jail (soon to be a guest house!).

Reefton is like New Zealand used to be - where people stop and talk on the street, kids go swimming in the river, where you can still find gold in the hills.

It's easy to spend a few days here.

www.tohuwhenua.nz

11/04/2019

Blenheim track among three racing venues to get closure reprieve

Fantastic News! Reefton racecourse is among 3 race courses to get closure reprieve. Can't wait to see everyone enjoying the races this year, another win for our wee town 🐎🏠

Blenheim, Reefton and Wairoa tracks spared as closures cut from 10 to seven.

06/04/2019

Tohu Whenua - Landmarks that tell our stories

We’re so lucky to be named a Tohu Whenua Landmark; places that tell stories. Our gallery is among the buildings that have a rich history in Reefton, Ruth explains in this video...

Pop into our gallery and view all the beautiful local art made by our artists; there’s something for everyone.

Reefton is the coolest little West Coast town. It's steeped in history that the locals are mighty proud of.

Just ask artist Ruth Vega, who you might bump into at Reefton Gallery.

Once home to Chinese greengrocers who supplied the mining community with fresh vegetables, the building was also targeted by devious liquor thieves. You can still see the hole they cut in the wooden floor!

Reefton is one of 3 Tohu Whenua - Landmarks that tell our stories on New Zealand's West Coast.

www.tohuwhenua.nz

03/04/2019

Prepared for an earthquake? Want to know more?

Details below ⬇️

This Friday @ Reefton Cinema

21/03/2019

Gwen

Lovely to see visitors enjoying our town, having a tinker on the piano outside Reefton Coffin Co. 🎼

I loved it

21/03/2019

Friday 22nd March @ 1:32pm, we will be having a moments silence out of respect to those who lost their lives in the Christchurch terror attacks.

The Muslim Call to Prayer for the Friday congregational prayer, the Jumu'ah, will be broadcast (TVNZ & RNZ) at 1.30pm, and will be followed by a two-minute silence at 1.32pm, taking place on Broadway.

It may be a small act, but let’s support our Muslim community in Christchurch and around NZ and pay our respects.

20/03/2019

Acceptance and love in small-town New Zealand

Daisy’s famous whitebait fritters and Reefton hospitality get a mention in this lovely article about small towns from Jeremy Elwood and Michelle A’Court.

Was a fantastic show to watch and we can’t wait to have you back!

OPINION: I've heard more tolerance and acceptance of diversity – ability, sexuality, gender identity – in towns of 2000 souls than you'd see on an average day on Twitter.

19/03/2019

Broadway 1877, before Reefton became ‘The Town of Light’. 💡

What would a photo of this spot look like now? 🧐

Broadway, Reefton 1877: https://goo.gl/gURfe6


🗻🌿🌊

16/03/2019

Victim Support Official Page: Christchurch Shooting Victims' Fund - Givealittle

🍀Tonight | ROARS Irish Concert 7:30pm, Matinee Tomorrow 2pm 🍀

All profits raised will go to victims of the Christchurch terror attacks ❤️

If you can't make it, click the link below to donate to the fund ⬇️

Donate to support victims of the horrific Canterbury shootings. - Givealittle is the place to donate and fundraise for causes and charities online.

15/03/2019

The Coasters Club

Beautiful words from Bruce, Reefton stands with our Christchurch friends today. Let’s offer love and support to all!

On a brighter note, get down the the strand to support the Karate club! 11:30am, duck racing! 🐤

Our Coast community is heart broken for the families of the 49 dead at this time and the 40 in hospital and we think of how we can support local community members who are Muslim.

As Westland Mayor I want to express sympathy and support to our local community members who are Muslim “Waking up in NZ today after yesterday’s appalling events.

I would like to express my sincere sympathy to members of the Muslim community here on the Coast, in Christchurch and around the country. I know that some of you came to the Coast and Hokitika from areas of extreme violence and thought NZ was a safe haven.

If anyone from the local community needs help or assistance please contact me.”

Bruce Smith
Mayor
021-922860

14/03/2019

Dawsons Hotel

Hi all - update from Reefton Inc. Your Business Association below.

Main takeaway, WE MUST ACT NOW! Between 10am-2pm tomorrow (15/03), there will be templates available at the Broadway Tearooms (further detail below).

Our time to act is now Reeftonites!

REEFTON INC YOUR BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
UPDATE ON
DUMP THE DUMP CAMPAIGN

Due to the Buller District Council extending the decision date of Resource Consent Application for the Renew Energy Birchfields Rubbish Dump, the latest date for us to make as much noise and influence people of authority is the 6th April 2019.

Disturbingly, the Buller District Council independent planner of whom we have no name, but is reputably from Nelson, coincidentally where half of the Shareholders of Renew Energy come from, can approve the Resource consent Application at any time over the next fortnight.

We must act now!

Tomorrow Friday….15th March…..there will be template letters available for anyone to pick up and send on.
Please drop into The Broadway Tearooms between 10am and 2pm and get your letters of concern and opposition to the Proposed Birchfield Dump printed, signed and posted to as many MP’s, Councillors, Influencers and other deserving characters.

Please read the Westport News and Grey Star tomorrow afternoon for further details that have come to the surface.