Latest from West Coast

Pike River families stand their ground

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.

Pike River families to block trucks

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.

'Goodness of his heart that inspired me'

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.

Editorial: NZ whitebait a delicacy worth saving

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

Quaky start for new manager on West Coast

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

Support for more mountain biking on Heaphy Track

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

Historic Richard Seddon tree set to be felled

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

Waitaha River scheme decision by mid-2017

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

Property and land values plummet by 40%

Reefton and Westport are worst hit on West Coast.

Pike River 'great walk' to be fast-tracked on West Coast

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.

Second suspicious fire in a month

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

'It was a nasty prank - or it was calculated'

Owners of South Westland salmon farm have "no idea" why someone tampered with water supply, killing $20,000 worth of fish.

Are councils prepared enough for oil spills?

Fewer than half of councils have enough staff trained to respond to marine oil spills.

Fire at Runanga home suspicious

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

13,000 salmon die after water turned off

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

Further cuts to planned health centre

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.

Bad-tempered bees buzz bookworms

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

Neighbours oppose water export facility

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