Stories by Lois Williams

Anyone who thinks the Buller District Council supports an end to coal mining should read the full submission to the Climate Change Commission, says John Bougen.

Residential development in Greymouth's commercial area could kickstart the revival of the town's down-at-heel CBD, according to experts working on a new district plan for the West Coast.

Kaikōura is better placed than most districts when it comes to the cost of renewing old pipes and roads - largely because of the 2016 earthquake, a council report says.

The government's RMA reforms have forced West Coast councils working on a combined district plan to speed up their process and finish a year early.

West Coast District Health Board chairperson Rick Barker says he intends to personally review the board's real estate portfolio, with a view to rationalising it.

Poutini Ngāi Tahu has settled its legal action against West Coast Regional Council over the mapping of Māori land as protected wetland.

A challenge to pay a living wage and lift the earnings of its lowest-paid staff has been issued to the West Coast District Health Board by the chairman of its board.

Sea Spurge is a tough European succulent that first invaded New Zealand shores in 2012 and is now starting to crop up on beaches around the country.

West Coast Regional Council has been accused of causing coastal erosion by allowing big companies to take too much gravel from riverbeds.

A Maruia farmer is threatening to burn off 80ha of native bush on his property and turn it into pasture in a bid to raise its value and save his farm.

A Kaikōura woman is asking the council to urgently reconsider the idea of creating a Māori ward.

Australian miner Oceana Gold has come in for plaudits from the Department of Conservation for its restoration work at the former Globe Progress goldmine near Reefton.

A Kaikōura man is challenging the council to take action over the growing number of illegal signs and hoardings "cluttering" the town and the district.

The annual budget for work on the West Coast's new district plan is heading for the $1 million mark, and the project will cost ratepayers at least $2.6 million over the next three years.

Tourist attractions or industrial sites? The future rules for West Coast ports have come under close scrutiny this week from the Tai o Poutini Plan Committee.

A proposal that councils should deal with iwi other than Poutini Ngāi Tahu over historic sites and wahi tapu has been rejected.

The West Coast may have the cleanest rivers in the country but a six-monthly review has shown the regional council is struggling to meet some of the goals it has set in relation to freshwater.

About 150 properties in Buller have been affected by a council error that wrongly classified them - and saw some facing potential rate increases of up to 300 percent.

The National Bowel Screening programme is coming to the West Coast with free tests for people aged 60 to 74.

Summer has seen no let-up in the number of dodgy environmental deeds investigated by West Coast Regional Council.

Buller Mayor Jamie Cleine today reassured Reefton residents facing huge rate hikes that any errors in their estimated bills will be fixed.

Some property owners in Reefton are in for whopping rate increases of more than 200 percent if the Buller District Council adopts a proposed new rating formula.

National Party list MP Maureen Pugh says the Franz Josef community is in desperate need of the $24m project to shore up the floodwalls around local village.

Westland Mayor Bruce Smith is rejecting a claim by the region's MP Damien O'Connor that there is no long-term plan for the future of Franz Josef township.

Government officials have put the brakes on the $24 million project to shore up the floodwalls around Franz Josef Glacier village and build a new bridge over the wild Waiho (Waiau) River.