New Zealand - Whataroa - West Coast - Post Office - Circa 1950's #334235 Whataroa is a small township in southern Westland on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. -It is located on the western bank of the Whataroa River, with the village of Te Taho on the other side. State Highway 6 passes through Whataroa on its route from Ross to the Franz Josef Glacier. Hari Hari is 31 kilometres (19 mi) to the north-east, and Franz Josef is 32 km to the south-west. - The population of Whataroa and its surrounding area was 288 in the 2013 census, a decrease of 117 from 2006. - Whataroa is located in an agricultural area where dairying is the primary activity. The town contains establishments such as a school, two churches, and a dairy and tearooms. -It is also a staging base for trips to a white heron sanctuary that is the only breeding location of white heron in New Zealand, and for trips to the natural exposure of the Alpine Fault at Gaunt Creek. Wikipedia