Latest fromWest Coast
Desperate bid to douse fatal fire
A neighbour with a garden hose was unable to douse a garage fire early this morning which killed a man.
Denniston Plateau mine a step closer
Australian mining company Bathurst Resources has passed a crucial hurdle to establishing an open cast coal mine on the West Coast's Denniston Plateau.
Funeral fracas left man unconscious
A fracas at a West Coast funeral wake left one innocent bystander unconscious and his brother nursing a bruised head, the Greymouth District Court heard yesterday.
Mystery painter's pedestrian crossing
Arnott Heights residents hope to convince authorities to install a pedestrian crossing in the Greymouth suburb, but in the meantime one resident has painted their own.
High-profile lawyer suspended for drink driving
A high-profile West Coast criminal lawyer who tried to beat a third drink driving conviction by putting coins in his mouth, and unplugging the breath-testing machine, has been suspended for three months and fined $12,000.
Weather patterns set to get messy
Mixed weather is expected in much of the country this week with people being told to prepare for wind and rain to hit - as well as occasional warm conditions.
High profile West Coast lawyer suspended
High-profile West Coast criminal lawyer Doug Taffs has been suspended from practising law for three months for bringing the legal profession into disrepute.
Gale force winds for West Coast
Thunderstorms, heavy rain and gale force winds are likely to hit the South Island's West Coast this weekend.
Capsized boat to be salvaged today
The boat that capsized near Greymouth this week will be salvaged today, the district's mayor says.
Horrific burns suffered in surgery
A hospital has apologised to a West Coast woman who suffered horrific burns when near-boiling water burst inside her during a procedure.
Coastguard defends response to tragedy
The Greymouth Coastguard took about 45 minutes to get to the wreck of the Lady Anna; after the skipper had been pulled from the water and pronounced dead.
Father shattered by fisherman's death
The devastated father of the skipper, killed today when his boat capsized near Greymouth, has spoken about the pain of losing is only son in the tragedy.
Dire quake warning for Alpine Fault
Civil Defence officials say there could be up to 10,000 casualties when the Alpine Fault ruptures sometime in the next 50 years - and 1000 could be fatal.
Accused flees after wrong box ticked
An accused sex offender from the West Coast was able to adopt a new name and flee to Australia because a Ministry of Justice employee ticked the wrong box on a form, an internal review has revealed.
Opencast Pike River mine mooted
Officials are investigating a proposal which could lead to the Pike River mine being turned into an opencast coal pit stretching into a national park.
Key distances Govt from Telecom cuts
Prime Minister John Key has denied that the Solid Energy crisis and Telecom job cuts are a black mark against the Government's handling of the economy.
Solid Energy crisis: Govt vows to save it
Solid Energy is in crisis, with a Government bailout almost inevitable, mine closures possible and further job cuts likely in another restructure to try to salvage it.