Mixed weather is expected in much of the country this week with people being told to prepare for wind and rain to hit - as well as occasional warm conditions.

High-profile West Coast criminal lawyer Doug Taffs has been suspended from practising law for three months for bringing the legal profession into disrepute.

Thunderstorms, heavy rain and gale force winds are likely to hit the South Island's West Coast this weekend.

The boat that capsized near Greymouth this week will be salvaged today, the district's mayor says.

A hospital has apologised to a West Coast woman who suffered horrific burns when near-boiling water burst inside her during a procedure.

The Greymouth Coastguard took about 45 minutes to get to the wreck of the Lady Anna; after the skipper had been pulled from the water and pronounced dead.

The devastated father of the skipper, killed today when his boat capsized near Greymouth, has spoken about the pain of losing is only son in the tragedy.

Civil Defence officials say there could be up to 10,000 casualties when the Alpine Fault ruptures sometime in the next 50 years - and 1000 could be fatal.

Officials are investigating a proposal which could lead to the Pike River mine being turned into an opencast coal pit stretching into a national park.

Prime Minister John Key has denied that the Solid Energy crisis and Telecom job cuts are a black mark against the Government's handling of the economy.

Solid Energy is in crisis, with a Government bailout almost inevitable, mine closures possible and further job cuts likely in another restructure to try to salvage it.

Work on a West Coast bridge has been halted after workers were caught on camera dumping material into the river.

West Coasters hit by a deluge of heavy rain and thunderstorms can expect little relief in the coming weeks.

A man naked from the waist down stopped to pick up two Chilean women hitchhiking on the West Coast.

A storm battered the western side of the Southern Alps just under a week ago, closing roads and stranding holiday makers across the region.