The West Coast Region (Te Kaunihera Whakakotahi o Te Tai Poutini) extends over a distance of 600 km from Kahurangi Point in the north to Awarua Point in the south - greater than the distance between Auckland and Wellington. It is bounded in the east by the Southern Alps and in the west by the Tasman Sea and has a land area of 23,000 square kilometres, or 8.5% of New Zealand’s land area. By area this makes the West Coast the third largest region in New Zealand.
In addition to this, the Regional Council manages, in conjunction with the Minister of Conservation, the coastal marine area (which is the foreshore, sea bed, and coastal water and the air space above the water) from the line of mean high water spring tides out to the territorial (12 mile) limit. Fisheries utilisation and allocation within this area are managed by the Ministry of Fisheries, except Maori customary fisheries, whitebait or other unprotected indigenous species. The taking of whitebait and the protection of marine mammals is administered by the Department of Conservation.
Compared with 40% for the rest of New Zealand, a total of 87% of the region’s land is administered by the Crown. The Crown conservation estate accounts for 78% of the region’s area - compared with 26% for the rest of New Zealand.
With only 21% of the land being fully or partly rateable, West Coast residents on the basis of regional rates paid per head of population, are the highest rated in the country. This places inordinate financial pressures on the region’s local authorities and ratepayers alike.
The West Coast region is placed on the western side of the South Island , New Zealand.
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The major influences on the climate of the West Coast.
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Key components of the West Coast economyare summarised.
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The West Coast is composed of a variety of rock types of variable age.
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The West Coast is a region of mountains, rainfall and rivers.
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With most of the region being mountainous or hilly and forested, soils are generally leached podsolised yellow brown earths or gley podsols which are shallow in depth and low in fertility
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