West Coast
Smaller councils face 'considerable difficulty' to meet audit deadline
Smaller councils are facing bigger audit costs and more difficulties after the government introduced new requirements, a West Coast council boss says.
New suspension bridge for Hokitika Gorge
A new suspension bridge will replace an old bridge in the lower Hokitika Gorge, after the government provided funding.
Franz Josef tourism businesses see summer rush on the horizon
Tourism operators in Franz Josef are confident summer will herald a boon for the region, which was hit hard by Covid-19 lockdowns.
Tourism operators in Franz Josef confident of summer bounce-back
Tourism operators in the South Island town of Franz Josef are confident the summer will herald a boon for the region, which was hit hard by Covid lockdowns. Last summer was a return to normal of… Video, Audio
Forest & Bird calls for better river management on West Coast
Councils need to rethink the way they manage waterways to reduce the risk of devastating floods, Forest & Bird is warning.
Kākā numbers skyrocket in annual Landsborough Valley bird count
Data shows eight native bird species have steadily increased in number since DOC started carrying out bird counts in South Westland's Landsborough Valley 25 years ago.
Long wait for plastic surgery on West Coast
The West Coast's plastic surgery waiting list is so long some patients are waiting about 11 months for a first specialist appointment and a similar time for surgery.
DOC mothballs Buller Denniston Experience tourist attraction
A Buller tourist attraction crippled by regulations that followed the Pike River Mine disaster has been permanently closed.
Missing, damaged beehives result in $120k loss for beekeepers
A man angered by bees "taking pollen off his flowers" and "nectar from his trees" cost two beekeepers about $120,000 after their beehives were damaged and went missing.
Backyard bananas in the Buller
A botanist on the West Coast wants locals to start planting growing edible perennials that are growing in his nursery and food forest. Audio
West Coast quarries essential - but at what cost
The future of the West Coast Regional Council's quarries remain under review.
West Coast council defamation case bill exceeds $15,000
A defamation case taken by West Coast Regional Councillor Frank Dooley against Buller Mayor Jamie Cleine has so far cost Buller ratepayers more than $15,000.
Aladdin's cave of country music memorabilia
There's no room left in Barry Skinner's music museum in Hector. "I've run out of wall space so I'm hanging off the roof now," says the dobro and lap-steel playing collector. Video, Audio
'Hit me' taunt made by former council chairperson
Former West Coast Regional Council chairperson Allan Birchfield taunted fellow councillor Frank Dooley saying, "hit me Frank" during an altercation in May.
'Grave concern': The highway at risk of slipping into the sea
The mayor says it's a lifeline for her region - but where State Highway 6 clings to a cliff, a slip falls away to the sea about 300 metres below.
West Coast regional councillor unrepentant after code of conduct breaches
Allan Birchfield is unrepentant, saying he did nothing wrong and will not be changing his behaviour.
All Franz Josef flood protection work 'on hold'
All work on the first stage of the Waiho River protection scheme at Franz Josef is now on hold pending a technical review.
Residents 'worried about breathing toxic gases' want reassurance about landfill
West Coast residents are demanding reassurances that a nearby landfill isn't posing a health risk.
One councillor cleared, other told to apologise and removed from committees.
Two code of conduct complaints against West Coast regional councillors have been resolved - one exonerated and the other punished.
Hari Hari river threat ‘a pretty bad sort of situation’
A flood risk fix for the Wanganui River at Hari Hari will be further addressed in a riverbank meeting this Friday.