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.

A young man who tarnished his previously spotless criminal record in spectacular fashion with a crime spree has been given a community-based sentence.

After six years of uncertainty, the Westland District Council yesterday dropped the controversial "fault rupture avoidance zone" that divided Franz Josef Glacier township.

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

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.

Families of the 29 men killed in the Pike River mining tragedy are standing their ground as they protest against a bid to seal off the mine permanently.

Solid Energy's attempts to seal Pike River mine will be met with a road block after the owners of the access road gave the victim's families legal control of the road.

After Jake Millar's dad died in the Fox Glacier plane crash, the 15-year-old wrote to Prime Minister John Key asking for his advice.

New Zealand whitebait are one of the few dining pleasures to escape the culinary assault of reality chefs.

The Buller District Council's new senior manager and his family have had an "adventurous" time in their introduction to the community.

The Nelson Marlborough Conservation Board supports the proposed extension to the mountain bike season on the Heaphy Track.

Heritage New Zealand is working to have a decaying tree felled from the historic site of the Seddon family home, in Kumara.

A decision on whether the Department of Conservation will allow the Waitaha River power scheme will be made by mid-2017.

Reefton and Westport are worst hit on West Coast.

A Greymouth man wanted by police for breach of bail lost control of his vehicle at Taylorville late last night while trying to evade police.

Water supply levels in both Franz Josef and Fox Glacier are being monitored as the tourist season ramps up again.

West Coast Fish and Game have come to the aid of the Paringa Salmon Farm and cafe, which lost as many as 13,000 salmon after intruders tampered with the water supply.