Laura Mills

Zero-carbon move 'very difficult' for the West Coast

An exposed coal seam on the Denniston Plateau, above Westport, West Coast. Photo: ODT files

Zero-carbon move 'very difficult' for the West Coast

The Govt's move to a ''zero-carbon economy'' - ending the burning of coal and casting future coalmines into doubt - will be a ''very difficult transition for the West Coast'', Grey Mayor Tony Kokshoorn says.

Hopes of reopening in June

Tourists walk past waterfalls at the Franz Josef Glacier in summer. Photo: AP

Hopes of reopening in June

The Department of Conservation hopes to reopen the access road to the Franz Josef Glacier in early June - two months after a flood devastated both glacier valleys.

Extent of Alps ice melt shocks

The Whitehorn ice field pictured in March shows the changes to the Southern Alps. Photo: Supplied

Extent of Alps ice melt shocks

The hot summer of 2018-19 has caused glaciers to disappear in the Southern Alps and ice fields to collapse like never before.

Free campsites to stay but Buller facilities uncertain

Free campsites developed in Buller and Westland last summer will stay open after government funding runs out at the end of this month, although the Buller ones may not be serviced.

Countdown on for Pike River Mine re-entry

A methane explosion closed the mine in November 2010. Photo: Greymouth Star

Countdown on for Pike River Mine re-entry

The countdown is on for the Pike River Mine re-entry in three weeks' time, with the cost now set at $36 million.

Contract extensions for staff at Pike River Recovery Agency

Contract extensions for staff at Pike River Recovery Agency

Staff working at the Pike River Recovery Agency are to have their contracts extended from June to December.

Funding would set precedent: O'Connor

The New Zealand Defence Force has sent New Zealand Army engineers to work with the NZ Transport...

Funding would set precedent: O'Connor

If the Government paid to shift people off the flooded south bank at Franz Josef landowners living beside the sea and in flood plains all over the country would be seeking the same, West Coast...

Dump wash out 'a coastal eco-disaster'

Forest & Bird has described rubbish-strewn South Westland beaches as possibly the ''biggest coastal eco-disaster since the Rena oil spill''.

Power back on six days after flood damage

About 103,000 households spent more than 10% of their income on domestic energy in 2015–16. Photo...

Power back on six days after flood damage

Power was restored to Haast early yesterday, six days after one of the biggest recorded floods in the Haast River damaged the town's hydro scheme.

State of emergency still in place

The State Highway 6 bridge over the Waiho River. Photo: Wayne Costello/Doc

State of emergency still in place

South Westland is still mopping up after this week's once-in-a-century storm, and a state of emergency remained in place yesterday.

Tahr carcases used in bid to protect kea

Recreational hunters will be able to hunt tahr at sites in the Hooker/Landsborough Wilderness...

Tahr carcases used in bid to protect kea

Three hundred tahr are to be culled and fed to kea in an attempt to keep the endangered native parrots away from an aerial 1080 poison drop in the hills behind Whataroa.

Much of Westland isolated

Much of the West Coast is cut off after a section of the Waiho River bridge was swept away. Photo...

Much of Westland isolated

Raging floodwaters have severed access on the West Coast, swallowing a major bridge and causing slips throughout the region.

Videos attracting more fishermen

Ministry of Primary Industries fishery officer Barry Nicolle. PHOTO: GREYMOUTH STAR

Videos attracting more fishermen

An influx of boaties in South Westland, some inspired by YouTube videos of bumper catches, are keeping the Haast-based honorary fishing officer busy this year.

'Devastating': glacier access limited to air

The slip at Mills Creek is pushing into the Fox River, which in turn has wiped out the access...

'Devastating': glacier access limited to air

Mother Nature 1, Westland 0 - that was the verdict yesterday as Fox Glacier residents started pondering the reality of life in the tourist village without foot or road access to the glacier.

$12m plan for 1080

The Department of Conservation plans to spend $12million this year on rodent control with 1080 poison as it fights a "mega'' beech mast fruiting season.

No ground access to Fox Glacier after road landslip

The access road to Fox Glacier was damaged in a landslip last week. PHOTO: DEPARTMENT OF...

No ground access to Fox Glacier after road landslip

In a major blow to Fox Glacier tourism, the access road to the glacier has been wiped out by a major landslip, just weeks after the last repairs costing $430,000.

'Potential privacy breach' for West Coast patients

'Potential privacy breach' for West Coast patients

The West Coast District Health Board has launched a full investigation after confidential patient information concerning 300 patients from Grey Base Hospital was found in a Christchurch suburb.

Cellphone coverage downside

The recent addition of cellphone coverage in remote parts of South Westland has also introduced the area to a problem experienced everywhere - people driving while on the phone.

Teaching in the West Coast classroom makes lasting memories

After almost five decades teaching, mostly in South Westland, Hilary Millard has finally called it a day, having made many happy memories.

Stickers used to evade camping rules

Tourists are apparently buying self-contained stickers off the internet, or printing them off for free, as a way of getting around camping rules on the West Coast.

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Laura Mills