A Tokoeka, also known as the Southern Brown Kiwi, from the Haast region has surprised conservation workers with laying two eggs this season, which is uncommon for the species.Devon Collins from the West Coast Wildlife Centre, which helps to incubate and hatch Kiwis that are at risk to predators, said Tokoeka usually lay one egg per year due to the low food availability in the colder climate of the South Island. In comparison to the North Island Brown Kiwi, which can lay three to four eggs per a year.He said the centre received three Tokoeka eggs this season, including two from the same mother.Collins said the first egg from this mother was the second smallest Tokoeka they've ever successfully bred at the centre in 15 years, weighing 320 grams. Her second egg weighed 360 grams.While there are tens of thousands of Tokoeka on Stewart Island and in Fiordland, the Haast region has a much smaller population of around 400, said Collins."Every egg means a lot, every egg we can get our of hands on and get out of the hands of introduced predators, that would otherwise probably take that egg or that chick, is really important for us, so the difference between two and three eggs coming in per season is pretty massive," said Collins.Published by Permission

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardComments:No delays expected.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Becoming fine Tomorrow: Rain developing Sunday: Becoming fine Monday: Fine Tuesday: Fine

An Invercargill councillor has refused to apologise for words spoken during a tense public exchange this week.On Tuesday, elected members endured a 12 second wait for an apology from Ian Pottinger over a comment aimed at chair Alex Crackett during a committee meeting.But the six-term councillor could not be moved by the deafening silence, prompting Crackett to say she would take the matter up “offline”.Watch video here https://cdn.sanity.io/files/soyyp8a8/production/8f844f1fcaaf01e3029ccaf8611f864cf7f6c603.movCredit: Invercargill City Council. Caption: An Invercargill City Council meeting featured a tense 12 second stand off on Tuesday.The situation unravelled during discussion about a projects report when Pottinger criticised council spending on the town's historic clock.Crackett told Pottinger the matter was not up for discussion that afternoon, and debate would take place when the report came back.Pottinger then took exception to Crackett asking if he had a question.“Yeah I asked the question, were you listening?” he said.The comment drew disapproval from councillor Grant Dermody, who called for a point of order and apology from the councillor.“I think Mr Dermody, you just refrain and learn about council before making comments like that,” Pottinger retorted.Crackett told Pottinger she would appreciate an apology, leading to a standoff which was finally broken by Crackett saying the pair would talk “offline”.Both councillors have since confirmed to Local Democracy Reporting that an apology has not been made.Crackett said it was appropriate to keep discussion relevant and ask councillors to hold onto opinions until information was complete."As the chair, I was well in line to pull him up. Strong and robust debate is (a) really vital part of our democracy but it has to be conducted with professionalism and with respect."She indicated she might follow up on the matter, which would be handled through governance processes.Meanwhile, Pottinger was still unsure what he needed to apologise for.He pointed out Dermody could not raise a point of order because he was not a member of the committee — a detail which was confirmed by the council.It is not the first time Pottinger has caused a stir at a council meeting.In May, he irked councillor Darren Ludlow by saying he hadn't received the email that democracy was not in place that day.The incident followed a situation in March where he apologised for assuming the gender of mayors.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

