The West Coast of the South Island has one of the most colourful histories of any region in New Zealand, and that colour and character persists to the present day. This lavishly illustrated volume traces the West Coast in text and photos from its geological origins through all of the major stages of its development: settlement by Maori; the early European explorers like Brunner and von Haast; the gold rushes, coal industry and emergence of railways; unionism, politics and the effect of war and depression; development of forestry ranged against conservationism and tourism.