Next week's 50th anniversary of the Strongman Mine disaster may be the last opportunity for many to remember the 1967 tragedy.

The Kaikoura earthquake badly hit tourism spending in the region but national figures are brighter.

A 58-year-old Dillmanstown man recently sentenced to home detention for drink-driving was arrested in Kumara early today after he cut off his electronic monitoring belt.

The now former police sergeant ordered another officer to fire a Taser in a 'flagrant abuse of his power' and he was also convicted for careless driving in 2014.

Police should not have twice Tasered a drunk West Coast man, authority rules.

Free tourist access to attractions like Punakaiki's Pancake Rocks and the Cape Foulwind seal colony is too costly for ratepayers, says Buller Mayor Garry Howard.

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.

The Franz Josef Glacier heliport is among the busiest in the country with up to one helicopter movement every minute at the peak of season.

Kiwis cautioned after brazen robbery in Bali leaves West Coast woman without passport, travel documents, phone and money cards.

Well-known director and actor Ian Mune has joined the Pike River families on their picket line.

Hundreds of tourists are milling around downtown Greymouth at weekends and evenings.

The West Coast has held on to its dubious record as the wettest place in New Zealand, albeit in the Southern Alps.

Motorists travelling between the West Coast and Canterbury today were urged to go through Lewis Pass after an early morning fire at

A director of the West Coast water export company - which finds itself at the centre of a public maelstrom 25 years after resource

Three people were injured, one critically, in a two-car collision late yesterday near Lyell, reducing State Highway 6 through the

Victim was allegedly struck around the side of the head with a heavy drinking vessel after argument between friends.

Alpine Pure last year renewed its consents with the West Coast Regional Council, and has applied to do the same with the Westland District Council.

My observant husband spotted the American actor Harvey Keitel in the crowd at an outdoor opera event.

Controversial pipeline would carry water under land and the seabed, pumped into ocean tankers.

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.

We're looking back on some of our favourite big reads from TimeOut this year. Today, we revisit Chris Schulz' story on the women of Gloriavale.

New alcohol rules imposed on the Kumara Nuggets race meeting on January 14 have resulted in a sting in the tail for punters.

A laser light was pointed at a trans-Tasman jet flying over Greymouth last evening.

DoC says there is significant arsenic, mercury and cyanide contamination of the soil at the Alexander River mine site.

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

A weak cold front will bring cloud, drizzle and showers to the country over the next few days but should clear in time for New Year celebrations.

Bridget McMenamin worked on the Lisa Blakie murder inquiry. She has launched a Facebook page to investigate the 2000 case again.

Hokitika will see out one of its wettest years in 150 years of records, with the equivalent of two months of additional rain.

A 77-year-old man suffered suspected fractured ribs when he was knocked off his push bike in Kilgour Road, Greymouth, this morning.

Police officers found a gun in the car of a man making threats at Buller Hospital last night.