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.

Prime Minister Bill English has agreed to meet with the Pike River families to discuss a new plan to re-enter the coal mine.

COMMENT: As the owner of Pike River the Govt have the ultimate responsibility, and safety comes first. As much as you want it to be different, blocking roads doesn't change that.

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 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.

A licence to fish for whitebait, much like the Fish and Game sports fishing licence, has been suggested as one way of managing the fishery.

Job losses have been blamed for falling property values in this area.

A pair of overdue Canterbury trampers had a lucky escape from predicted bad weather last evening after their delayed arrival at the

Solid Energy has reiterated its decision not to re-enter the Pike River mine on day 23 of the protests.

Westpower's estimated $100 million hydro scheme on the Waitaha River in Westland has been backed by both Development West Coast and Westland Mayor Bruce Smith.

The Paparoa National Park Management Plan has been approved, paving the way for the creation of the Pike 29 great walk and mountain bike track.

An abandoned house at Runanga went up in smoke early today - the fourth building fire in the area in a month.

Owners of South Westland salmon farm have "no idea" why someone tampered with water supply, killing $20,000 worth of fish.

Fewer than half of councils have enough staff trained to respond to marine oil spills.