A brief history: prior to 1901

The rich history of Port Nelson is the foundation that’s helped shape the vibrant ‘gateway to the world’ as we know it today. And it all started from modest beginnings.

With its long, protective boulder bank forming a natural breakwater and haven, what we now know as Nelson had long been home to Māori before the European settlers arrived in the 1840s. Early accounts of Whakatū – meaning ‘a standing place or shelter for canoes’ - described the trading of fish and produce. An ancient pa site occupied since around 1450, called Matangi Awhio, was located in the Port vicinity at a place now known as Auckland Point.

In the early days of European settlement at Nelson, vessels had to navigate the narrow passage between Haulashore Island and Fifeshire Rock, and entry to the calm waters of the Haven was only possible in fine weather at high tide.

As Port Nelson developed, it was awarded official Customs capacity in 1842, and declared a ‘Port of Entry’ the next year. In 1856, New Zealand’s first railway was created to link the Dun Mountain Copper Mining Co, to the wharf, opening in 1862.

By the late 1850s, Nelson’s trade was particularly buoyant, significant amounts of sawn timber, wool and apples were exported from the Port. Work on a new public wharf, Railway Wharf, started in 1875. In 1859, plans for a permanent lighthouse on the Boulder Bank was actioned, lighthouse sections were shipped from England and on 4 August 1862, the lamp was lit for the first time.

Early Railway wharf (ca 1870s)

However, Nelson’s growing reputation began to be threatened as silt from the Waimea River impacted the depth of the harbour entrance, and a number of vessels grounded. This impacted on trade volumes. To tackle this challenge the first Nelson Harbour Board was established in 1901. One of its first major jobs was to make the approach to the port more straightforward.

In 2026, we will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Port, commemorating the formation of the Nelson Harbour Board. We look forward to sharing more about our history, with our next edition focusing on the early initiatives undertaken by the Nelson Harbour Board starting in 1901.