Gas-fitter's fatal negligence brings thousands in fines
A gas-fitter whose negligence led to the death of a 12-year-old boy will pay his family $70,000.
Regions
West Coasters ask where's our $24m?
West Coasters ask where's our $24m?
Pressure is mounting on the Government to release $24 million earmarked for the hurting tourism town of Franz Josef.
'You killed my son': Mother's agony over gasfitter's fatal shower blunder
'You killed my son': Mother's agony over gasfitter's fatal shower blunder
The mother of an Alexandra boy who died from carbon monoxide poisoning after a gas-fitter signed off a hot water unit that shouldn't have been installed says the tragedy wasn't an accident and was preventable.
Mayor insists long-term plan in place for Franz Josef
Mayor insists long-term plan in place for Franz Josef
Westland Mayor Bruce Smith is rejecting a claim by the region's MP Damien O'Connor that there is no long-term plan for the future of Franz Josef township.
5 'adverse events' including fatal at West Coast DHB
5 'adverse events' including fatal at West Coast DHB
A West Coast patient died last year because hospital staff failed to realise the person's condition had deteriorated and did not transfer them in time to a tertiary-level hospital.
Monteith's brewery gifted to the Grey district
Monteith's brewery gifted to the Grey district
A West Coast institution has been saved from permanent closure.
Huge swells expected along south-west coast
Huge swells expected along south-west coast
Giant swells and waves reaching up to 10 metres high along New Zealand's south-west coast are on the cards amid a bout of wild mid-week weather.
Fox River landfill to be cleared away
Fox River landfill to be cleared away
An old landfill that spewed rubbish along 100 kilometres of West Coast coastline will be removed, starting next week.
Stone barely left a mark, but almost killed him
Stone barely left a mark, but almost killed him
A small stone, flicked off the blade of his scrub bar during a round of voluntary community service, nearly killed Hokitika councillor Latham Martin.
Drones probing remote habitats
Drones probing remote habitats
Going where no man, or woman, has gone before, scientists are using drones to observe some of the most inhospitable parts of the West Coast’s remote and rugged coastline.
Big demand for West Coast gravel
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.
Regional council to look at lake row
Regional council to look at lake row
A West Coast council is looking at a row over Ross Lake, where someone has been dismantling a weir built by volunteers to control lake levels after continual flooding of the new Chinese memorial gardens.
'Desperate down there': Franz Josef waits for Govt aid
'Desperate down there': Franz Josef waits for Govt aid
The West Coast is on the verge of gaining at least one new ghost town unless the Government comes through with promised life-support for Franz Josef Glacier.
Offer to help resolve lake level stoush
Offer to help resolve lake level stoush
Westland Mayor Bruce Smith says his council is willing to help resolve the ongoing stoush over water levels of the artificial Ross Lake, but the regional council is the regulator and should act.
Police appeal for information on suspicious fires
Police appeal for information on suspicious fires
A spate of suspicious fires over the New Year period has sparked an appeal from Greymouth police.
People in campervans when fires lit
People in campervans when fires lit
Police investigating a slew of suspicious fires on the West Coast say two of the blazes were lit under occupied campervans.
Councillor injured in ‘freak accident’ doing community work
Councillor injured in ‘freak accident’ doing community work
A good deed for the community took a turn for the worse for Hokitika councillor Latham Martin this week.
‘On the Buses’ — double-decker turns heads on way north
‘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.
Glacier towns struggling
Glacier towns struggling
The loss of international tourism is pushing the West Coast’s twin glacier towns to the brink. Empty cafe tables, a slew of motel vacancy signs, a highway bare of travellers and the...
Concerns Franz Josef will 'shrivel up and die'
Concerns Franz Josef will 'shrivel up and die' if borders stay closed
The future of a remote South Island town hangs in the balance.