West Coast

Pensioners squeezed by looming 50% rent jump in Reefton

Tenants face steep increases as Buller District Council shifts to market-aligned rents, forcing some to sell belongings and cut back on basics.

Wed, May 13

The Otututu/Rough River from the Atarau Rd bridge in Ikamatua.

Body recovered after tractor found overturned in West Coast river

Police said the upturned vehicle was located in the Ōtūtū/Rough River at Ikamatua about 10.45am.

Fri, May 8

1News meteorologist Dan Corbet says the wind and rain is far from over.

Flooding, outages, roads closed as rapidly deepening low spreads

Strong wind watches expand and heavy rain hits West Coast and upper South Island, with more disruption expected as system moves east.

Fri, May 8

Damaging winds and flooding rain are expected for the north and west of the South Island as well as the west of the North Island that is exposed to the south.

Weather warnings expand as 'rapidly deepening' low approaches NZ

Warnings extended into the North Island and deeper south as a rapidly intensifying storm system approaches, with damaging winds, flooding rain and more alerts likely.

Thu, May 7

Warnings loom as severe weather tracks toward West Coast

MetService has issued multiple warnings and watches for parts of the South Island, some of which begin later today.

Wed, May 6

Pensioners squeezed by looming 50% rent jump in Reefton

Tenants face steep increases as Buller District Council shifts to market-aligned rents, forcing some to sell belongings and cut back on basics.

Wed, May 13

Body recovered after tractor found overturned in West Coast river

Police said the upturned vehicle was located in the Ōtūtū/Rough River at Ikamatua about 10.45am.

Fri, May 8

Flooding, outages, roads closed as rapidly deepening low spreads

Strong wind watches expand and heavy rain hits West Coast and upper South Island, with more disruption expected as system moves east.

Fri, May 8

Weather warnings expand as 'rapidly deepening' low approaches NZ

Warnings extended into the North Island and deeper south as a rapidly intensifying storm system approaches, with damaging winds, flooding rain and more alerts likely.

Thu, May 7

Warnings loom as severe weather tracks toward West Coast

MetService has issued multiple warnings and watches for parts of the South Island, some of which begin later today.

Wed, May 6

Ministry letters to Gloriavale reveal 'multiple concerns'

The school exists to indoctrinate children, maintain a caste system and grow a workforce, new documents show.

Wed, May 6

Gloriavale man assaulted boys with brooms, pitchfork and shovel

Vigilant Standtrue was convicted of seven charges involving four boys aged as young as eight, assaulted with sticks, pipes and farm tools over more than a decade.

Tue, May 5

MetService has issued an orange-level heavy rain warning for the ranges of the Westland District from Wednesday evening into Thursday with up to 250mm expected to fall.

Heavy rain warnings issued as wet weather sweeps South Island's west

Up to 250mm of rain is forecast for parts of the West Coast from Wednesday, with further heavy rain, strong winds and large swells likely later in the week.

Tue, May 5

The NZTA has said bailey bridges will be stored in Christchurch.

West Coast left exposed as plea for emergency bridges refused

Local agencies strongly advocating for the return of Bailey bridge components to the West Coast after much of the South Island supply was taken north for road repairs.

Mon, May 4

Helicopter rotor on bright sunny day with blue skies.

Helicopter crashes at Haast Pass, one person seriously injured

Emergency responders received a 111 call at 3.45pm, with ambulance staff attending to a person before they were airlifted to Dunedin Hospital.

Mon, May 4

The unknown species tentatively identified as Potamilla alba was found in Jackson Bay. (Source: Supplied / West Coast Regional Council)

Mystery species tentatively identified after West Coast discovery

The species was first found at Banks Peninsula in 1951.

Fri, May 1

April 2026

Talley's confirms Westport fish processing factory to close

Chief executive officer Tony Hazlett said Talley's will consolidate its fish processing operations, and the last day for the Westport site will be Friday, May 15.

Thu, Apr 30

Some of the pounamu recovered by police.

A tonne of pounamu recovered in huge South Island bust, three arrests

"This quantity can only be described as commercial," police said about the recovered taonga.

Wed, Apr 22

A boat impacted by flooding at the Pauatahanui Stream.

Heavy rain triggers flash flooding, evacuations in parts of Wellington

More than two dozen homes have been evacuated and key state highways closed for a period as intense downpours overwhelmed parts of the region today.

Sat, Apr 18

Drenching downpour rain storm water is overflowing off the tile shingle roof.

Wet, windy storm to end school holidays as rain sweeps north

MetService warns a complex trough will bring heavy rain, strong winds and thunderstorms to parts of the country this weekend, with Saturday shaping as the wettest day.

Fri, Apr 17

March 2026