Stockton, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stockton
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 Stockton
Location in West Coast
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | West Coast |
| District | Buller District |
| Electorates | West Coast-Tasman Te Tai Tonga |
Stockton is a place in the northwestern part of the South Island of New Zealand. It's located in the West Coast region. Stockton is about 30 kilometres (that's about 18.6 miles) in a straight line northeast from the town of Westport. It sits among the Papahaua Ranges.
Stockton is mostly known for its history as a coal mining town. It was once a busy settlement where miners and their families lived. Today, it is considered a "former settlement" because most people have moved away.
The Stockton Coal Mine
The main reason Stockton existed was because of the Stockton Mine. This mine dug up coal, which is a black rock found underground. Coal is used to create electricity and power many things.
The company that ran the Stockton Mine was called Solid Energy. They were a big company in New Zealand that specialized in mining coal.
Moving the Coal
Getting coal out of the mine and to other places was a big job. Stockton Mine was special because it had the very first electric railway in all of New Zealand!
This electric railway started running in 1908. It helped move the heavy coal from the mine. It continued to operate for many years, until 1953.
After 1953, the electric railway was replaced by something new: an aerial cableway. An aerial cableway uses cables and buckets hanging in the air to transport things. This was another clever way to move coal efficiently from the mine.
