27 April 2016

Hokitika to celebrate great NZ explorer in June

Hokitika is to host a celebration of the life of Great NZ explorer, Charlie Douglas during Queens Birthday Weekend in June.

Charlie Douglas explored and mapped many areas on the West Coast for the Department of Lands and Survey during the late 19th century, and most extensively in South Westland. He was a notable personality, well known for his wit as well as his legendary explorations. This year marks the 100th year since his death in Hokitika.

A group consisting of DOC, the Hokitika Museum, the Hokitika Regent Theatre, Heritage Hokitika, Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio, Heritage New Zealand and LINZ are working together to produce the weekend of events to mark Charlie’s life and achievements. Along with guided walks and an exhibition at the Hokitika Museum, the Regent Theatre will host an evening of illustrated talks, expert speakers, performances and a launch of the reprint of Graham Langton’s revised edition of the Pascoe classic “Mr Explorer Douglas”.

Mark Davies, DOC Western South Island Director of Operations says as well as being a notable explorer, Charlie’s journals supply information about the West Coast environment before the effects of european settlement and the associated influx of predators were widely understood. “Charlie’s accounts of Westland detail a land rich in birdlife, stories that are difficult to comprehend today. Stories of kakapo gathering in screeching mobs around camps and musings of the possibility of taming fantails for sandfly control point to the land of birds that New Zealand once was”.

People interested in attending the event can book tickets, and find out more information at http://www.hokitikaregent.com/page-events.php Or check out our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CharlieDouglasCentenary/

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