Latest from West Coast

Quick-thinking locals help nab burglars
Reefton police say help from quick-thinking locals helped nab four burglars who smashed their way into the service station early today.

Leader 'is no man of God'
The woman who put Gloriavale cult leader Hopeful Christian in prison says he is no man of God and labelled him a “pervert”.

'No more hiding in shadows'
The woman who put Gloriavale Christian Community guru Hopeful Christian in prison for indecent assault has had her name suppression lifted so she can tell her story.

Weekend fatalities bring road toll to 134
Two people were killed on the roads in separate incidents during the weekend.

West Coast: An illuminating journey
A literary tour of the West Coast takes Bronwyn Sell on a journey that traverses brooding landscapes.

Pike River survivor awarded for bravery
Pike River Mine survivor Daniel Rockhouse says he was humbled to accept an award for bravery at an investiture ceremony at Government House this morning.

Farmer guilty of leaving cows to starve
A Rotomanu farmer who stood trial in March for his part in the starvation and death of nearly 800 cows has been found guilty.

Grim times for Coast as downsizing hits
The ramifications of a further 113 job losses at Stockton will reverberate right down the West Coast and all the way to the Port of Lyttelton, MP Damien O'Connor says.

Solid Energy did all it could to avoid job cuts: English
Solid Energy did all it could to avoid job cuts on the West Coast but the coal market made it too difficult, Bill English says.

Stockton mine job losses: 'A painful situation'
The West Coast mining industry has been dealt a heavy blow today, with 113 jobs to go at Solid Energy's Stockton mine.

Man acquitted over machete threat
A Westport man was acquitted in the Greymouth District Court yesterday of two charges of threatening grievous bodily harm and one of possessing a machete.

Gloriavale: Police hotline receives calls
A number of calls have been made to the police hotline number set up for former and current Gloriavale members.

West Coast miners prepare for big job losses
Job losses on the West Coast have been foreshadowed ahead of meeting between Solid Energy managers and workers at the Stockton Mine tomorrow.

Machete used in vigilante threat
A Westport man is alleged to have threatened to cut off a man's fingers with a machete in a vigilante-style in response to a rape claim.

Police set up Gloriavale phone hotline
A free phone line has been set up by police for people wanting to discuss experiences at the secretive Christian community Gloriavale.

Police pay 'a social visit' to Gloriavale
West Coast police area commander Inspector John Canning paid a courtesy visit to the Gloriavale Christian Community yesterday.

Gloriavale sells off rare grey parrot
Secretive Christian community Gloriavale appears to be adding to its coffers by selling a hand-reared African grey parrot on Trade Me.

Gloriavale: Police appeal to ex-members
At least one former Gloriavale member has approached police, and others are considering it, after police urged for ex-members to come forward.

Young boy's death investigated
Police have launched a full inquiry into the death of a 15-month-old Cobden boy after he was taken to Grey Base Hospital not breathing and suffering cardiac arrest.

Cave Creek disaster: Families commemorate victims
After 20 years, but family members of the 14 young people who died in the Cave Creek disaster marked the anniversary today by acknowledging that they were ready to move on.

Cave Creek disaster 20 years later
Virginia Pawsey says today will be a day to remember her son, who died in the Cave Creek platform collapse, and reflect on the passage of time.

'Happy, simple' life at Gloriavale
"It's not a lifestyle I would choose. But in actually talking to a lot of the people that are there I couldn't help thinking, 'They have a happier and simpler life than I do.'

No debate on Gloriavale road closure
The Grey District Council has refused to enter into a public debate about a plan to close a road near the Gloriavale Christian Community, as the issue heads to the Environment Court.

Gloriavale assets: $36.6m
The secretive Gloriavale religious community owns assets worth $36.6 million, including a dairy farm, deer enterprise and an aircraft repair firm.

'Wrong relationship'
A young woman who left the secretive Gloriavale Christian Community told Campbell Live that she was the victim of a "wrong relationship" with an adult married man.

Gloriavale leaders close in
A professor who says Gloriavale tried converting him as a boy says the secretive community is feeling 'tremors' after the recent departure of several members.