There would be Alps. Snow. A dining car, and possibly dodgy travelling companions...

Boys were at risk of drowning in wrecked car or being swept away by swift river.

Local says the bridge was "beyond its use-by date" and there had been previous crashes.

It's going to be a wild 24 hours in the west.

"Severe weather" warning: heavy rain in parts of Gisborne and northern Hawke's Bay.

New Zealand has a high chance of seeing warmer than average temperatures this spring.

Grey district councillors shocked at the state of parts of the CBD during a town walk.

Whitebait season off to good start, veteran says.

West Coast Whitebaiters have their nets ready for the season opening tomorrow morning.

Kiwi charged with smuggling cocaine to Australia fell for an online scam, his lawyer says.

Two people were badly burned by a bonfire at Kotuku on the West Coast on Saturday night.

A 46-year-old Westport motorcyclist is dead following a crash with another motorcyclist.

Retired Kiwi beekeeper accused of importing cocaine into Australia due in Perth court.

Westland District Council looks set to finish financial year almost $1 million in the red.

Firefighters say they had a bit of a chuckle with they arrived and found the "fire".

More than 1000 people turned up.

Simon Bastion is the new Westland District Council chief executive officer.

Bat attack that caused brain damage showed "extreme violence without provocation".

PM says cross-party deal on the Pike River Mine recovery won't make the mine any safer.

Withdraw of some students from NCEA put James Cook High School under statutory management.

Board officials refuse to discuss care of ill woman.

The driver was reported missing after he did not arrive in Westport last night.

Westport woman Linda Fenn is locked in a battle with doctors over pain medication.

The MetService has issued a heavy rain warning for the West Coast.

Neighbours recall tale of woman who jumped to her death in 1967 after killing her husband.

A West Coast man sparked a five-hour stand-off with armed police yesterday.

A man who "lost his rag" at a WINZ office has pleaded guilty for "speaking threateningly".

A nasty weather system has caused chaos across the country. Here's what you need to know.

Elderly man falls off ladder while cutting firewood and spends night out on West Coast

Neighbours refuse to let go of rooster, who has been waking man in early hours.