Dr Ebenezer Teichelmann

In 1859 South Australia, Adelaide, Dr Ebenezer Teichelmann was born (Little Doctor he was later nicknamed). Teichelmann grew up on a farm and when his family decided to move, he remained in Adelaide, moving up the ranks, working as a pharmacist. He eventually studied and became a Doctor, ending up in Hokitika in 1897. He took up the position of medical Superintendent at the Westland Hospital. In 1899 Ebenezer encountered his first excursion into the mountains, where he fell in love with mountaineering. For the next 25 years Ebenezer explored, mountaineered, photographed, and discovered the valleys, mountains and Glaciers of the West Coast. Alongside his work as a Surgeon, Teichelmann achieved 26 first ascents of mountains and seven first ascents, or crossings, of passes, cols, or saddles, and is credited with reviving climbing in New Zealand when the sport was almost dead. He was instrumental in photographing and later funded early aviation in Westland. He was one of two passengers on Maurice Buckley’s first flight to South Westland where they successfully photographed the Alps and Glaciers from the air. Ebenezer died on the 20th of December 1938.

To this day people can go visit Teichelmann’s old private surgery that he opened at 20 Hamilton Street, this has now been turned into a bed and breakfast, named after him.

Richard Seddon (King Dick)

Born in the United Kingdom, in 1845, Richard John Seddon did not know he would one day grow up to become New Zealand’s longest serving Prime minister. School did not last long for
Seddon as he was kicked out at 12, resulting in him working on his Grandfather’s farm. Richard worked many little jobs after this until 1866 when he decided to move to Hokitika, where he
worked at a Gold Mine on the Waimea Creek. Whilst living on the West Coast, Seddon took interest in local politics, as he was elected in 1876 to Westland County council and he was also
elected first Mayor of Kumara in 1877.

Richard was a natural born leader and continuously advocated for Miners on the West Coast and their rights (referring to the conditions they were working in). This passion led to Richard being elected in parliament to represent Hokitika in 1879, three years later he secured a seat for Kumara. Seddon became Prime Minister on 1 May 1893 and he always held a special place for the Westland Region in his heart as he believed the West Coast is a distinctive part of New Zealand.

Bert Mercer

During World War one, Bert was one of the first to join the newly formed Canterbury aviation company in Christchurch. He helped to build aircraft as well as proving he was a good instructor. He joined the R.L Wigley in Timaru and became chief pilot of the New Zealand Aero transport company. Berts greatest achievement was starting New Zealand’s first licensed scheduled air service which was based in Hokitika. The first commercial flight commenced on 10 December 1934.

In his Fox Moth plane Bert picked up two passengers from the transalpine train at Inchbonnie, flying them to Hokitika and onto Franz Josef Glacier for tea, the return flight had them back in time for the train back to Christchurch that evening. He named his airline Air travel (NZ) Ltd which in later years as part of a nationwide movement turned into Air New Zealand. Bert commonly landed on beaches, in riverbeds and at the back doors of settlers in the remote South Island hinterland. He flew locals to and from Hokitika hospital, he flew tourists, deerstalkers and prospectors to areas that would have taken weeks to get to on foot. He delivered whitebait, crayfish, gold, machinery parts, women’s fashion clothing, newspapers, mail and medicine for locals, anything they needed he provided. 

Bert was just 58 when he passed and will always be remembered as a generous, kind, humble man who didn’t get enough credit for what he achieved.