West Coast

DOC rangers have found the Okarito gecko, a lizard species last encountered decades ago, on the West Coast.

Hokitika township must start planning to move back from the coast, West Coast councillor Stuart Challenger says.

In 2017, a scientist advised removing a West Coast beachfront car park, saying it was making erosion worse. He was ignored, and then storms washed it away.

Climate change caused by human activity, sea-level rise and the need to prepare for it - it is all a load of hogwash, the chairman of the West Coast Regional Council says.

Westport locals are describing a dire shortage of rental properties in their town, despite dozens of vacant houses and more than 100 rooms listed on Airbnb.

Minister for Regional Economic Development Shane Jones has told West Coast councils that DOC stewardship land will be open for business if New Zealand First has any say in it after the election.

One West Coast mayor - Bruce Smith - says the alert level 3 restrictions are based on fear, not facts.

The West Coast Regional Council has reversed its controversial vote against a wetlands plan years in the making.

West Coast districts will eventually have one plan to rule them all - but they could still end up with very different rules for Airbnbs.

The West Coast Regional Council may borrow money to avoid a rate rise this year, its chief executive says.

We speak to former Speaker David Carter at home on his farm in Banks Peninsula and the Minister for Agriculture Damien O'Connor on his eight hectare lifestyle block in the Tasman district.

The West Coast Tai Poutini Conservation Board is bringing in a facilitator to help resolve a stand-off with its Māori members.

The Nature Heritage Fund's $6m budget needs a boost if it's to be used to buy up wetlands on private property, West Coast Regional Council's CEO says.

The West Coast will have its new base hospital finished next month and open by August, officials confirmed today.

Civil Defence is warning heavy rain, swells and strong winds are headed for the West Coast over the next 36 hours.

Local councils are trimming their budgets but stopping short of a rates freeze due to Covid-19.

Goldmining should be considered an essential service, West Coast Regional Council chairman and alluvial claim owner Allan Birchfield says.

An employment hub is being set up on the West Coast to help businesses and workers affected by the Covid-19 lock down.