The High Court has dismissed an environmental charity's claim that an emergency ban on set net fishing around Otago Peninsula didn't go far enough to protect hoiho.The Environmental Law Initiative (ELI) filed proceedings against Fisheries Minister Shane Jones last year, claiming the ban failed to protect hoiho from the risk of extinction.It said the closure should have encompassed the entire northern hoiho range, including North Otago, the Catlins, Stewart Island/Rakiura and Foveaux Strait.While the court recognised the severe risk facing northern hoiho, it found the temporary emergency closure lawful, as section 16 of the Fisheries Act gave the Minister significant discretion in establishing the parameters of an emergency closure.Hoiho, yellow-eyed penguins, are critically endangered. The northern hoiho population, which is found in and around Canterbury, Otago and Southland, has been in sharp decline in recent years.The court said hoiho were "priceless" and a taonga, and emphasised that their protection was essential, with the the minister required to take whatever measures are necessary to ensure the survival of the nothern hoiho population.ELI senior legal advisor Megan Cornforth-Camden said it was important to challenge the decision, given hoiho numbers were declining and little had been done to protect hoiho at sea."The judgement contains some of the strongest statements written by the courts about the sustainability provisions in the Fisheries Act and how they apply to threatened species, so although ELI were not successful on the grounds of the judicial review we were very pleased with the outcome."Hoiho numbers have fallen by around 80 percent since 2008, with fewer than 150 breeding pairs remaining. Several factors are responsible for this collapse, one of which is commercial set net fishing. Every year the birds become entangled in fishing nets while foraging for food.Jones initially closed the set net fishery around Otago Peninsula in September for three months, before announcing in December it had been extended for a further nine months, to September 2026, with the public to be consulted during the closure on long term protections.Justice David Boldt said the decision to implement an emergency ban was a precursor to a set of longer-term measures that would be far more important to the long-term future of the northern hoiho."It is difficult to escape the conclusion that ELI, in its haste to do whatever it can to protect the penguins, has challenged the wrong decision."However, the court found potential economic detriment to commercial fishers could never be a justification for allowing the decline of the population to continue.11"There is no dispute that the [Fisheries] Act's sustainability imperative extends to the need to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure the survival of the northern hoiho population."In practical terms, that means that if commercial fishing cannot occur in an environmentally sustainable manner - which in this context means in a way which ensures it poses no material risk to the survival of the northern hoiho - it cannot occur at all."Published by Permission

One international motor racing event has already been run and won at Teretonga Park in Invercargill this year but the Southland Sports Car Club are already looking to the next event featuring drivers from several different countries. The Ascot Park Hotel Classic SpeedFest will be held over the weekend of 21/22 February and one of the features will be the return of Formula Junior race cars as they commence their Formula Junior Platinum Jubilee World Tour at three meetings around the South Island in February, including the SpeedFest at Teretonga Park. Formula Junior race cars on their last visit to Teretonga Park in 2024 - Photo Dave Loudon.The international series of events celebrates the 70th anniversary of Formula Junior racing. Twelve international Formula Junior cars from the UK, Italy, USA and Australia are expected along with some kiwis and some illustrious names are among the entries. Other classes scheduled for the event are a diverse range such as Vintage Racing Cars, Classic Saloons, Sports & GT Cars, Racing Cars and the Noel McIntyre Drainage Club Saloons. The Ascot Park Hotel Classic SpeedFest is always one of the most popular events on the calendar at Teretonga Park each year and presale tickets are available now from E Hayes & Sons, Dee Street, Invercargill and Harrisons Supplies, Mersey Street in Gore. Presale tickets are just $40 for a weekend pass plus any applicable charges while at the gate they are $50. Day passes at the gate for either Saturday or Sunday are $30 per day. Children 14 & under are free throughout the event as long as they are accompanied by an adult.

