Laura Mills

No vacancy in Greymouth as TranzAlpine returns

No vacancy in Greymouth as TranzAlpine returns

The 'no vacancy' signs were lit up throughout Greymouth last night, as moteliers reaped the benefit of a revitalised TranzAlpine train and a school holiday boost from domestic tourists.

$90m government boost for West Coast

A $90 million boost is about to be announced for the West Coast, on top of $7 million given yesterday to create a boat repair hub in Greymouth, and a bulk export precinct in Westport.

Chopper numbers drop as tourism shrinks

Helicopter leaving Franz Josef Glacier. Photo: Getty Images

Chopper numbers drop as tourism shrinks

Fourteen fewer helicopters are flying on the West Coast, as tourism businesses hunker down and try to ride out the effects of the collapse of international tourism because of Covid-19.

Name change debate resurfaces

Calls to rename Greymouth are back in the news, this time because of worldwide unrest over historic figures with a dark past.

Call to rename Greymouth

Calls to rename Greymouth are back in the news, this time because of worldwide unrest over historic figures with a dark past.

$18 million for visitor hubs

The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) will invest nearly $18million to create four West Coast visitor experience hubs, creating more than 50 jobs.

West Coast businesses hit hard to pandemic

West Coast businesses hit hard to pandemic

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the West Coast economy has been laid bare by Development West Coast in a frank survey, which shows businesses cutting staff numbers and others preparing to...

Tourism leaders urge restart of Tranz Alpine train

A group of West Coast tourism leaders has written to State-owned Enterprises Minister Winston Peters urging a restart of the Tranz Alpine tourist train.

Anglers happy to quarantine for chance to fish on Coast

Anglers on the drizzle-soaked Dunedin wharves at dawn, yesterday, wait for the salmon to bite....

Anglers happy to quarantine for chance to fish on Coast

Tourism operators say high-end anglers who visit the West Coast every year are so committed to the sport that some are willing to go through a two-week quarantine upon arrival in the country.

'Long, hard road': Franz Josef struggling in wake of virus

'Long, hard road': Franz Josef struggling in wake of virus

Franz Josef Glacier residents are shouting for help, with 50 job losses confirmed on Wednesday in the suddenly depressed tourist town.

Cave Creek anniversary quietly observed

Cave Creek anniversary quietly observed

Yesterday marked 25 years since the Cave Creek disaster, in which 14 people lost their lives when they fell into a deep cavern inland from Punakaiki.

‘Rationalisation’ needed as glacier towns especially hard hit

Franz Josef township is nestled beneath the Southern Alps on the West Coast and surrounded by...

‘Rationalisation’ needed as glacier towns especially hard hit

The glacier towns are preparing for job losses and closures as major businesses, including Scenic Hotel Group, look at rationalisation.

Goldmining industry wants to get back to work

Goldmining industry wants to get back to work

The West Coast goldmining industry is agitating to be allowed back to work to help prop up the struggling economy.

Floodwalls among $40m of reboot projects

Floodwalls among $40m of reboot projects

Floodwalls to ring Westport and Franz Josef Glacier townships, new bridges and a Greymouth reservoir are among at least $40 million worth of projects being put forward to reboot the West Coast economy.

Coast council leaders reluctant to take pay cut

Coast council leaders reluctant to take pay cut

Council leaders on the West Coast are less than enthusiastic about the idea of taking a pay cut in solidarity with ratepayers hit by the Covid-19 lockdown.

Baker says no need to panic, as production rises

Baker Chris Blanchfield has increased bread production. PHOTO: PAUL MCBRIDE

Baker says no need to panic, as production rises

As panic buying continues in the face of Covid-19, bread is in such hot demand that one Greymouth bakery has increased its daily production from five loaves to 200.

Slow work recovering evidence

It can take Pike River Recovery Agency staff working underground 90 minutes to handle each piece of forensic evidence that they recover from the mine drift.

Pike River mine tunnel re-entry cost doubles to over $50m

Pike River mine tunnel re-entry cost doubles to over $50m

The cost of recovering the entry tunnel to the Pike River mine has blown out dramatically.

Lost dog survived two nights down sinkhole

Hunting dog Fern (front) is checked over after she fell down a large sinkhole near the Fox River...

Lost dog survived two nights down sinkhole

A hunting dog has survived a 35m fall down a vertical tomo or sinkhole near the Fox River with barely a scratch.

Repairs to 294 joints on $4million floodwall

Liddells site foreman Jamie Rees with West Coast Regional Council engineering officer Jamie Bell...

Repairs to 294 joints on $4million floodwall

Work has begun on replacing or repairing almost 300 concrete joints which have failed in the Greymouth floodwall.

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Laura Mills