Peter Griffin, the father-in-law of my great-grandmother Rachel Griffin (nee Cooper), lived in Hokitka with his family in the 1860s during the West Coast gold rush. Peter had a store in town and advertised his painting and wall-papering business in the local newspaper.

John Campbell, the brother of my 2x great grandfather Alexander Campbell, also came to the New Zealand for the West Coast gold rush. John was a miner.