Westland's new mayor has broken the mould by appointing two deputy mayors. Bruce Smith has appointed Latham Martin, the highest-polling

Solid Energy says it remains in discussions over the future of the Spring Creek underground coalmine at Dunollie, and the small Reddale open-cast mine near Reefton.

Editor-at-large and newspaper owner Colin Warren, celebrates 50 years with The Westport News today.

The Buller man turned himself in after escaping from police custody on Saturday night.

Solid Energy yesterday said the firm was "still in multiple discussions/negotiations and it would be inappropriate to make any further comment".

The Buller man who escaped from police custody on Saturday night will spend a month behind bars awaiting his next court appearance.

A judge has berated a mother of four who dropped a sachet of "P" on a filling station counter as she paid for her petrol.

A 22-year-old man with an "extreme" meth problem has surprised a judge with his request to be sent to prison.

Man in court after house fire thought to have started from a cannabis oil explosion in the kitchen.

Westport police say they do not have enough evidence to lay charges over allegations 1080 protestors damaged a Department of Conservation staff member's car.

A Westport driver caught driving while disqualified for the 15th time has been sentenced to Community detention, supervision and community work in lieu of disqualification.

The tale of the frustrated French hitchhiker who waited for four days in Punakaiki has proved a boon for the West Coast town and continues to generate overseas attention.

Phones have been ringing off the hook and international news agencies have picked up the story of the frustrated Frenchman passing through Punakaiki.

Frustrated French hitchhiker ended up in handcuffs after road signs were hurled into the Punakaiki River and locals were abused.

The huge slip near Meybille Bay, south of Westport, is proving a cloud with a silver lining for Punakaiki.

It appeared the woman, 63, surprised an intruder in her garden around 9:30 last night.

The woman accidentally rammed into the glass door on her mobility scooter, leaving the door shattered and her shaken.

St John had only about half the number of volunteers it needed to ensure a frontline ambulance crew on West Coast.

High needs people moving in - or being moved - to Buller are pushing some local services to breaking point.

The West Coast's top cop says telling the public about police responding to crime is the "old school way of thinking".

Eleven-year-old Elli McLaughlan says smoke alarms save lives after a fire started by an electric blanket on her bed gutted her family's home in Westport yesterday.

Fire crews were called to the scene of a house fire in Westport early this morning.

The Cape Foulwind cement works closes at midday tomorrow, marking the end of an era for workers after 58 years of production.

Majority of community members oppose proposals by regional council to fund sea wall extension via targetted rates hike.

Labour's West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O'Connor won't say whether he supports the new agreement between Labour and the Greens.

Couple stole courier packs and stamps from a post shop returned an hour later to post one of the packs.

Westport residents say people need to stop driving up Utopia Rd through Deadmans Creek.

A job subsidy scheme aimed at providing 20 new jobs in Buller over two years is underway.

Six-metre swells and heavy rain have taken off another half-a-metre of beach frontage near Punakaiki Beach Camp