Below is a list of programmed works on Southland state highways next week, and all known work on Southland state highways next week is mapped HERE.  Due to Waitangi Day, the team will be away on Friday and back on Monday 9th February. For any highway concerns during this time, please call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49). Key renewal sites in Southland currently underway/beginning next week:SH90 Waikaka Valley highway between Waikaka Road and Cunningham Road – Construction work will continue until late March. Delays of 5-10 minutes.SH96 Wreys Bush-Nightcaps highway between Wreys Bush-Mossburn Road and Lynch Road – one day’s work on Thursday 12th Feb only. Delays of 5-10 minutes.Upcoming renewal workSH99 Wallacetown – road renewal and culvert work – mid February/March *Possible SH99 road closure at Wallacetown – details will be confirmed next weekSH1 Waipahi Highway east of Pukerau – road renewal – late February/MarchSH6 North Road Waikiwi, Invercargill – road resurfacing – March/April  Highways South maintenance work:SH6 Winton-Lorneville highway near Thomsons Crossing Road, temporary traffic lights for resurfacingSH6 Athol-Five Rivers highway at Andrews Road, temporary traffic lights for resurfacingSH6 Athol-Five Rivers highway near Bixter Road, temporary traffic lights for resurfacingSH93 Old Coach Road between Cameron Road and Elliott Road, temporary traffic lights for pavement repairsSH93 Old Coach Road near Elliott Road, stop/go for vegetation clearingSH94 Waimea highway near Mandeville, temporary traffic lights for drainage workSH94 Lumsden-Riversdale highway between Riversdale and Longridge, temporary traffic lights for resurfacingSH98 Lorne Dacre Road between Mill Road North Lorneville roundabout, temporary traffic lights for pavement repairsSH99 Tuatapere-Orepuki and Orepuki-Riverton highway between Pahia and Waihoaka, temporary traffic lights for resurfacing Roadmarking (taking place under mobile traffic management)SH1 Bluff RoadSH1/6 Invercargill UrbanSH93 Mataura to Clinton SH96 Mataura to Ohai **Programmed work may be delayed due to weather/other factors. More information at:NZTA Journeys website - https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/journey-plannerFreight Impact Register - https://www.nzta.govt.nz/commercial-driving/trucks-and-tow-trucks/potential-restrictions-affecting-freight/ - download and filter the region for ‘Southland’. This will indicate any upcoming work in the next fortnight which have closures, detours or width restrictions for freight.

Detective Sergeant John Kean of Southland Police continues to search for Invercargill man, Kevin Belling, who was reported missing on Sunday 18 January.Kevin, 62, was last seen at his Motu Rimu farm on Friday 9 January and has not been heard from for nearly four weeks now.Police Search and Rescue and Land SAR teams have conducted extensive searches, and last Saturday focused on his Caeser Road property in Kapuka.The search involved foot search teams and a drone.Unfortunately, Kevin has not been found and Police continue to appeal for any information that could help us find him.Police urge the community to be vigilant and to check their rural properties for any sign of him.It is very unusual for Kevin to not be in contact with anyone for this long, and Police and his loved ones have serious concerns for his welfare.Anyone with information is urged to call 105 and reference file number 260118/6964.Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

Entertainment and Info with the Southland App – Where Southlanders Stay Connected!Looking for what’s happening around our region - or wanting to share something of your own? The Southland App is your one-stop destination for everything local, from major events to everyday community news.🎉 Events:An Evening of Play ReadingsMLT Moonshine TrailAustralia's Thunder From Down UnderSouthland A&P ShowRace Ride and Slide + Colour RunStay up to date with Southland’s biggest occasions - concerts, exhibitions, festivals, and more. Don’t miss out on the moments that bring our region together. Have an event to promote? Feature it here and reach thousands of locals.A taste of upcoming Events:📢 Public Notices:Find what’s happening closer to home - fundraisers, club meetings, school fairs, and community updates. It’s the perfect place to advertise your smaller events or share important local information.📲 Be Seen. Be Heard. Get Involved. Explore Events and Public Notices on the Southland App today - or advertise with us to make sure your message reaches every corner of Southland!💌 Want to advertise? We’d love to help spread the word for you. Email us at [email protected] to find out more.

