Arthur's Pass

The township and the pass take their names after Arthur Dudley Dobson (1841–1934, Sir Arthur from 1931). The Chief Surveyor of Canterbury Province, Thomas Cass, had tasked Arthur Dobson to find out if there was an available pass out of the Waimakariri watershed into valleys running to the West Coast. In 1864, Arthur's brother Edward Henry Dobson joined him and accompanied him over the watershed into the valley of the Ōtira River. A West Coast Māori chief, Tarapuhi, told Arthur of a pass that Māori hunting-parties occasionally used. When Arthur returned to Christchurch, he sketched the country he had traversed and included it in a report to Cass. Arthur Dobson did not name the pass, which he found very steep on the western side.{{cite web|last= McLintock|first= A. H.|title= DOBSON BROTHERS|url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/dobson-brothers/1|publisher=Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand|access-date= 30 September 2011|date= 22 April 2009}} Dobson gave the name "Camping Flat" to the site that became the township.

When the West Coast gold rush began in 1864, a committee of businessmen offered a £200 prize for anyone who would find a better or more suitable pass from Canterbury over the Southern Alps to West Canterbury (the West Coast). At the same time George Dobson, (another brother), was sent to examine every available pass between the watershed of the Taramakau, Waimakariri, and the Hurunui. After examining passes at the head of every valley he reported that "Arthur's" pass was by far the most suitable for the direct crossing.

{{cite web |last= McLintock |first= A. H. |title= Dobson Brothers |url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/dobson-brothers/1 |publisher=Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date= 21 November 2019|date= 22 April 2009 |quote = At the same time George Dobson was sent to examine every available pass between the watershed of the Taramakau, Waimakariri, and the Hurunui, and after examining passes at the head of every valley he reported that 'Arthur's' pass was by far the most suitable for the direct crossing.

}}

The township, at the time named Bealey Flats after the second Superintendent of Canterbury, Samuel Bealey, was originally built as a construction village for the building of the Otira Tunnel, which started on 14 January 1908.{{cite news | title=The Arthur's Pass {{sic|tumnel contraca |nolink=y }} | url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=TC19080115.2.10 | work=Colonist |volume=L |issue=12140 | date= 15 January 1908 | page= 2 | access-date=1 January 2010}} The railway from Christchurch reached Arthur's Pass township in 1914, the Westland section having advanced to Otira. Construction of the tunnel was very slow; it finally finished in 1923, and its opening marked by the British and Intercolonial Exhibition.{{cite web|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/20464431?q&versionId=24223745|access-date=16 June 2020|title=The British and Intercolonial Exhibition, Hokitika, Westland, New Zealand, December 15th, 1923 to February 2nd, 1924 : to celebrate the opening of the East and West Coast railway, to commemorate the diamond jubilee of the Province of Westland, 1864–1924. – Version details – Trove}} The TranzAlpine passenger railway service passes through Arthur's Pass and the Otira Tunnel as part of its {{convert|223|km|adj=on}} journey from Christchurch to Greymouth. In 2022, CNN Travel described the trip as one of the world's great train journeys.{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/incredible-train-journeys/index.html |title=The world’s most incredible rail journeys |first=Ben |last=Jones |date=9 May 2022 |work=CNN Travel |access-date=7 February 2025}}

A power station was built{{when|date=November 2019}} below the Devil's Punchbowl Falls to provide electricity for the tunnel construction and for the village itself.

In 1929, the Arthur's Pass National Park was established by the Governor-General of New Zealand,{{Cite journal |date=1 August 1929 |title=Land in the Canterbury and Westland Land Districts declared to be a National Park |url=https://www.nzlii.org/nz/other/nz_gazette/1929/53.pdf#page=8 |journal=New Zealand Gazette |issue=53 |pages=8}} New Zealand's third national park.http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/timeline&new_date=12/3 Article on Arthur's Pass on New Zealand History website; accessed 1 January 2010{{cite book |last= Reed |first= A. W. |title= Place Names of New Zealand |year= 2010 |publisher=Raupo |location= Rosedale, North Shore |isbn= 978-0-14-320410-7 |page = 31 |editor= Peter Dowling}} An earthquake measuring 7.1 struck Arthurs Pass on 9 March 1929. Slips closed the road to the west coast for months and there was damage to the railway lines. The earthquake was thought to have occurred due to movement along the Poulter Fault.{{Cite web|title=Major New Zealand earthquakes since 1855 - New Zealand Parliament|url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/research-papers/document/00PLEcoRP2016031/major-new-zealand-earthquakes-since-1855|access-date=2021-06-05|website=www.parliament.nz|language=en}}

