Latest from West Coast

Welcome relief from the weather as fine days predicted
One last band of rain will soak the country before a couple of days of fine weather.

Arrest after sword-wielding robbery
A man has been arrested after allegedly robbing a petrol station with a samurai sword.

Further serious crash shuts southern highway
Second South Island highway closed after major incident.

Police hunt samurai-sword wielding robber
The offender entered the store with a 50cm sword and stole cash before fleeing.

Do the regions get a fair share of tax?
The Economy Hub: Regional economies are going strong, but do they get a fair return?

Wet weekend: Rain, rain and more rain everywhere
The weather gods are not shining on New Zealand this weekend.

Illegal net-setting caused death of Hector's dolphin
A dead Hector's dolphin was found on the West Coast earlier this year.

Greens target first seat since 1999
Greens say they will spend up large to try and win in Nick Smith's electorate.

Pike River: New video raises questions
Video shows wooden pallets and a pair of spectacles were not burned after the explosion.

Climate change threatens quirky NZ spider
Climate change is bad news for New Zealand's quirky, rain-hating trapdoor spider.

Researchers prepare for Alpine Fault event
An Alpine Fault earthquake could cut the West Coast from the main grid for many weeks.

One dead after car goes over bridge
The crash, on the Haast Highway at Karangarua, involved one vehicle.

Fishermen survive 1.45am liferaft ordeal
Three lucky West Coast fishermen survived an early-morning liferaft ordeal in heavy seas.

Mayday drama: Fishing boat hit trouble
A mayday call was set off as the fishing boat headed towards shore.

Father charged over river death of toddler
A man has been charged with the drowning deaths of a toddler and 66yo near Harihari.

DHBs miss five of six ministry targets
The latest Ministry of Health targets are a mixed bag this quarter.

Giant water rip-off: You v bottling firms
Water bottling companies are paying an average 500 times less than ratepayers for water.

The spas in our Fault: Hot water at 630m
Scientists find high temperatures and the potential for large geothermal resources.

Stolen washing reveals heart, hardship
A mother's plea has been answered after her baby's blanket was stolen from a washing line.

'Lucky' trampers rescued near Franz Josef
Three trampers rescued from steep cliffs near Franz Joseph Glacier.

Tyke the tabby's remarkable survival story
Tyke the tabby has not stopped purring since being found after a long two and a half years

Bar manager bitten after dog set on him
Greymouth bar manager taken to hospital after man sets dog on him.

Weather: More rain, wind for east
Bay of Plenty and Gisborne will continue to be hammered by bad weather tonight.

Teens caught up in 'fight club' claims
Four teenagers at Nelson College have been caught up in serious bullying incidents.

Coast vandals slash tyres of 30 vehicles
Vandals slashed the tyres of 30 vehicles in Greymouth, and carved up two sports fields.

13 hours-plus of Pike River video released
Video taken inside the Pike River mine drift four months after deadly explosion.

Watch NZH Local Focus: Fundraiser for Huntly Museum
Fitting town for Coaltown Blues performance. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Missing tramper spends night in the rain
The man spent a cold, wet night in the bush after getting lost in bad weather.

Official figures: Just how wet was April?
Whangaparaoa was drenched with nearly five times its normal April rainfall, figures show.