Westland Explorers' Monument

The Westland Explorers' Monument is a 6.5 meter obelisk made from Sydney sandstone with a three-tiered base in Hokitika Cemetery. The four-sided column tapers upward and carries a flattened pyramid at its peak.

The column was erected in 1868 to honor four men who died during expeditions on the West Coast between 1863 and 1866. It first stood on Weld Street and was moved to the cemetery in 1880 after being considered an obstruction to traffic.

Each face carries an engraved dedication to one of the fallen explorers, listing their name and place of death. This simple form of remembrance ties the men permanently to the mountains and rivers of the West Coast.

The cemetery is at the southern edge of Hokitika and the memorial is visible from the main pathways. The inscriptions are easiest to read in daylight because there is no additional lighting.

One of those honored, George Dobson, was a geologist who explored native communication routes toward the coast. His name also appears in New Zealand wildlife because a fly species was named after him.

Location: Westland District

Inception: March 1868

GPS coordinates: -42.70899,170.97484

Latest update: December 20, 2025 01:53