Hydrological observations made in January 1984 in the region near Cape Farewell, New Zealand, are described and previously published observations reviewed. It is shown that upwelling depends on the existence of the intermittent Westland Current, and is intensified by an onshore wind. Such a wind induces a fall in sea level near Cape Farewell, and the resulting favourable sea surface slope accelerates deep water over the bathymetric rise inshore of Kahurangi Shoals. The hydraulic response of the thermocline, coupled with a coastal convergence of the bottom Ekman flow, produce a strong upwelling source near Kahurangi Point. M90020