Invercargill mayor Tom Campbell has called for a backup water supply to be prioritised as his city continues to make do with a single source.On Tuesday, Campbell told a water committee there was strong public feeling around establishing an emergency supply and said it should be done urgently."I think as we’ve seen in the last few years, the number of serious emergencies that have been happening in New Zealand has meant that the public have become very attuned to what could happen here,” he said.The fragility of Invercargill's reliance on a lone water source, the Ōreti River, is not a new problem.In August, a report prepared for a committee meeting detailed “catastrophic” consequences in the unlikely event of prolonged drought or contamination.Issues included threats to public health and safety, sanitation, fire risks, and economic stability.The report also noted just two days' worth of water could be stored in the city's network.On Tuesday, council senior manager Alistair Snow provided an update on aquifer options which had been investigated in Awarua since 2018, saying additional wells were being installed to further understand extent and capacity.Clues from the August report show the aquifer could likely draw 3 - 5 million litres per day — below the requirement of a full alternate supply.For context, Invercargill has been known to draw up to 35 million litres per day from the Ōreti River during peak summer conditions.The aquifer water was deemed to be high quality, however, and sufficient for meeting basic needs should the Ōreti source go down.During discussion, mayor Campbell said there was a lack of clarity around whether an emergency or additional water supply was being talked about, and also felt the matter should go back to council.Councillor Steve Broad said it was his understanding the council was pursuing an emergency supply ahead of making a decision about what increased investment would look like.In August, the infrastructure and projects committee decided against speeding up emergency supply work and bringing budgets forward.The Ōreti water intake was set-up in the 1950s after quality and capacity issues surfaced with the Queens Park bores which were constructed in the 1880s, the council said.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Waitangi Day, marking the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, will be commemorated across the south on Friday (6 Feb) with community and family focused events.Invercargill's Waitangi Day Festival will be centered around Esk Street where, from 11am, families can enjoy live music, cultural performances and of course a great selection of food.Celtic fusion rock band Highland Storm will entertain on the main stage with a lively array of upbeat anthems and rock favorites that are bound to get the blood pumping.There will also be performances from Ngā Taniwha o Murihiku and Cook Islands cultural group Te Vaka O te Uki Ou.Te Anau's Waitangi Day Festival will start at 11.30am in Lions Park with an opening ceremony including a Mihi Whakatau/welcome and kapa haka performance by Ngā Herenga Waka Kapa Haka.This will be followed by a hāngi, arts and crafts stalls, Dr Rock with Tāne Tamati, and an afternoon of storytelling, entertainment, games, weaving, a giant sandpit and waterslide.Other attractions in the tourist town over the weekend include a Mixed Media Art Exhibition in the old Westpac building - hosted by the Fiordland Arts Charitable Trust, an art display by Mararoa School at the Wapiti Bakery, and bilingual storytime and a collaborative art workshop at Te Anau's Library.

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardComments:Resurfacing works continue at the Homer Tunnel Tuesday and Wednesday, minimal delays expected - Please follow signage and directions.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Becoming fine Tomorrow: Fine Thursday: Showers developing Friday: Brief rain Saturday: Showers developing

The former owner of the luxury Fiordland Lodge near Te Anau is relieved a weekend fire did not completely destroy the building.Guests were evacuated when the fire broke out late on Saturday night, with crews from across Southland battling the blaze.Fire and Emergency investigators were examining the cause of the fire although it was not being treated as suspicious.Former owner Robynne Peacock and her late husband Ron, built the lodge in 2002 and ran the luxury accommodation for years until Peacock and her business partners sold it late last year.Peacock arrived at the lodge on Sunday afternoon where a fire inspector showed her the damage.The lodge was still intact despite part of the roof collapsing. Photo: SuppliedShe said most of the building was intact, despite part of the roof collapsing and damage to the kitchen and conference room, where the fire was believed to have started."I did not want to see it burning," she said."It all looks quite fixable and some of the lodge hasn't been touched at all so we were pleasantly surprised and thrilled to see it's not catastrophic."The fire inspector assured us that the structural integrity of the building was good in most areas."Peacock said it was a terrible blow for the new owners and she wished them well as they recovered from the fire.Owner Vicki Onions previously confirmed no one was injured but all guests were moved to local hotels in Te Anau as a safety measure.She was grateful for the swift response and support of emergency services, Onions said.A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said the fire had badly damaged the building."However, firefighters were able to contain the fire which prevented some of the structure from being destroyed," they said.Published by permission

