Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn is calling for Pike River to be made into an opencast coal mine, amid efforts to keep the 114 skilled miners made redundant today on the West Coast.

Tiritiri Matangi, a 75-minute ferry ride from central Auckland, is a brilliant conservation success story.

The second death in two years at a popular marine reserve has prompted calls for lifeguard patrols.

The slaughter of 23 seals on the Kaikoura coast last week has prompted debate on whether seals need to be culled in the area.

DOC says it is yet to receive any "concrete" information on who carried out the brutal clubbing to death of 23 fur seals near Kaikoura.

The wife of the hunter who killed school teacher Rosemary Ives has made an impassioned plea for the public not to judge him, but says he will accept a prison term if one is imposed.

There would be plenty of mana in customary marine title without the power to exclude the public from sacred sand.

The fatal shooting of Lower Hutt teacher Rosemary Ives was one of three dangerous night hunting incidents over Labour Weekend.

Anger is growing among hunters over the accidental shooting of a tramper as she was brushing her teeth.