COMMENT: As the owner of Pike River the Govt have the ultimate responsibility, and safety comes first. As much as you want it to be different, blocking roads doesn't change that.

Families of the 29 men killed in the Pike River mining tragedy are standing their ground as they protest against a bid to seal off the mine permanently.

Solid Energy's attempts to seal Pike River mine will be met with a road block after the owners of the access road gave the victim's families legal control of the road.

After Jake Millar's dad died in the Fox Glacier plane crash, the 15-year-old wrote to Prime Minister John Key asking for his advice.

New Zealand whitebait are one of the few dining pleasures to escape the culinary assault of reality chefs.

The Buller District Council's new senior manager and his family have had an "adventurous" time in their introduction to the community.

The Nelson Marlborough Conservation Board supports the proposed extension to the mountain bike season on the Heaphy Track.

Heritage New Zealand is working to have a decaying tree felled from the historic site of the Seddon family home, in Kumara.

A decision on whether the Department of Conservation will allow the Waitaha River power scheme will be made by mid-2017.

Water supply levels in both Franz Josef and Fox Glacier are being monitored as the tourist season ramps up again.

West Coast Fish and Game have come to the aid of the Paringa Salmon Farm and cafe, which lost as many as 13,000 salmon after intruders tampered with the water supply.

A licence to fish for whitebait, much like the Fish and Game sports fishing licence, has been suggested as one way of managing the fishery.

Job losses have been blamed for falling property values in this area.

A pair of overdue Canterbury trampers had a lucky escape from predicted bad weather last evening after their delayed arrival at the

Solid Energy has reiterated its decision not to re-enter the Pike River mine on day 23 of the protests.

Westpower's estimated $100 million hydro scheme on the Waitaha River in Westland has been backed by both Development West Coast and Westland Mayor Bruce Smith.

The Paparoa National Park Management Plan has been approved, paving the way for the creation of the Pike 29 great walk and mountain bike track.

An abandoned house at Runanga went up in smoke early today - the fourth building fire in the area in a month.

A blaze that destroyed an empty West Coast home is being treated as suspicious.

South Island police are investigating the incident that occurred at the Paringa Salmon Farm Café, South Westland.

The size of Westport's proposed integrated family health centre (IFHC) has been cut by 300sq m compared to previous plans - which were already carved to the bone.

An out-of-town beekeeper who parked up in Westport to eat his lunch yesterday afternoon left a trail of angry bees behind him.

Two landowners and Heritage New Zealand are opposing a water export facility being proposed for remote South Westland.

Submissions from all over New Zealand have poured in opposing Westpower's Waitaha River power scheme, forcing a four-day hearing in Hokitika next week.

Responsible visitors such as those travelling in certified self-contained motorhomes should "not have the door slammed in their face", says the NZ Motorcaravan Association.

The West Coast DHB says it's not responsible for ensuring its own birthing facility in Westport has enough midwives.

Pike River Mine protesters ramped up their action this morning, fired up after a frustrating meeting with Solid Energy management in Greymouth yesterday.

A Greymouth man who told a German tourist that he would supply him with cannabis was convicted in the Greymouth District Court yesterday of obtaining money by deception - and ordered to pay the money back.

Pike River families say a meeting with Solid Energy's new boss over re-entering the mine was "insulting".

One of Westport's two resident midwives is leaving, saying her job is financially unsustainable.