Haast Pass marks 50-year anniversary

An old photo of the Haast Pass being constructed
An old photo of the Haast Pass being constructed

Haast residents celebrated 50 years since the opening of the Haast Pass road over the weekend.

The construction of the Haast Highway 50 years ago closed the gap between the top and bottom of the South Island's West Coast, opening up the area to tourists from all over the world.

The occasion was marked at Knights Point with a re-enactment of the ribbon cutting ceremony in 1965, while the men who helped construct the road met up to tell a few yarns and to admire their handiwork. Even the cars first driven over it were present for the special occasion.

Before the 140km-long pass was constructed, the South Westland community was isolated and relied on aircraft for supplies and transport.

Construction of the pass took 10 years to complete in very inhospitable conditions – it rains more there than anywhere else in the county.

Bulldozers pushed through rugged West Coast bush to open it up and crews would set up camp for weeks at a time, with supplies coming down from Hokitika.

"It put me off milk because it used to take a week for the milk to get here," one former worker said. "Never drunk milk since I've been in here."

The approach to health and safety on site was also old-school.

"We looked after each other," another former worker said. "You took responsibility for your mate."

The pass was completed in 1965 when the last stretch linking the rest of Westland and Otago was finished.

It was officially opened by Prime Minister Sir Keith Holyoake on November 6, 1965.

West Coast MP Damien O'Connor attended the anniversary celebrations, and says the pass is a huge asset, not only for the West Coast but for New Zealand.

"Looking back now and as we drive up and down this road and it takes a few hours, it's almost incomprehensible that we wouldn't have a link," he said.

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