West Coast
Half of district's ratepayers received wrong bill from council
The West Coast Regional Council says an external review into the first instalment of rates bills has found that about half of them were incorrectly charged.
Council has fixed artificial lake that floods Chinese gardens - or has it?
An artificial lake that has flooded Ross Chinese Memorial Gardens has been fixed, according to one council - but another disagrees.
Council delays annual report following alleged money mismanagement
Its new chief executive says the council cannot finalise its annual report until a forensic audit of its Project Management Office is completed.
Tai Rāwhiti tops participation in annual ShakeOut drill
Tai Rāwhiti chalked up the highest participation rate in the country for the third year running during this year's annual earthquake and tsunami drill.
Buller mayor 'flying blind' over claims of financial mismanagement
The council is to commission a forensic audit following "serious allegations of mismanagement of funds".
Trees will be 'bowled over' to avoid new regulations - mayor
A "heinous" imposition of new rules has prompted fear they will push West Coast landowners to cut down trees to avoid the implications.
'Serious allegations' prompt forensic audit
A local council is commissioning a forensic audit following "serious allegations of mismanagement of funds".
Greymouth police station among several needing to be replaced - Police Association
A mould problem that could take weeks to fix has temporarily closed Greymouth police station to the public.
KiwiRail coal train trapped by slip in Buller Gorge
A slip has trapped a KiwiRail coal train in the West Coast's Buller Gorge.
Heaphy Track reopens, thousands already booked in
A small West Coast town is looking forward to the long-awaited reopening of the South Island's Heaphy Track. Audio
Noise, trucks, light pollution: Coastal community concerned about planned sand mine
The company behind a controversial sand mine at Cape Foulwind on the West Coast is now planning to establish another at Mananui, south of Hokitika. Last year, residents expressed their worry about the… Audio
Review of Westport preliminary flood protection design complete
West Coast Regional Council can move forward with preliminary flood protection design work for Westport.
Residents worry about impact of proposed mine site at Mananui
Westland Mineral Sands plans to mine 110 hectares at Mananui, near Lake Mahinepua, for ilmenite, garnet and gold.
Former allies Sue Grey and Liz Gunn in electorate turf war
The two fringe party leaders appear to be fighting a turf war over the West Coast-Tasman electorate.
West Coast council to chase overdue rates as it tackled debt problem
West Coast Regional Council staff have been directed to take action on a debt problem, including outstanding rates.
Argument breaks out at meeting of troubled West Coast council
Tensions boiled over between West Coast regional councillors today, when censured former chairperson Allan Birchfield tried to stay for a committee meeting.
'Not good enough': Council scrambles to find out how it sent incorrect rates bill
The West Coast Regional Council is scrambling to understand how it sent out wrongly calculated rates bills.
Council apologises over 'embarrassing' rates mistake
The West Coast Regional Council has been left with egg on its face in a "potential error" over the way its rates bills have been calculated.
Glacier retreat at Franz Josef changing shape of Waiho river - glaciologist
The rapid retreat of Franz Josef Glacier and the subsequent "huge" volume of riverbed material crawling down the Waiho Valley is a growing problem for the area.
Residents frustrated over Greymouth landfill’s foul odour and ‘wall of gravel’
Residents are demanding "accountability" over the Taylorville Resource Park landfill near Greymouth and its foul smell and "wall of gravel".
