West Coast

Volunteers spent about three hours searching bush near Westport last night after someone heard what sounded like distress calls.

A series of fronts are expected to bring rain to much of the country over the rest of the weekend.

A major police investigation into abuse at Gloriavale has identified more than 100 potential victims over four decades of alleged offending.

The West Coast mineral sands resource is "world class" with the potential to create about 300 jobs, Westland Mineral Sands managing director Ray Mudgway says.

Ratepayers effected by the blunder are being urged to pay something by 30 November to avoid penalties.

Te Anau-Manapouri Airport has been running at a loss since inception but the Southland District Council is hoping to see the airport financially viable and sustainable.

A woman who accused a man of raping her at Gloriavale was told there was no way she would ever marry. Audio

Jonathan Benjamin is charged with various sexual offences against children and young women.

Development West Coast (DWC) is investing $3 million in Westland Mineral Sands.

Westport's flooding disaster "could have been avoided" if funds had been available sooner to reduce the risk.

Evacuation plans for residents and visitors along the Waiho (Waiau) River at Franz Josef have been questioned by the Mayor of Westland.

The remote region is facing some major decisions in keeping the lights on and electricty affordable.

It's the same name, but new spelling for the West Coast tourism spot as the New Zealand Geographic Board proposes to correct a more than century-old typo.

There are 56 nesting pairs of kōtuku or white heron at Aotearoa's only breeding spot for the birds on the West Coast this year. Audio

Allan Birchfield says he is still fit to sit at the council table. In June he was charged with assaulting his brother with a weapon - a motor vehicle - but the charge has been dropped.

Production on the film, which will be directed by Rob Sarkies, has started in Māwhera Greymouth.

The Gloriavale religious community has been told by WorkSafe to make its workplaces safer.

The West Coast as a region may not be growing significantly but its population is changing.

The troubled Taylorville Resource Park site remains under the shadow of an investigation, although WorkSafe has returned the site to the operator - under notice.