We're looking back on some of our favourite big reads from TimeOut this year. Today, we revisit Chris Schulz' story on the women of Gloriavale.

New alcohol rules imposed on the Kumara Nuggets race meeting on January 14 have resulted in a sting in the tail for punters.

A laser light was pointed at a trans-Tasman jet flying over Greymouth last evening.

DoC says there is significant arsenic, mercury and cyanide contamination of the soil at the Alexander River mine site.

Nineteen men were killed in the explosion at the mine near Runanga on January 19, 1967.

A weak cold front will bring cloud, drizzle and showers to the country over the next few days but should clear in time for New Year celebrations.

Bridget McMenamin worked on the Lisa Blakie murder inquiry. She has launched a Facebook page to investigate the 2000 case again.

Hokitika will see out one of its wettest years in 150 years of records, with the equivalent of two months of additional rain.

A 77-year-old man suffered suspected fractured ribs when he was knocked off his push bike in Kilgour Road, Greymouth, this morning.

Coalminer Bathurst Resources is being sued for US$40 million by L&M Coal Holdings.

After extensive fire damage the Greymouth fishing boat Te Aroha has risen from the ashes and is back trawling off the West Coast.

Ross pensioner Sam Viney already has the NZCC Rescue Helicopter to thank for saving his life - more than once - and now he has 10,000 more reasons to thank the rescue service.

Two men have been arrested in relation to alleged methamphetamine and cannabis offences following a raid at a Westport house this morning.

There was a record downpour in Auckland, a tornado in Taranaki and "quake lights" above Wellington. Oh, and 2016 was likely also New Zealand's hottest year on record.

The Pike River Mine controversy took yet another turn today with Parliament's Commerce Committee agreeing to hear submissions on the sealing of the mine.

The receivers for Westport heavy machinery repair company are still looking for some of the company's plant 18 months after it went bust.

If variety is the spice of life, this week is set to be a lively one.

Pike River protestors have been told to move on and remove the gates they put up to block Solid Energy.

Runanga School has canned school camps and all outings for pupils in 2017 while it reviews education outside the classroom (EOTC) activities.

It's going to be a sunny one this weekend for most of the country.

Two Westport-based companies are targeting the Garden City's potholes and traffic cones through a fun public art installation.

The ground has been broken for the new Taramakau road bridge, with construction to begin early in the new year.

A 17-year-old unlicensed driver led police on a 2.5km car chase through Westport streets at speeds of up to 80km/h yesterday.

The price for hard coking coal has plummeted US$45/tonne since peaking at US$310/tonne last month.

Tai Poutini Polytechnic says it will be business as usual for students after a Crown manager is put in charge due to a "significant" financial deficit.

Hokitika woman Lisa Tumahai yesterday stepped into the top role of the billion-dollar Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu.

Environmental Protection Authority report finds a number of incidents on the West Coast including one where someone removed signs when baits were still toxic.

The Government today appointed a crown manager to the polytechnic, citing a significant financial deficit and declining student numbers.

The very health and safety changes which the Pike River disaster prompted make re-entering the mine difficult, Prime Minister Bill English says.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has offered himself to be the first to re-enter the Pike River mine where 29 miners perished in 2010.