A good meal can make a big difference to how you feel, and a new partnership between Gore Health and local social enterprise Koha Kai is taking that impact even further by changing lives.Koha Kai is now providing both the Meals on Wheels and in-patient meals for Gore Health.Koha Kai founder and CEO Janice Lee said the change came about when Koha Kai were looking to diversify after news came they would be finishing their lunches in schools contract.Knowing they needed to diversify, Koha Kai general manager Sammi Lee emailed every organisation she could think of, and heard back from Gore Health within days.Gore Health CEO Karl Metzler said meals were of a similar cost but of wonderful quality, with people offered a choice of three meals.Koha Kai also shared similar values with Gore Health, making it an easy decision to make, he said.“We spend quite a bit on food every month, so we're delighted to be working alongside a social enterprise with a strong focus on supporting people,” he said.Koha Kai is work closely with Gore Health’s nutritionist, making sure the food available is able to be enjoyed by everyone no matter their dietary needs.“We’re getting lovely messages coming through to us from the Meals on Wheels,” Janice said. “One lady was so pleased with her Meals on Wheels because, being a coeliac, it had been the first time in three years that she had tasted gravy, and to have that gravy was just divine.“A lot of our elderly say they aren’t hungry but when they start eating the meals they end up finishing the lot,” she said.Karl said demand for Meals on Wheels referrals was increasing daily, and even he and his wife had bought some to have at home.“They are delicious, they’re just like mumma’s homemade meals.”Gore Health Ltd incorporates a hospital offering a range of public and private integrated services, including 20 inpatient beds, a 24/7 Emergency Department, maternity services, Gore Health Centre GP practice, dental clinic, specialist outpatient clinics, Allied and Community Health services, MoleMap, lab, radiology, and Mobile Surgical Services.

Southland households with solar panels will soon be able to export more electricity back to the grid, following PowerNet's decision to increase their limit from 5kW to 10kW.The announcement brings Southland into line with Otago's Aurora Energy who increased their limit to 10kW in August 2025.PowerNet Chief Executive Paul Blue said the increase was in response to customer demand and would enabling more power to be exported into the network which would also generate income for the householder.The decision also fit with the company’s long-term goal of a future-ready network, he said.PowerNet has undertaken extensive work to understand any risk this increase in capacity will have on the wider network and, while the 10kW limit won’t be available to every household, there should be widespread coverage, he said.“There will be some cases where large numbers of customers in one area all want to increase their limit and, depending on the specific circumstances of their connection and the infrastructure supporting it, that may not be possible.”Blue said PowerNet has a work programme that is committed to exploring new and emerging technologies and how these can benefit our customers and communities.“Solar generation is a big part of this, and these changes could make solar power a more economic option for people, enabling more power to be exported into the network and generating income for the householder.”World Solar owner Doon Morrell said people were using more power now and he expected PowerNet's decision would see households futureproofing themselves by installing more solar panels and bigger inverters.People may also start shopping around more for the best buyback rate, he said.New applications from households who wish to have an export limit between 5-10kW and from customers who already have a 5kW limit, and wish to have the new 10kW limit, will be accepted from 16 March 2026.CLICK HERE for more details.

