A key West Coast highway has reopened, weeks earlier than first expected. READ MORE:* West Coast highway closed by storm could be fixed by Friday* Road to Franz Josef partially open but more work to clear West Coast slips* Tourism business angered by comments about lengthy road closure* Massive slip blocking West Coast road could take six weeks to fixDevelopment West Coast regional tourism manager Jim Little called the NZTA workers and contractors "high viz heroes" for their efforts. Total visitor expenditure on the West Coast is more than $500m a year. "The West Coast is more than just scenery. Development West Coast chair Renee​ Rooney said the Government gave the organisation $280,000 for a marketing campaign to overcome the fall in visitors after the weather.

Source: Stuff December 19, 2019 19:10 UTC