An unexploded mortar shell found by children at the historic goldmining town of Waiuta has been deactivated by the army bomb disposal squad.

Police investigating the disappearance of Shelly Crooks, last seen at Punakaiki, are appealing for sightings of a female hitch-hiker and a sedan.

A strong, shallow earthquake has shaken the West Coast early today.

West Coast-born New Zealand reggae-roots band Salmonella Dub has been named as the headline act for the Wildfoods Festival in March.

Police are still "following lines of inquiry" into the disappearance of Shelly Crooks, who was last seen at Punakaiki nearly six weeks ago.

A treasurer of a popular West Coast speedway who stole more than $6000 in club cash has today avoided a jail sentence after repaying

Police today urged West Coast motorists to be patient on the roads, with the earlier Chinese New Year expected to boost self-driving tourist numbers.

Brogan Watt defies doctors to wed childhood sweetheart.

An elderly Buller man who appeared in the Greymouth District Court on a walking frame was yesterday jailed for 12 years on numerous sex offences, including rape.

Two neighbours are in court over loud music one describes as screeching classical-type music and the other as soothing jazz or Dave Dobbyn.

Police have released more information about the movements of a woman who has been missing since December 22.

Police were delivering flyers about missing woman Shelly Crooks today in Punakaiki and nearby Fox River.

A collision between his mountain bike and a tree means West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O'Connor won't be clocking up airpoints anytime soon.

A West Coast woman was granted final name suppression after she was convicted yesterday on two counts of forging a document for financial gain, defrauding others of $30,000.

Kiwis have not been treated to the usual warm temperatures that January brings, with the mercury sitting lower than the same time last year.

About 250 people were bused up the hillside to the Strongman Mine site on Saturday for a poignant ceremony to commemorate the tragedy there 50 years ago.

State Highway 73 will reopen to single-lane traffic past the Otira slip tomorrow, but with delays, and the rail line is expected to open on Wednesday.

Man charged with disorderly behaviour after firing Nerf guns in Greymouth McDonald's restaurant.

More than 200 people gathered this morning for a minute's silence 50 years on from the Strongman Mine disaster.

Both the Grey and Buller rivers were still rising at noon today, but civil defence said the rate had slowed.

Amazing pictures show a massive slip blocking a major South Island route as wild weather wreaked havoc on the West Coast today.

The summer "bomb low" is expected to continue to bring wild weather to the country today.

Holcim is in confidential negotiations with prospective buyers of its Westport assets, says capital projects manager, Ken Cowie.

Westport police say they are making progress in identifying who knocked out a local publican and broke his nephew's jaw on Sunday morning.

Labour leader Andrew Little is proposing a new solution to recover bodies in the Pike River coal mine.

The worst of the West Coast's wet weather should be over by dawn tomorrow, says Hokitika weather observer Mark Crompton.

Greymouth funeral director Laurie Anisy was a trainee and just two weeks shy of his 17th birthday when he got word there had been an explosion at the Strongman Mine.

Strongman mine disaster happened 50 years ago next week. Paul McBride catches up with the five surviving members of the Mines Rescue teams.

Northland DHB risks losing $1.5 million in elective surgery funding, chief doctor says

The temperature in Westland has managed to pass the 20C mark only once so far this year.