Latest fromWest Coast

'Christmas cheer' payments for Pike families
Families of the men killed in the Pike River mine will be getting immediate financial relief to get them through Christmas.

Gas rises cause Pike River evacuation
Pike River Mine was evacuated this morning when gas levels rose sharply...

The white magic of Franz Josef Glacier
Glacier-walking's blend of beauty and adrenalin leaves Liz Light spellbound.

Pike River: Gas levels promising
Gas readings have been promising at the Pike River Coal mine since an Australian generator began pumping nitrogen into the mine yesterday to help cool the environment inside.

Pike police: Mine not receivers' yet
The Pike River mine will not be handed over to receivers while the operation to recover the bodies of the 29 workers continues, police say.

Dunne defends Greymouth IRD job cuts announcement
Peter Dunne has defended the timing of the announcement of eight job losses at the IRD in Greymouth.

Christmas at Pike River for families
Families of the 29 miners who died at Pike River Coal mine have been given a chance to spend Christmas near the bodies of their loved ones after police offered to take them to the mine on December 25.

Nitrogen machine arrives at Pike River
A 20-tonne nitrogen generator has arrived to aid the operation to recover 29 bodies from Pike River Coal mine.

Pike River receivers may not be able to claim full insurance
As a new machine arrives to help recovery efforts at Pike River, receivers say they may not be able to claim a full $100m insurance payout to reimburse creditors of Pike River Coal.

Goff joins calls for Govt to fund Pike recovery operation
Labour Leader Phil Goff has joined calls for the Government to fund the recovery of the bodies of 29 men trapped in the Pike River mine.

Grieving dad 'gutted' for workers
A grieving father and spokesman for families of the 29 men killed in the Pike River Coal mine says he's "gutted" for the Pike River workers made redundant after the company went into receivership.

Calls for opencast mine at Pike River
Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn is calling for Pike River to be made into an opencast coal mine, amid efforts to keep the 114 skilled miners made redundant today on the West Coast.

NRL: Warriors to star in West Coast charity match
The Warriors and Newcastle Knights will play a charity match in Greymouth to raise funds - and spirits - on the West Coast.

Attempt to cap Pike River mine delayed
Police hope to cap the vent shaft at Pike River mine tomorrow after weather conditions at the site prevented the operation from going ahead today.

Pike River miners set to lose jobs
The majority of miners remaining at Pike River Coal mine look set to lose their jobs, as officials today told workers they were going to proceed with redundancies three weeks after a series of explosions killed 29 workers inside the mine.