Westport News

The Westport News is an independently owned newspaper published in Westport, New Zealand. It has a print run of 2200 copies and a circulation of 1884 (2008 data).^[1] Its building also houses the studio of local radio network Coast FM.

Westport News began in the earliest days of European settlement in 1871, just ten years after the arrival of the first gold miners in 1861. The first European vessel known to have entered the river was the sealing schooner Three Brothers more than a decade later in 1884^[2] The region has moved on from its gold-mining days, but coal mining remains a major part of the Westport economy today alongside farming, fishing, cement making and tourism.^[3]

The current newspaper is published on weekdays with a combination of national and international wire articles, local news stories and specialist coverage of farming, education and the arts. It also features weather forecasts and a page on "health and home". It claims to serve a local community of 10 thousand people and an additional regional population of 20 thousand.^[4]

Coast FM

Coast FM broadcasts across the West Coast Region of the South Island in New Zealand. The station is based in the Westport News building and produces local content. Coast FM began in 1995 as Radio Fifeshire Westport in partnership with Fifeshire FM in Nelson, then in 1996 started broadcast in Hokitika and Greymouth. The station was rebranded as Coast FM in 1999.

Programmes include the Early Morning Wake up with Lisa Pattinson, the Late Late Breakfast Show (afternoons) with Dave Williamson, the Night Cafe with Jason Mac, The Night Zone (Fridays) with Danny Cockfield and Saturday Morning Sports Show with Barry Townrow.^[5]

Frequencies

References

External links

• Westport News
• Coast FM's website