Haast is a small town in the Westland territorial authority on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. The Haast region covers over 2,500 square kilometres (970 sq mi). The region is named after Julius von Haast, a Prussian-born geologist instrumental in the early geological surveys of New Zealand. The 2013 census recorded a population of 240 for the Haast statistical area, a decrease of 60 from the 2006 census. The majority of this population is located in three communities: the Haast township, Haast Junction, and Haast Beach. The main economic activities in the Haast region are farming, fishing and tourism.