West Coast
Westland coast an absolute mess - mayor
Hundreds of trees have come down in Westland on the West Coast. Westland Mayor Bruce Smith describes the carnage, telling John Campbell he's 'never seen anything like this'. Video, Audio
100 evacuated amid Buller state of emergency
More than 100 people were evacuated from their homes in Westport today, and most will spend the night in evacuation centres. Buller District Mayor Garry Howard describes the flooding. Audio
Tears flow as Pike River Recovery Agency opens
The agency has opened in Greymouth and will be responsible for recovering the bodies of the 29 men who died in the Pike River mine. Video, Audio
Hot water boosts tiny tuna numbers
Albacore tuna being caught near Westport are far more numerous, but "very, very small" compared to previous years, a fisherman says.
Only two candidates for Coast by-election
Demands on councillors may be why a forthcoming by-election has attracted just two candidates, the mayor of Buller District says.
Rain on the way for parched farmers on the West Coast
Farmers are running low on feed as hot temperatures dry out pastures. Audio
Minister meets with drought-hit farmers
The Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor has been meeting with farmers at Reefton on the West Coast today. Audio
Drought declared on West Coast
West Coast farmers are worried about feed shortages as the typically wet region dries out. Audio
Man's body recovered from West Coast river
The body of a man whose car plunged off a steep bank into the Okuru River south of Haast has been recovered.
Christmas miracle: 'Eggnog' boosts rarest kiwi species
With the 50th of 65 rowi chicks of the season hatching at the West Coast Wildlife Centre on Christmas Day, the 450-strong population is growing steadily.
Roads Run Through Us: 2
John Bluck explores the ways of the road in this second of a series about the place roads have in New Zealand history, consciousness and identity. Audio
Boy, 2, critically injured after tractor rolls
A two-year-old was flown to Christchurch in a critical condition, hours after being trapped under a tractor on a West Coast farm.
Fined $16k for fishing in marine reserve
A commercial fisherman from Nelson has been fined $16,000 for fishing in a West Coast marine reserve.
Man dies during West Coast rafting trip
A man who died after falling from a raft in a West Coast river yesterday has been identified by the police.
Forest & Bird to appeal coal mine resource consent
Forest & Bird has decided to appeal against resource consent granted to a proposed open cast coal mine, near Westport.
Driest November in more than 100 years for parts of Canterbury
The Christchurch airport weather station, which has been running since 1864, only recorded 1.4 millimetres of rain in November.
Auditors unconvinced polytechnic is 'a going concern'
The Auditor General's office is refusing to confirm that the West Coast's troubled Tai Poutini Polytechnic is a going concern.
NZ's 'worst' polytech under scrutiny
The government is considering the future of an embattled West Coast polytechnic, the first to fail an NZQA audit.
Minister inclined against West Coast mine
The Minister of Energy and Resources is casting doubt on a coal mine proposed for the Buller River upstream from Westport. Audio
West Coast sinks one district plan
The prospect of West Coast district councils working together under one district plan is dead in the water.
