A West Coast farm worker who fled to Australia after being charged with the rape of a young girl has today been found guilty on all charges.

Solid Energy, which is being broken up and sold, has applied for consent to start a small mine near Reefton, allowing it to retain staff.

Labour's West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O'Connor won't say whether he supports the new agreement between Labour and the Greens.

Feathers fly after native birds damage vehicles and property in Haast - even the police 4x4 was attacked.

The area has just endured its wettest May ever, smashing a 139-year-old record.

The Government today top-up after subcontractor prices came back higher than expected.

A job subsidy scheme aimed at providing 20 new jobs in Buller over two years is underway.

Six-metre swells and heavy rain have taken off another half-a-metre of beach frontage near Punakaiki Beach Camp

A 60km police chase of four youths speeding in a stolen car through West Coast valleys yesterday afternoon ended when the vehicle left the road.

A honey cart owned by a New Zealand man facing cocaine trafficking charges in Australia has been taken by a man who claims to be owed $5000.

Three tornadoes, hail as big as a tennis ball and 2000 lightning strikes were reported on the West Coast yesterday -- with another front forecast to strike later today.

Wild winds sweeping the country have caused serious disruption to flight schedules, caused power outages and closed roads this evening.

A grassroots rugby team have been accused of making racist remarks about Polynesian rugby players during a local game.

Severe weather on the West Coast has caused a creek to burst its banks and forced the closure of some roads in the area.

Searchers looking just north of Hokitika for one of the rarest vertebrate animals in the country have struck gold.

The West Coast is about to get a slew of new chief executives in key roles, with interest from overseas in the top ranking positions.

An elected member of the West Coast District Health Board who worked in mental health for 41 years, has hit out at suicide prevention.

A motorcyclist has died after a collision with a truck on the West Coast this morning.

Elisabeth Easther strikes gold for visitors to the West Coast's former mining town.

Labour has called the mental health system "increasingly desperate" after a man suffering from depression went missing for the second time in less than two months.

Bronwyn Sell finds the natural wonders of the West Coast can match the Big Five of any safari.

Police say it will take a while to complete their investigation into the Gloriavale Christian Community after it was revealed five children were taken into CYF's care.

Punakaiki's pancake rocks are enough to make Elisabeth Easther flip out.

An alleged drug-driver was caught with a weapon and a stash of drugs after a member of the public raised concerns about her driving on a West Coast highway.

Five tourists from Asia, only in the country for a matter of hours after flying into Christchurch, crashed on a West Coast highway over the weekend.

Report from nine years ago warned Northern Buller residents to move within a decade. Problem is, residents say they never got it.

Gold mines built the town now famous for its carnivorous snails, says Elisabeth Easther.

The West Coast should be offering to take 200 Syrian refugees, says West Coast-Tasman MP, Damien O'Connor.