The Geographic Board had a policy of omitting apostrophes in place names, and the name was officially changed{{when|date=November 2019}} to "Arthurs Pass". This caused an upset with the local population, and the Minister of Lands reinstated the old version with the apostrophe. On 16 September 1975, the New Zealand Post Office also adopted the spelling with the apostrophe.{{Failed verification|date=January 2024}}

Arthur's Pass is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement, and covers {{Convert|0.27|km2|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787|access-date=15 October 2021|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}} It had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Arthurs Pass|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Arthurs Pass|y}}|R}}/0.27|0}} people per km². It is part of the statistical area of Craigieburn.{{NZ census place summary 2018|craigieburn|Craigieburn}}

{{Historical populations|2006|75|2013|54|2018|48|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=}}

Arthur's Pass had a population of 48 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 6 people (−11.1%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 27 people (−36.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 30 households, comprising 27 males and 21 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.29 males per female. The median age was 44.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 3 people (6.2%) aged under 15 years, 9 (18.8%) aged 15 to 29, 30 (62.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 3 (6.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 81.2% European/Pākehā, 6.2% Pasifika, and 18.8% Asian. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.2% had no religion, 31.2% were Christian and 6.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 24 (53.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 3 (6.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 9 people (20.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 30 (66.7%) people were employed full-time, 9 (20.0%) were part-time, and 3 (6.7%) were unemployed.{{NZ census 2018|7026670}}

Arthur's Pass township lies in a valley about 750 metres above sea level and is about 4 km south of Arthur's Pass (920 m). The town falls under the Köppen-Geiger climate classification of Cfb (Oceanic). Snowfall is not uncommon during winter, especially in the mountains above the village. The coldest temperature recorded in Arthurs Pass was {{convert|-18.9|°C|0}} at Bealey on 19 July 1878.{{cite web|url = https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/|title = CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent number: 4638)|publisher = NIWA|access-date = 30 Jul 2024}}

{{Weather box|width=auto

|metric first=y

|single line=y

|collapsed = Y

|location = Arthurs Pass Village (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1978–present)

