West Coast
Illness that forced school to shut found to be influenza
The illness that closed a Westport primary school this week has been identified as influenza, the West Coast District Health Board says.
Buller seeks owners in bid to sell abandoned land
Buller District Council is trying to find the owners of almost 50 parcels of abandoned land.
Council in the dark over allegations of wrongdoing
The mayor of Westland District Council says his council was in the dark over allegations of wrongdoing, but hoped to know more tomorrow.
Mystery illness circulating on West Coast, says DHB
A mystery illness, which has forced a primary school to close for the week, is also circulating at other schools and workplaces in the region, the West Coast District Health Board says.
Suspected influenza virus spreads through Westport school
Westport North School hopes to reopen its doors on Friday after it was forced to shut when more than a third of its pupils became sick. School principal Cath O'Loughlin says early indications suggest… Video, Audio
Former Gloriavale resident: "The world isn't as evil as it's made out to be"
A crowdfunding campaign has been set up to raise money for people who flee Gloriavale Christian Community on the West Coast. Video, Audio
Crowdfunding campaign set up for Gloriavale escapees
A crowdfunding campaign has been set up to raise money for people who flee Gloriavale Christian Community on the West Coast. Audio
Defence Force proves to be 'huge boost' in Operation Fox, DOC says
Today is one of the biggest days yet for the Westland clean-up job dubbed Operation Fox.
Increased urgency around Fox River cleanup
Rubbish has been strewn for hundred if kms along the West Coast...its been described as a heart wrenching sight. Audio
Opposition to chopping down 300-year-old West Coast rātā
A heritage order is being sought by people on the West Coast to protect four 300-year-old rātā trees from being chopped down.
Damaged 1080 pellets trucked from West Coast to North Island landfill
Sixteen tonnes of 1080 has been trucked more than halfway up the country and dumped in a landfill in the small Rangitikei town of Marton.
Potential bureaucratic relief over Westland sale
Ministers might be breathing a sigh of relief that farmers agreed to sell to China's Yili conglomerate because rejection of the deal could have left taxpayers picking up the tab.
Westland Woes
Colin van der Geest is dairy farmer based on the West Coast. He spoke to RNZ's Maja Burry about why he made the decision to back the sale of Westland Milk Products to China's Yili conglomerate. Audio
Westland Milk farmers had no choice but to sell – shareholder
Westland Milk shareholder Graeme Neylon voted against selling the company, saying it was "particularly galling" it was going to be sold to an overseas company. Video, Audio
Westland Milk chairman: ‘It’s a very good day’
Westland Milk chairman Pete Morrison says he takes full responsibility for events that forced the sale of the diary co-op to a foreign investor. He spoke to Lisa Owen. Video, Audio
Shareholders vote to sell Westland Milk
Dairy farmers have overwhelmingly voted to sell their 150-year-old dairy co-operative, Westland Milk Products, to a Chinese company. But despite signing off on the deal, many of the 350 shareholders… Video, Audio
'No-one wants to sell, but our personal livelihoods are at stake'
Hundreds of West Coast dairy farmers will today vote on whether to sell their 150-year-old co-operative to a foreign bidder.
Action plan aims to restore top of South Island's natural landscapes
Councils and iwi from across the top of the South Island have teamed up with the Department of Conservation on a plan to restore the region's natural landscapes.
Forensic search of Pike River mine drift completed
The 30-170 metre area in the Pike River Mine drift has been forensically search by the Pike River Recovery Agency mining team with the support and oversight of police.
Fox landfill cleanup - is there an end in sight?
The Department of Conservation has now taken the reins from Westland District Council as the lead agency co-ordinating the clean-up of the Fox and Cook riverbeds polluted by the wash out of an old… Audio
