A beginner's guide to the 'West Coast mess'GEORGE HEARD/Stuff.co.nz Flooding in Franz Josef on the West Coast in March 2016 caused $30 million worth of damage. Allegations of fraud, back-stabbing and blood-feuds in the Westland District Council in recent weeks seem like something only a brilliant fiction writer could have dreamed up. The Westland District Council is in charge of the southern part of the West Coast, from Hokitika down to Haast. For at least 15 years, the West Coast Regional Council, in charge of the whole West Coast environment, has been warning the Westland District Council that the Waiho River was threatening Franz. It was very much a changing of the guard when Pugh did not stand for re-election in 2013 to become National's MP for the West Coast.

Source: Stuff April 07, 2017 07:07 UTC