Laura Mills

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Shane Jones expected to draw big crowd on Coast

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Shane Jones expected to draw big crowd on Coast

Controversial cabinet minister Shane Jones is expected to draw a big crowd to Blackball this week to hear him outline the government's mining strategy — but protesters are also planning to picket...

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Plan to make small gold claim permitting easier

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Plan to make small gold claim permitting easier

Hobby goldmining on the West Coast could enjoy a resurgence if the government follows through with plans to make the permitting process a lot easier.

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West Coast mineral sands mine given green light

Looking west towards Barrytown across the lower end of the area to be mined along with adjoining...

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West Coast mineral sands mine given green light

The Barrytown mineral sands application has been approved, marking the start of a new era of mining for the Grey district.

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Reefton rest home to close permanently

Reefton is set to lose Ziman House rest home, despite promises the facility would return. File photo

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Reefton rest home to close permanently

Reefton rest home Ziman House is to be closed permanently.

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Flooding in West Coast town worst in 50 years - fire chief

Hari Hari during a cloud burst yesterday -- the town got about 30mm of rain in one hour, mid...

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Flooding in West Coast town worst in 50 years - fire chief

South Westland towns, isolated at the height of the storm last night, rallied to accommodate stranded tourists and evacuees as Hari Hari bore the brunt of the slow-moving front.

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West Coast quake triggered Punakaiki closure

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West Coast quake triggered Punakaiki closure

The strong earthquake that jolted the wider Greymouth area on Saturday night was centred in the vicinity of the Cape Foulwind fault system, which runs offshore along the northern West Coast, GNS says.

Police station in ‘dire, deteriorating state’, mayors tell minister

Police station in ‘dire, deteriorating state’, mayors tell minister

The West Coast mayors and leaders say the Greymouth Police Station is in a dire condition, forcing some staff to work from home last year and others from the "booze bus".

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Waitaha hydro power scheme expected to be fast-tracked

The Waitaha River, at Kiwi Flat. A hydro scheme was proposed for the river between the lower end...

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Waitaha hydro power scheme expected to be fast-tracked

The Waitaha hydro power scheme is expected to be top of the list on the West Coast as the government’s fast-track Bill heads to Parliament.

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Speculation mine company awaiting direction from govt

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Speculation mine company awaiting direction from govt

Speculation is afoot that the company behind plans for a new open-cast coalmine behind Westport has pressed pause while it awaits direction from the more mining-friendly National government.

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Westport struggling to staff 'dysfunctional' medical centre

Te Rau Kawakawa health centre has only been open nine months. Photo: Supplied

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Westport struggling to staff 'dysfunctional' medical centre

A doctor who has worked at 90 health centres around New Zealand, says Westport's is the most dysfunctional.

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New Westport health facility closes for fourth time

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New Westport health facility closes for fourth time

The fourth closure forced by a lack of doctor cover since the new Westport health facility opened nine months ago has seen slammed by Buller's Mayor as "totally unacceptable" in a hard-hitting letter to the Health Minister.

Birthday Reef’s gold-bearing quartz a job creator

Snowy River workers (from left) Luke O'Connell, Charlotte Buxton-Blue and Alex Watson in front of...

Birthday Reef’s gold-bearing quartz a job creator

More than 70 years after it was last worked, miners have finally reached the rich Birthday Reef beneath old Waiuta township, south of Reefton.

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NZMCA rally set to triple Reefton’s population

Reefton Race Course. File photo: Wikimedia Commons

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NZMCA rally set to triple Reefton’s population

Between 800 and 900 campervans and caravans will roll into the West Coast next month for the NZ Motor Caravan Association's (NZMCA) national rally.

Goodbye, minister tells frogs impeding mining

Goodbye, minister tells frogs impeding mining

Christmas has arrived early for West Coast miners, with the National-led government boisterously promising it will not only let them on to stewardship land, but create a fast-track for mining.

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Deer hunting hit by unexpected 1080 notice

1080 poison is scattered by helicopter in previous drop in South Westland. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY

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Deer hunting hit by unexpected 1080 notice

An urgent 1080 poison drop has been scheduled for a remote valley in South Westland next month, interrupting the deer hunting roar.

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Trans-Tasman investigation brings down West Coast paedophile

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Trans-Tasman investigation brings down West Coast paedophile

A former West Coast St John volunteer claimed to be "in love" with a boy 13 years younger than him that he groomed and sexually abused from the ages of 10 to 14.

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'Greymouth has never seen anything like this'

Te Runanga of Makaawhio and Te Runanga of Ngati Waewae chairmen Paul Madgwick and Francois...

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'Greymouth has never seen anything like this'

The doors to the Pounamu Pathway Māwhera Pa visitor attraction open to the public on Monday, ending a year of construction and heralding the start of a new tourism era in Greymouth.

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Last old bull kelp beds badly damaged

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Last old bull kelp beds badly damaged

Three hot summers and three marine heatwaves in a row have badly damaged the last old bull kelp seaweed beds off Punakaiki.

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Marine heatwaves devastate Punakaiki kelp forests

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Marine heatwaves devastate Punakaiki kelp forests

Three hot summers and three marine heatwaves in a row have badly damaged the last old bull kelp seaweed beds off Punakaiki.

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Mayor infuriated by spelling change plan

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Mayor infuriated by spelling change plan

Westland Mayor Helen Lash says she is infuriated by a New Zealand Geographic Board proposal to change the spelling of Franz "Josef" to Franz "Joseph".

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Laura Mills