Forest & Bird has mounted a court challenge over a decision by the Buller District Council to allow an open-cast coalmine on 100ha of public reserve land behind Westport township.

An abandoned house has burnt down overnight in Westport.

Police say they have concerns for an elderly Nelson man who was due to arrive in Westport today, but has not been seen. Leslie Martin

The Local Government Commission's review of the structure of local government on the West Coast is a "complete waste of money", says Westland Mayor Bruce Smith.

A collision between his mountain bike and a tree means West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O'Connor won't be clocking up airpoints anytime soon.

Holcim is in confidential negotiations with prospective buyers of its Westport assets, says capital projects manager, Ken Cowie.

Westport police say they are making progress in identifying who knocked out a local publican and broke his nephew's jaw on Sunday morning.

A Westport publican was knocked out, his nephew suffered a broken jaw and a friend was badly bruised in a fracas early yesterday morning.

A property has been extensively damaged after a house fire near Westport on Friday night.

Buller's Old Ghost Road trail is proving so popular one of its huts is already almost booked out for the rest of the summer.

Harbourmaster not happy after rescuing then being abused by a local yachtie who attempted to cross the closed Westport bar on New Year's Day.

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

Accommodation providers in Westport and surrounds are full to bursting with festive season visitors and the race crowd in town.

Two Westport men will appear in court next month on charges of possession and use of methamphetamine and cannabis following a police raid yesterday.

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.

A cannabis oil cook-up gone wrong caused three explosions at an Orowaiti Road property, the Westport District Court was told yesterday.

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

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 size of Westport's proposed integrated family health centre (IFHC) has been cut by 300sq m compared to previous plans - which were already carved to the bone.

An out-of-town beekeeper who parked up in Westport to eat his lunch yesterday afternoon left a trail of angry bees behind him.

One of Westport's two resident midwives is leaving, saying her job is financially unsustainable.

Public toilet funding has been redirected to the Springs Junction loos which are struggling to cope with increased demand as traffic is diverted away from quake-damaged areas.

A feline passenger in a car which crashed in the Buller Gorge this morning ended up going to hospital by ambulance with its owner.

The Buller District Council has delayed until next year a decision on whether to ban freedom camping at Punakaiki.

The good and bad effects of last week's huge quake are continuing to be felt by West Coast transport companies, grocery stores and accommodation providers.

Four Westport schools will lose thousands of dollars of yearly funding after again failing to convince the Ministry of Education to overturn their decile ratings.

The repair of Kaikoura's harbour may provide an opportunity for Westport's dredge, says Buller Mayor Garry Howard.