| Jan record high C = 32.1

| Feb record high C = 29.5

| Mar record high C = 26.4

| Apr record high C = 22.5

| May record high C = 17.6

| Jun record high C = 14.0

| Jul record high C = 12.8

| Aug record high C = 14.3

| Sep record high C = 20.0

| Oct record high C = 22.5

| Nov record high C = 26.2

| Dec record high C = 27.6

| year record high C = 32.1

| Jan avg record high C = 25.6

| Feb avg record high C = 25.4

| Mar avg record high C = 22.4

| Apr avg record high C = 17.8

| May avg record high C = 14.4

| Jun avg record high C = 11.1

| Jul avg record high C = 9.9

| Aug avg record high C = 12.0

| Sep avg record high C = 14.9

| Oct avg record high C = 18.0

| Nov avg record high C = 20.7

| Dec avg record high C = 23.4

| year avg record high C = 27.2

| Jan high C = 18.3

| Feb high C = 18.6

| Mar high C = 16.1

| Apr high C = 12.7

| May high C = 9.7

| Jun high C = 6.7

| Jul high C = 6.0

| Aug high C = 7.6

| Sep high C = 9.8

| Oct high C = 11.7

| Nov high C = 13.9

| Dec high C = 16.5

| year high C =

| Jan mean C = 13.3

| Feb mean C = 13.4

| Mar mean C = 11.2

| Apr mean C = 8.3

| May mean C = 5.8

| Jun mean C = 3.0

| Jul mean C = 2.2

| Aug mean C = 3.5

| Sep mean C = 5.5

| Oct mean C = 7.3

| Nov mean C = 9.3

| Dec mean C = 11.8

| year mean C =

| Jan low C = 8.3

| Feb low C = 8.2

| Mar low C = 6.3

| Apr low C = 4.0

| May low C = 1.9

| Jun low C = -0.6

| Jul low C = -1.6

| Aug low C = -0.7

| Sep low C = 1.3

| Oct low C = 3.0

| Nov low C = 4.7

| Dec low C = 7.2

| year low C =

| Jan avg record low C = 2.5

| Feb avg record low C = 2.3

| Mar avg record low C = -0.4

| Apr avg record low C = -2.2

| May avg record low C = -3.9

| Jun avg record low C = -6.7

| Jul avg record low C = -7.5

| Aug avg record low C = -6.2

| Sep avg record low C = -4.5

| Oct avg record low C = -2.7

| Nov avg record low C = -1.4

| Dec avg record low C = 1.3

| year avg record low C = -8.3

|Jan record low C = -1.0

|Feb record low C = -1.5

|Mar record low C = -8.5

|Apr record low C = -7.8

|May record low C = -7.5

|Jun record low C = -11.5

|Jul record low C = -12.5

|Aug record low C = -11.0

|Sep record low C = -8.2

|Oct record low C = -6.1

|Nov record low C = -5.0

|Dec record low C = -1.4

|year record low C = -12.5

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 413.5

|Feb rain mm = 272.6

|Mar rain mm = 321.2

|Apr rain mm = 370.3

|May rain mm = 395.0

|Jun rain mm = 378.1

|Jul rain mm = 328.4

|Aug rain mm = 353.0

|Sep rain mm = 452.5

|Oct rain mm = 489.4

|Nov rain mm = 438.6

|Dec rain mm = 447.7

|year rain mm =

| Jan humidity = 77

| Feb humidity = 78

| Mar humidity = 82

| Apr humidity = 86

| May humidity = 88

| Jun humidity = 90

| Jul humidity = 88

| Aug humidity = 87

| Sep humidity = 84

| Oct humidity = 81

| Nov humidity = 78

| Dec humidity = 78

|source 1 = NIWA {{cite web

|url = https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/

|title = CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent numbers: 4513. 25821, 41489)

|publisher = NIWA

|access-date = 31 Jul 2024}}

|source 2 = "Arthur's Pass - Weather Database"{{cite web |url = https://www.arthurspass.com/index.php?page=212 |title = Arthur's Pass - Weather Database|publisher = Graeme Kates|access-date = 5 June 2021}}}}

File:Arthur's Pass Visitor Centre MRD 01.jpg

New Zealand's first national park visitor centre was built in Arthur's Pass in 1959, with the help of the Christchurch Wanderers Tramping Club. It was designed by Christchurch architect Paul Pascoe and used local stone to reflect the geology of the national park.{{Cite book|last=Shaun Barnett &|first=Chris Maclean|title=Tramping A New Zealand History|publisher=Craig Potton Publishing|year=2014|location=Nelson, New Zealand|pages=191–192}} As well as Department of Conservation offices, the building housed museum displays on the history of Arthur's Pass (including Richard Seddon's stagecoach) and archives detailing the history of the National Park. In 2019 the building was declared earthquake prone, and the visitor centre was moved to a portacabin across the road. The cost to upgrade the building to the required standard was estimated at NZ$3 million.{{Cite web|date=2021-05-07|title=Arthur's Pass residents fight to save building at heart of national park|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/mid-canterbury-selwyn/125020721/arthurs-pass-residents-fight-to-save-building-at-heart-of-national-park|access-date=2021-05-09|website=Stuff|language=en}}

Visitor accommodation is provided, from camp ground up to hotel standard. The township provides a general store, a petrol station, tea rooms and restaurants. Arthurs Pass is well known as a starting point for many excellent tramping tracks within the Arthurs Pass National Park.

There are also several good walks from here, including the Devil's Punchbowl Falls,[http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/canterbury/north-canterbury-and-arthurs-pass/arthurs-pass-short-walking-tracks/ Short walking tracks in Arthur's Pass], Department of Conservation. Bealey Valley[http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/canterbury/north-canterbury-and-arthurs-pass/arthurs-pass-half-day-walks/ Half-day walks in Arthur's Pass], Department of Conservation. and Avalanche Peak.[http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/canterbury/north-canterbury-and-arthurs-pass/arthurs-pass-day-walks/ Day walks in Arthur's Pass], Department of Conservation. The mischievous kea (New Zealand mountain parrot) can be found here.

The club skifield Temple Basin is nearby and is a popular attraction through winter.

The town can be reached by The Tranz Alpine Express train on the famous Midland Line. State Highway 73 also passes through the town.

File:Arthur's Pass train station 01.jpg|Train station

File:Arthurs Pass Village (20295490610).jpg|Arthur's Pass Chapel (built 1953)

File:Arthurs Pass MRD 01.jpg|Arthur's Pass Store

File:Arthur's Pass Outdoor Education Centre, Canterbury, New Zealand.jpg|Outdoor Education Centre

File:Wobbly Kea MRD 01.jpg|Wobbly Kea Cafe

File:Aniwaniwa, Arthur’s Pass.jpg|Aniwaniwa, historic chalet

File:Arthur's Pass house MRD 01.jpg|Typical cottage

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Arthur's Pass}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6acPX_00M9Q Spectacular footage Train plowing through deep snow Arthur's Pass]
• [http://www.arthurspass.com Arthur's Pass Website]

{{The TranzAlpine train stops|state=expanded}}

{{Selwyn District, New Zealand|state=expanded}}

{{Arthur's Pass National Park}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Selwyn District

Category:Populated places in the Canterbury Region

Category:Rail mountain passes of New Zealand

Category:Arthur's Pass National Park