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.

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 criminal lawyer Doug Taffs has been suspended from practising law for three months for bringing the legal profession into disrepute.

Thunderstorms, heavy rain and gale force winds are likely to hit the South Island's West Coast this weekend.

The boat that capsized near Greymouth this week will be salvaged today, the district's mayor says.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This West Coast gem is wild at heart, finds Elisabeth Easther.

Work on a West Coast bridge has been halted after workers were caught on camera dumping material into the river.

West Coasters hit by a deluge of heavy rain and thunderstorms can expect little relief in the coming weeks.