Reefton is a small town in the West Coast region of New Zealand, some 80 km northeast of Greymouth, in the Inangahua River valley. Ahaura is 44 km south-west of Reefton, Inangahua Junction is 34 km to the north, Maruia is 63 km to the east, and the Lewis Pass is 66 km to the south-east.^[3][4]

In 1888, it was the first town in New Zealand to be lit by electricity, generated by the Reefton Power Station. Reefton was a thriving gold mining town in the late 19th century, and gold mining lasted from the 1870s to the 1950s. Its economy is based on tourism, forestry, coal mining, and farming.

Reefton is home to the Inangahua County Library.^[5]

The rich veins of gold found in a quartz reef near the town led to its name, originally spelled "Reef Town". Two nicknames in use soon after it was founded were "Rest Town" and "Quartzopolis".^[6] The main street, Broadway, was named after West Coast magistrate Charles Broad.^[7] The nearby Wealth of Nations mine was named after Adam Smith's book because the gold been discovered by another Adam Smith (no relation).^[6]

• 1866 – Alluvial gold discovered in the Īnangahua Valley
• 1870 – Quartz reefs discovered at Reefton
• 1872 – Reefton Hospital opened
• 1886 – Reefton School of Mines opened
• 1888 – Town electricity supply commenced
• 1892 – Railway line opened
• 1908 – Rail line to Cronadun opened
• 1912 – Mine workers locked out^[8]
• 1967 – Rail passenger services ceased

Reefton covers 2.63 km² (1.02 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 910 as of June 2023,^[2] with a population density of 346 people per km².

Reefton had a population of 927 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 129 people (−12.2%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 54 people (−5.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 447 households, comprising 471 males and 456 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female. The median age was 51.9 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 132 people (14.2%) aged under 15 years, 120 (12.9%) aged 15 to 29, 453 (48.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 222 (23.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 90.0% European/Pākehā, 13.3% Māori, 1.0% Pasifika, 2.9% Asian, and 2.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 11.3, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 53.1% had no religion, 32.0% were Christian, 0.6% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Muslim and 1.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 63 (7.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 246 (30.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $22,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 78 people (9.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 306 (38.5%) people were employed full-time, 117 (14.7%) were part-time, and 24 (3.0%) were unemployed.^[17]

Gold mining recommenced in 2007 when Oceana Gold opened a new mine.^[7] In 2013 it employed 260 people.^[18] The mine closed in 2016 and Oceana Gold has undertaken an environmental rehabilitation programme at the site.^[19]

A new gold mine is planned to open in 2024, it is expected to employ 100 people.^[20][21]

Other industries in the town are coal mining, forestry, tourism and servicing the farming industry.^[7]

Reefton is located at the intersection of State Highway 7 and State Highway 69.

The first state school in Reefton was founded in 1878, and there were once 24 schools in the area.^[22]

Reefton Area School is a composite (years 1–13) school with a roll of 158 as of February 2024.^[23][24] It was formed by the merger of Reefton School and Inangahua College (earlier called Reefton District High School)^[22] in 2004.^[25]

Sacred Heart School is a full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 26.^[26] It is a state integrated Catholic school.^[27] Both schools are coeducational.

The first newspaper to be printed in Reefton was the Inangahua Herald and New Zealand Miner, which began as a twice-weekly paper in February 1872, its joint owner being Joseph Ivess,^[28] who went on to found many other newspapers.^[29] It was appearing three times a week by 1874 and became a daily in 1894. Its owner and editor from 1909 was Maud L. G. Beresford Wilkinson.^[30]

Its main rival, the Inangahua Times, was established by William Joseph Potts in 1875.^[31] Potts was editor of Ahaura's Grey Valley Times in 1873, and in 1874 he started the short-lived Reefton Courier and Inangahua Advertiser which survived only to the end of the year, and was the predecessor of the Times. The Times initially appeared three times a week, but by 1891 was a daily.^[31] Potts owned the Times until his death in 1901, and his wife Mary Potts was editor from 1897 to 1905.^[30][32]

For a short time Reefton, with a population of just 2000 and a circulation area of 4648,^[32] was home to three competing daily papers: the third, the Reefton Guardian, was first published in 1888, and was bought out by the Inangahua Times in 1894.^[31] All three papers were served for more than fifty years by the compositor, editor, and publisher James Noble, who started at the Guardian and eventually became editor and publisher of the Times.^[30][32] The Herald succumbed to the Depression in 1936 and merged with the Times in 1936. After James Noble the Times was run by Ernest Nicholson until it ceased publication on 6 June 1942, a casualty of war shortages.^[32] It was revived in 1946 by Reefton's Presbyterian minister Rev. C. R. (Bob) Sprackett as the Inangahua-Murchison Times, printed in Greymouth, which survived as a weekly until 1956.^[32]

Locally received radio stations include repeaters of both The Hits from Greymouth and Coast FM from Westport. The Greymouth Star newspaper is also received daily in the town.

• Marty Banks – rugby union player, born and grew up in Reefton
• Amy Castle – museum curator and entomologist, born in Reefton
• Myra Cohen – barber, dental assistant, entertainer and milliner^[33]
• Elisabeth Croll – anthropologist, born in Reefton
• Phill Jones – basketball player, grew up in Reefton
• Melanie Nolan – labour and gender historian, born in Reefton
• Edward Smyrk – cricketer, born in Reefton

• Broadway
• Reefton Court House
• Reefton Oddfellows Hall
• Broadway Tearooms & Bakery
• Reefton Roman Catholic Church
• Old Knox Church
• Blacks Point Museum
• Reefton Masonic building
• Reefton Distilling Co.
• Reefton School of Mines

• Reefton Oddfellows Hall
• Roll of members