Laura Mills

Farmers worried as Doc cancels river flat grazing licence

South Westland farmers are feeling nervous after the Department of Conservation yesterday cancelled a river flat grazing licence at Haast after 160 years.

Proposal to turn village into alpine resort town

A new report suggests transforming Arthur’s Pass village into an alpine resort town to broaden...

Proposal to turn village into alpine resort town

A new report commissioned by the Department of Conservation suggests transforming Arthur’s Pass Village into an alpine resort town featuring an eco-lodge, hot pools and interactive visitor centre.

Pike River wind down about to start

The withdrawal from the Pike River Mine is expected to begin next week, at the end of the Government’s $61million re-entry commitment.

Call for industry role in review of stewardship land

Call for industry role in review of stewardship land

A Department of Conservation team is being assembled to reclassify stewardship land, which makes up to one-third of the West Coast land area.

Mountain club group opposes critical quarry

Ngati Waewae chairman Francois Tumahai; Photo: RNZ

Mountain club group opposes critical quarry

Ngai Tahu leaders are angry Federated Mountain Clubs is trying to "scuttle" a proposed quarry they say is critical to the future of South Westland.

Loans up to $50K to help businesses

Development West Coast (DWC) has offered South Westland businesses loans of up to $50,000 to help ease the pain of border closures.

NZ’s worst industrial disaster marked

Dignitaries and descendants at the Brunner Mine site on Thursday morning. PHOTO: ALLAN GIBSON

NZ’s worst industrial disaster marked

The 125th anniversary of the Brunner Mine disaster has been marked quietly with a prayer ceremony and wreath-laying, just metres away from the portal from which the bodies of 65 men and boys were pulled after the 1896 explosion.

Refusal to use windblown trees a ‘missed opportunity’

Work under way on the slip at Mt Hercules, north of Franz Josef. Photo: NZTA

Refusal to use windblown trees a ‘missed opportunity’

A bill to allow logging companies to harvest native trees blown over in storms failed in Parliament on Wednesday night, after Labour MPs refused to support it.

Tranz Alpine timetable clipped back

The daily TranzAlpine service has been suspended. Photo: Philip Somerville

Tranz Alpine timetable clipped back

KiwiRail has confirmed the Tranz Alpine will only run on Thursdays and Fridays between May and October.

Train lifeline for West Coast could be curbed

Train lifeline for West Coast could be curbed

The TranzAlpine passenger train looks set to run over winter - but possibly only two days a week - and not on the weekend.

Train lifeline for West Coast could be curbed

The TranzAlpine passenger train looks set to run over winter - but possibly only two days a week - and not on the weekend.

Millions for predator eradication

Franz Josef township is hurting from the collapse of international tourism caused by Covid-19 and...

Millions for predator eradication

New Zealand’s largest predator project, costing a record $45million, was launched yesterday at Franz Josef Glacier.

$7m for work on port at Greymouth

The Coast saw the country's highest increase in regional house sales in July. Photo: Getty Images

$7m for work on port at Greymouth

The Port of Greymouth is enjoying its biggest investment in probably 60 years, with $7million for dredging, new wharves and an expanded slipway.

Gloriavale finances up in new accounts

The Gloriavale Christian Community. Photo: ODT files

Gloriavale finances up in new accounts

Gloriavale Christian Community has reported a surplus of $2.78 million, almost $1 million more than the previous year.

Glacier town rescue hope

A deserted Franz Josef main street. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Glacier town rescue hope

Tourism Minister Stuart Nash will be in Franz Josef next Tuesday where he will see a town fighting for its survival, writes Laura Mills.

O’Connor, MBIE officials hear glacier towns’ pleas

West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O’Connor and a team of officials were at the glaciers yesterday to hear pleas for economic help for the desperate tourist towns, starved of international tourists.

Climate reform worries mayors

West Coast mayors are compiling a hard-hitting report on the number of jobs in the region that would be put in jeopardy by climate change reform — including the possibility of losing the Tranz...

Big demand for West Coast gravel

The Anatoki left the Greymouth wharf yesterday morning with 800 tonnes of gravel destined for...

Big demand for West Coast gravel

Gravel and rock from the West Coast are in high demand, both for 'exporting' and for $60 million of large infrastructure projects about to get under way throughout the region.

Councils consider changing banks in response to closures

Systems were out for about 10 hours yesterday. Photo: RNZ

Councils consider changing banks in response to closures

At least one West Coast council says it could look at changing bankers, amid growing concerns that banks are withdrawing from the region and reducing hours.

‘On the Buses’ — double-decker turns heads on way north

Victoria and Paul Ludemann and their children Linzi and Chase with their double-decker bus,...

‘On the Buses’ — double-decker turns heads on way north

A very English double-decker bus took to the streets of Greymouth yesterday, turning heads in the town.

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Laura Mills