The Government today appointed a crown manager to the polytechnic, citing a significant financial deficit and declining student numbers.

The very health and safety changes which the Pike River disaster prompted make re-entering the mine difficult, Prime Minister Bill English says.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has offered himself to be the first to re-enter the Pike River mine where 29 miners perished in 2010.

Prime Minister Bill English has agreed to meet with the Pike River families to discuss a new plan to re-enter the coal mine.

COMMENT: As the owner of Pike River the Govt have the ultimate responsibility, and safety comes first. As much as you want it to be different, blocking roads doesn't change that.

Families of the 29 men killed in the Pike River mining tragedy are standing their ground as they protest against a bid to seal off the mine permanently.

Solid Energy's attempts to seal Pike River mine will be met with a road block after the owners of the access road gave the victim's families legal control of the road.

After Jake Millar's dad died in the Fox Glacier plane crash, the 15-year-old wrote to Prime Minister John Key asking for his advice.

New Zealand whitebait are one of the few dining pleasures to escape the culinary assault of reality chefs.

Heritage New Zealand is working to have a decaying tree felled from the historic site of the Seddon family home, in Kumara.

A decision on whether the Department of Conservation will allow the Waitaha River power scheme will be made by mid-2017.

Reefton and Westport are worst hit on West Coast.

A Greymouth man wanted by police for breach of bail lost control of his vehicle at Taylorville late last night while trying to evade police.

Water supply levels in both Franz Josef and Fox Glacier are being monitored as the tourist season ramps up again.

West Coast Fish and Game have come to the aid of the Paringa Salmon Farm and cafe, which lost as many as 13,000 salmon after intruders tampered with the water supply.

A licence to fish for whitebait, much like the Fish and Game sports fishing licence, has been suggested as one way of managing the fishery.

Job losses have been blamed for falling property values in this area.

A pair of overdue Canterbury trampers had a lucky escape from predicted bad weather last evening after their delayed arrival at the

The Paparoa National Park Management Plan has been approved, paving the way for the creation of the Pike 29 great walk and mountain bike track.

An abandoned house at Runanga went up in smoke early today - the fourth building fire in the area in a month.

Owners of South Westland salmon farm have "no idea" why someone tampered with water supply, killing $20,000 worth of fish.

Fewer than half of councils have enough staff trained to respond to marine oil spills.

A blaze that destroyed an empty West Coast home is being treated as suspicious.

South Island police are investigating the incident that occurred at the Paringa Salmon Farm Café, South Westland.

The size of Westport's proposed integrated family health centre (IFHC) has been cut by 300sq m compared to previous plans - which were already carved to the bone.

An out-of-town beekeeper who parked up in Westport to eat his lunch yesterday afternoon left a trail of angry bees behind him.

Two landowners and Heritage New Zealand are opposing a water export facility being proposed for remote South Westland.

Submissions from all over New Zealand have poured in opposing Westpower's Waitaha River power scheme, forcing a four-day hearing in Hokitika next week.

Responsible visitors such as those travelling in certified self-contained motorhomes should "not have the door slammed in their face", says the NZ Motorcaravan Association.

The West Coast DHB says it's not responsible for ensuring its own birthing facility in Westport has enough midwives.