Stories by Tracy Neal

Communities are facing critical challenges over how they deal with the dead and natural burials are not sustainable, a Christchurch sociologist says. Video

The sale of an Awaroa beach to the public is now confirmed, with few pledges defaulting, according to the campaign's creator.

A rundown boat for sale on the side of the road sparked an idea which is now a yearly event that attracts boats and people from around the world. See a gallery from the show here. Video

Hundreds of new homes will be added to the Nelson landscape in the largest government-authorisation of development in the city in decades.

Forget rugby or mountainbiking - boatbuilding contributes the most to the Top of the South's sport and recreation industries.

New technology - in the form of bubbles - being trialled in Nelson could revolutionise anti-fouling methods used to prevent the spread of marine pests on boats.

The government's role in buying a beach at Awaroa was appropriate but sets a risky precedent, West Coast-Tasman Labour MP Damien O'Connor says.

Sephrah Rayner never imagined $100 would one day buy her the chance to return to a place she calls home.

The campaign to crowd-fund the purchase of land and a beach in the Abel Tasman National Park is still attracting pledges, despite the $2 million target being met.

Health and industry officials are reminding growers to be on the look-out for any symptoms of typhoid among harvest crews, especially those from countries where the disease was prevalent.

A Nelson woodworker has turned his hand to custom-made coffins for pets. Video

The government might meet any shortfall in public pledges to buy private land in the Abel Tasman National Park, the Minister for Conservation says. Audio

New Zealand's first people trafficking trial cost Immigration New Zealand $125,335 to bring to court.

Sealord factory cleaner Victor Norman is no stranger to company restructuring - he's been through it four times in 10 years.

A campaign has been launched to crowd-fund the purchase of a $2 million block of land at Awaroa in the Abel Tasman National Park to keep it out of private hands.

The Buller District Council is going back to the drawing board for a solution to what its mayor says was an overly complicated rating model.

The historic Trathen's Building in central Nelson will be demolished because of its potential risk to the public.

Hundreds of Nelson children ended their 2015 school year by launching rockets, cooking popcorn, and gaining an appreciation of the intricacies of scampi. Audio

A Nelson region apple grower said the weather extremes affecting the region were more volatile than ever, and it should brace for a worsening drought this summer.

A road linking the West Coast and the Nelson-Tasman region could be on the cards after the government agreed to consider studying the viability of the route. Audio

A Nelson couple seeking redress for a leaky bathroom in their new home have taken their fight to the disputes tribunal.

The head of a Nelson and Marlborough forestry company said the codes governing fire risk were sound, but improvements were needed.

Buller District Council is to push ahead in its bid to get government support for an investigation into a new road from the coast to the Nelson-Tasman region.

A review of police services in the West Coast region is going ahead, after an earlier plan triggered a dispute over proposed staffing changes.

A plan for a new road linking the West Coast and Nelson-Tasman through part of the Kahurangi National Park is being put forward by the Buller District Council.