File:Haast Road, 1965.jpg

Julius von Haast begins exploration of the West Coast, New Zealand on 8 January 1863. Haast was a 19th Century explorer who was also a geologist for the Provincial government of Canterbury, New Zealand. The Haast Pass is a mountain pass in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand. The pass was used by Māori in pre-European times.

It is one of the three passes where a road crosses over the Southern Alps; the other two are Lewis Pass and Arthur's Pass. The road through Haast Pass (State Highway 6) was converted from a rough track to a road in 1966 but it wasn’t until 1995 when it finally received a complete tarmac surface.

Julius von Haast led an exploratory expedition in search of an overland route from the east to the west coast of the South Island. The expedition found a suitable route from the upper Makarora River. Haast’s expedition also discovered the extent of the Grey River coalfields and found traces of gold in West Coast rivers. Although the prospector Charles Cameron is credited with discovering the pass, earlier in 1863, Haast was rewarded by having it named after him. He and his expedition reached the pass on 23 January. After crossing it they travelled down the banks of the river that would also be named after him, reaching the coast on 20 February.

As Canterbury Provincial Geologist from 1861, Haast led a number of comprehensive surveys of the province, giving Germanic names to areas of the landscape as he went.

The image is from Archives New Zealand’s National Publicity Studios Collection. Haast Road - Westland, aerial view looking north from the Gap. Photographer Mr. Anderson. 1965.