Improvements to the health of Southland’s "resilient" Waituna Lagoon have been tentatively welcomed by DOC’s top science advisor.Results from an annual survey have exceeded the department’s expectations, revealing a decrease in algae and higher levels of aquatic plant Ruppia.The treasured wetland is home to a plethora of native birds, fish and plants, but has been plagued by algae blooms and deteriorating water quality in recent years.Waituna Lagoon forms part of the much larger Awarua-Waituna Wetlands, a 20,000 hectare area. Credit: Living Water.DOC principal science advisor Hugh Robertson told Local Democracy Reporting he was feeling “positive, but always cautious”.“This is a system where we really have to keep an eye on the water quality as well as water levels … for a number of years ahead of us,” Robertson said.“The system is vulnerable each summer to whatever conditions are present.”Located about 40 minutes southeast of Invercargill, Waituna Lagoon's management has proven contentious over the years.Surrounded by farmland, it is prone to high nutrient levels which have led to toxic algal blooms and manual openings to adjacent Toetoes Bay.A 20-year consent was granted in October 2025 to DOC, Te Rūnanga o Awarua and Environment Southland for opening the lagoon based on a variety of triggers; it has been appealed by Federated Farmers who feel the required level will compromise farms.A Ruppia sample from the Waituna Lagoon. Credit: DOC/Supplied.Robertson explained the balance at play with the lagoon — if it stayed open the whole time, the system would change with water levels dropping and salt content increasing, making it harder for plants to grow.But opening it also had the benefit of flushing out nutrients.“So in an ideal world, if nutrient levels coming into this lagoon were much lower, [we] probably wouldn’t need to open it that often. Apart from when there’s concerns around flooding and other things like that.”Robertson said the current lagoon level was 1.4 metres, which meant more water and habitat for plants to thrive.Although many of the country’s coastal lagoons were in quite poor condition, Waituna had remained “fairly resilient”, he said.The lagoon was last opened to the sea in September 2024 and closed in April 2025.DOC’s annual survey was undertaken across 47 sites at the lagoon and showed low levels of algae.Ruppia was present at 80 percent of monitoring sites compared to 36 percent last year, and stonewort had jumped from 7 percent to 54 percent.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Road users are asked to take extra care on busy South Island state highways leading into the long holiday weekend, which will be swelled by thousands travelling for an event billed as the largest motorcycle event in the Southern Hemisphere. The Burt Munro Challenge from February 4-8 in Southland will be a hot destination for motorcyclists and enthusiasts, adding to traffic for other events and the usual holiday travel for Waitangi Day weekend around the South Island. New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and its contractors will be monitoring and ready to respond to any incidents. “Long holiday weekends always mean more traffic on the state highways and greater potential for crashes,” says NZTA journey manager for Otago and Southland, Nicole Felts. “Having a much larger than usual number of motorcyclists travelling adds another dimension of risk, given they are amongst the most vulnerable road users.”  Due to the limits of protection, motorcycle and moped riders have a higher risk of death or injury than drivers of other vehicles, however there are simple steps motorcyclists can take to help keep themselves safe. MetService has heavy rain or strong wind watches for parts of the South Island through until tomorrow but says there is otherwise minimal risk of severe weather leading into the long weekend. “Whether you are a motorcyclist or operating some other type of vehicle, people can stack the odds in their favour by ensuring the basics – keeping to the speed limit, avoiding drinking and driving, being well-rested, driving to the conditions, and showing patience and respect towards other road users,” Miss Felts says. Pause for most roadworks for long weekend NZTA acting system manager for the Central South Island, Scott McKenzie, says road users travelling on state highways should be aware there are various roadworks underway this week and next, that may mean delays. Most work will pause over the long weekend itself and is weather dependent, but some traffic management may remain in place and less invasive work is likely to commence during or at the completion of the weekend. “The delays can add up to a make a noticeable difference on a long journey, so we do encourage people to give themselves plenty of time to get to and from their destinations. This helps to avoid frustrations building,” Mr McKenzie says. “We appreciate peoples’ patience and understanding as we make the most of the summer months to get important roading maintenance done to keep our state highways up to standard.” Chinese New Year traffic increase Beyond the Waitangi Day holiday weekend, South Island highways are also expected to have increased traffic volumes around the time of the Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) from 17 February. Airports and tourism operators are expecting a leap in Chinese visitors travelling for the two weeks of holidays and festivities. “Again, we want road users to just be aware of the potential for busier roads, especially leading in and out of popular tourist destinations such as Queenstown, Milford Sound and Lake Tekapo,” Miss Felts says.    “It may mean more visitors who are driving and not as familiar with New Zealand roads, so again we ask people to take care and show patience.’’         Stay up to date on roadworks and potential delays at our Journey Planner site.

