Methven Water Treatment Plant.

Suspected lightning strikes knocked out two water plants

Both Methven's water supply plant and Greater Greymouth’s water treatment plant were shut down on Thursday.

Fri, Oct 24

The West Coast is cut off following closures on State Highways due to damage from the severe weather.

Greymouth running out of water after weather damages treatment plant

Grey District Council is urging people to keep the taps turned off while engineers try frantically to fix the fault.

Thu, Oct 23

A downed powerline in Canterbury.

Over 6000 without power as winds lash Canterbury

It comes after thousands of households across the South Island were left without power this morning.

Thu, Oct 23

A survey last year asked people what was important to them on West Coast conservation lands and waters.

West Coast conservation plan paused amid uncertainty

Long-awaited strategy officially on hold – pending new laws controlling what can and can’t be done on public conservation land.

Wed, Oct 22

A truck-trailer rolled in high winds in the Mackenzie District.

Flights cancelled, power outages as severe gales lash South Island

Severe weather strikes the South Island and part of the lower North Island, in what MetService calls a precursor to a "potentially more impactful" system later this week.

Mon, Oct 20

Heavy rain was forecast for regions including Fiordland, Otago, Westland, Canterbury, Buller, Tasman, and parts of Marlborough.

Heavy rain, severe gales to hit South and lower North Island

MetService has issued some orange-level weather warnings for the coming week as a humid northwest flow moves across the country.

Sun, Oct 19

Invercargill City Council has a close race on its hands for the final seats.

What happens if votes are tied in local elections?

Westland’s mayoral race is separated by just four votes.

Tue, Oct 14

The races in the Westland and Kaipara Districts were both down to single-digit margins.

Single-digit margins leave mayoral hopefuls in suspense

Special votes could swing razor-thin races in Westland and Kaipara, where just a handful of ballots separate leading candidates.

Mon, Oct 13

Businesswoman Jacquie Grant is 64 votes ahead in Westland's mayoral contest. (Source: Facebook)

Westland District could get NZ's oldest and second transgender mayor

Hokitika businesswoman Jacquie Grant, 82, leads the tight mayoral race, but only by 64 votes, against incumbent Helen Lash.

Sun, Oct 12

Flooding in the Grey District on Friday.

More heavy rain on way on West Coast but relief for Grey District

More heavy rain is set to fall on the West Coast of the South Island after flooding and slips shut key routes in Grey District and Buller.

Sat, Oct 11

A swollen Lees Stream pictured in Grey this afternoon.

Emergency operations centre activated on West Coast amid slips, flooding

Grey District Council said an emergency operations centre had been activated, and warned people to stay out of floodwaters as river levels rise in the area.

Fri, Oct 10

Gloriavale

'Serious concerns': Gloriavale school told it could lose its registration

It comes amid concerns the school is not meeting its obligation to provide a physically and emotionally safe environment for students.

Thu, Oct 9

Alexzander Sutherland-Hunt.

Three-year-old dies of sepsis after several mistakes at hospital

Alexzander Sutherland-Hunt’s parents told the HDC they'd had to relive the trauma, from which they would never recover, and that "no words can mend the deep wounds" they carry.

Mon, Oct 6

Police at the scene on Chapel St on Tuesday.

Greymouth homicide: Teen charged with murder of Donald Baikie

Police were called to a property on Chapel St in Greymouth at around 12.15pm on Tuesday where they found Baikie dead on arrival.

Sat, Oct 4

Police at the scene on Chapel St on Tuesday.

Homicide probe launched in Greymouth two days after man found dead

Police were called to a property on Chapel St in Greymouth at around 12.15pm on Tuesday, September 30 where they found a man dead.

Thu, Oct 2

September 2025
Spring snow forecast to disrupt South Island roads

Spring snow forecast to disrupt South Island roads

New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) urged motorists to take extra care and warned snow and ice could catch some drivers off-guard after a stretch of warmer weather.

Tue, Sep 30

The lightning strike, around 8.2 times more powerful than the average bolt, caused "extensive damage" to the radar tower.

West Coast weather radar out for 'extended period' after lightning strike

The force destroyed the radome, the weatherproof cover protecting the radar, and overwhelmed the site’s robust grounding systems.

Tue, Sep 23

State Highway 6 is closed between the Lower Buller Gorge and Punakaiki.

Slip closes West Coast highway, heavy downpours for lower North

MetService said a slow-moving front over central New Zealand was forecast to gradually shift eastward tomorrow, while another weather system approaches from the south, moving northwards over Fiordland and Westland.

Mon, Sep 22

Weather warnings and watches in place for Saturday and Sunday.

Canterbury residents urged to prepare ahead of 'dangerous' winds

Civil Defense warned of destructive 150km/h gusts as severe weather threatens to batter much of the South Island and lower North.

Sat, Sep 20

A fire rips through Seaview Terraces in Hokitika.

Woman charged after blaze at former Hokitika mental health facility

Police said the woman lit a fire which destroyed the Seaview Hospital complex last month.

Fri, Sep 19

A MetService radar was struck by lightning near Hokitika yesterday.

Lightning strike causes 'significant damage' to radar tower near Hokitika

A team of technicians were sent to assess the site, and found the remote had been "significantly damaged" in a lightning strike.

Fri, Sep 19

A tree in strong wind.

Swathe of weather watches and warnings issued for the South Island

MetService meteorologist John Law said there would be more strong winds and heavy rain in store for the weekend.

Fri, Sep 19

An umbrella in the rain.

Watches upgraded to warnings as heavy rain, severe gales loom

Heavy rain and strong wind watches have been upgraded to warnings in multiple regions, including the Wairarapa, Tararua, and Buller areas.

Wed, Sep 17

Rainy weather (file image).

Heavy rain, severe gales to impact South Island, lower North

MetService has issued multiple orange warnings for heavy rain and strong winds, with weather watches also in place across several regions.

Tue, Sep 16

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones with his life-sized statue.

Statue bro? Shane Jones meets his match at West Coast camp

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones opened cabins to help accommodate an influx of goldmine workers, and was rewarded with a colourful life-size likeness of himself.

Fri, Sep 12