West Coast Regional Council boss Darryl Lew is defending the council’s use of consultancy firms for resource consents, while also hitting back at criticisms made from Cr Allan Birchfield.

An historic deal to work together for the good of the West Coast is under review by iwi and the West Coast Regional Council. The Whakahono a Rohe agreement - sealed at Arahura marae in 2020 - was ...