Tourism is a significant part of Southland’s economy, leveraging the region’s natural attractions and famous southern hospitality. And while our two national parks and five Great Walks are incredible attractions, the growing range of Southland events is also becoming important in encouraging visitors South.The 38th annual Edendale Crank Up Day, which I enjoyed attending at the weekend, the recent successful Tour of Southland, the up-coming Burt Munro Challenge and the Waimumu Field Days, are all events which attract visitors here and promote positive economic growth.During the busy summer months there are approximately 340,000 passengers through Invercargill Airport and 40,000 visitors to Stewart Island - and in 2025 this region hosted 153 major events of 500-plus people.The Government is aware of the importance of encouraging visitors to the regions and we have established the Regional Events Promotion fund to stimulate that domestic tourism.More visitors help raise local accommodation occupancy rates, support food and hospitality venues, promote spending at businesses, and maintain essential jobs.Several local events have recently benefitted from over $90,000 in Government, including last month’s Ascot Park Hotel Teretonga Park International ($20,000), this week’s Burt Munro Challenge ($16,000) and the Shepherdess Muster 2026 at Tokonui in early March ($22,000).In May, the ever-popular Tussock Country – NZ Country Music Festival 2026 will also receive $30,000 for promotional and marketing activities from Government.This comes on top of $79,000 in Regional Events Promotion funding, last year supporting seven Southern events, including the George Begg Festival.We all know that we live in one of the best parts of the world – now thanks to Government support, more people will also get to hear about Southland and the wonderful events that we have to offer. Funded by Parliamentary Services

There has been a major structural fire at the luxury log-cabin-styled Fiordland Lodge overnight.Emergency services were first alerted to the fire, near Te Anau, at 11.16pm yesterday (31 Jan).The Southern Fire and Emergency NZ shift manager said when they arrived, the fire - which had been reported as a kitchen fire - was well involved. FENZ Rural Fire tankers ferry water to the Fiordland Lodge fire. Photo: Southland AppCrews initially had concerns that people were still in the building, but that turned out to not be the case.The fire was quickly elevated to '3rd alarm' with crews from Te Anau, Manapouri, Mossburn, Blackmount, Lumsden, Balfour and Invercargill brought in and working at the scene throughout the night.Smoke and water is seen billowing over Fiordland Lodge early this morning. Photo: Southland AppBy 8am this morning there were still 8 fire appliances, 5 tanker, 2 support vehicles and 1 aerial appliance from Invercargill at the fire."They have made good progress with the fire in containing it - at the seat of the fire - and saving the remainder of the building," the shift manager said.The manager said they would now start scaling back the operation, with relief crews from Winton, Otautau and Invercargill, and 3 fire appliances, two pumps and two tankers, remaining on site for most of the day to make sure there are no hot spots and ensuring that the fire was definitely well out.Radio NZ have reported lodge owner Vicki Onions as saying that all guests were uninjured and had now been moved to local Te Anau hotels. She was also reported as saying it was too early to determine the cause or the extent of the damage, but that she was grateful for the swift response from emergency services.Fiordland Lodge following a devastating fire that reportedly started in the kitchen. Photo: SuppliedThe 10-suite, rustic-style mountain lodge with its three massive stone fireplaces, five-star restaurant and bar overlooking Lake Te Anau’s South Arm, is mostly booked out from October to April with mainly overseas guests.Located about 5km from Te Anau, it was opened in 2002 and has since hosted an impressive array of high-end guests, from Hollywood icons to A-list celebrities.Fiordland LodgeIt has been favoured by higher profile clients seeking an exclusive retreat when visiting the area and is also a popular wedding venue.Built and established by Ron and Robynne Peacock, the property and business were sold last year to Australian company Imperium Collection (which owns the plush Eichardt’s Hotel, The Spire, and Pacific Gem in Queenstown), and Queenstown hospitality entrepreneur Vicki Onions.READ MORE: From Logs to luxury, river stones to A-listers - the incredible rise of Fiordland Lodge

There has been 3 major Lotto wins in Southland tonight (31 Jan), with tickets in Invercargill, Te Anau and Southland each winning $19,526 from their second division win.The winning tickets were sold at Plaza SuperValue in Invercargill, Four Square Te Anau and online through MyLotto.Their second division win was shared with ten other players from throughout the country.Anyone who bought their ticket from any of the above stores is urged to check their ticket as soon as possible in-store, on MyLotto, or through the MyLotto App.