Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardComments:Night works for tunnel & highway maintenance this week has been completed. No travel delays expected - Please drive with care.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Mainly fine. Tomorrow: Mainly fine. Sunday: Mainly fine. Monday: Mainly fine. A few morning showers south of Lake Gunn. Tuesday: Fine.

A community conservation effort is hoping to fund a new processing facility for wild deer in the deep south.Deer numbers have been exploding in Fiordland National Park following the decline of viable commercial and taxpayer-funded helicopter operations over many decades.The deer have been ravaging the bush and the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation hopes its planned abattoir in Te Anau will save precious bush and provide an outlet for culled deer.General manager Roy Sloan said hunting is costly and this initiative could support it by selling meat to the market.The Fiordland Project estimates that venison sales will help fund deer control operations in the National Park at a greater scale than is currently possible."It's a charitable trust; we're getting donations from various building companies around the country" Sloan said."Our goal is to raise $3 million to build this plant."The group of hunters and conservationists is confident funding can be secured.Sloan is thrilled with the level of support shown for the project so far, with $2 million raised.A number of tradies and professionals, including electricians and architects, have pledged their time to the project.Plans of the building, seen by RNZ, show areas for skinning and boning, packaging and processing, and a chiller."We know that it's costly to do deer recovery. We we know that the government can't afford it, and we know that DOC can't afford it," Sloan said.And while he admits it's a gamble, he said the risk of a community model might just pay off."What's the worst that can happen?' That in five years we fall over. 'But what's the best that can happen?' We could be still going and solve these problems."The Fiordland Wapiti Foundation also maintains a number of back-country huts in the area, including Fiordland National Park's oldest hut.How did wapiti become pests?wapiti are similar to red deer, but more pale and much larger and heavierThe first wapiti were introduced into New Zealand in 1873, primarily for huntingBy the 20th century, wild deer had spread throughout the forests, feeding on young trees, shrubs, ferns and ground cover plantsFrom the 1920s, the government employed cullers to control deer populationsIn 1966 the first live deer were captured from the wild by helicopterBy the 21st century, populations of wapiti and red deer have created major ecological problemsDeer remain a pest species, significantly impacting native ecosystemsPublished by Permission

There are “bigger fish to fry” than coming up with a name for the iconic salmon statue in Rakaia.While Gore’s trout statue has been given an official name, the Ashburton District Council’s community and open spaces group manager Toni Durham says there are no plans to get reeled into the naming game for Rakaia’s salmon.“We’re not considering a name for the salmon.“We currently have bigger fish to fry, in the form of our annual plan and Government reforms.”Gore's brown trout statue has been named Trevor by a popular vote after Gore District Council teamed up with local radio station Hokonui FM to find a name the famous fish.They sought name suggestions, and as has become customary in such competitions, Trouty McTroutface was floated but didn’t make the final cut for public voting.Trevor was the clear winner over the other contenders of Trixie, Scout, Gordon and Finn.Gore’s 9-metre-tall Trout was built first, constructed in 1989 by the Gore Lions Club to celebrate their 25th birthday.The Rakaia Salmon followed two years later in 1991, funded by the Rakaia Lions Club, and vested to the council around 2005.The 12-metre fibreglass salmon won’t be getting a name but just completed a $300,000 refurbishment by its original sculptor Phil Price.The salmon was only just back in place after a seven-week restoration when Greenpeace activists stuck cartoon-style crosses and added a speech bubble reading 'Fonterra killed my family'.Greenpeace claimed not to have used ladders or climbed the statue, but is believed to have used extending poles.The council had to wait for the ground to dry out for a contractor to bring in a cherry picker on Saturday to remove the eyes, after the word bubble had already dropped off, and inspect for any damage on the freshly completed paint job.“The cardboard and tape was removed from the eye, and tape was removed from the fin,” Durham said.“We are currently awaiting photos, but expect them to confirm that the cardboard and tape did not cause damage to the exterior of the salmon.”No damage will be a welcome relief, but the inspection will cost the ratepayers around $1000.“The invoice is for $998, plus GST. It has been coded as vandalism, and at this stage, ratepayers will fund it."We’re waiting on the outcome of the police investigation before considering how we can recoup our costs," Durham said.Police had no further update than that they were advised the statue “had been defaced” on February 15.“Police are investigating the matter and are following lines of enquiry to locate those responsible.”LDR is local body reporting funded by RNZ and NZ on Air.

Breeding and showing Jersey dairy cows has been in the DNA of Tuatapere’s Bennett family for three generations, ever since those girls with their lush, long eyelashes wooed in their grandfather, ‘Digger’ Bennett, who began showing them almost 80 years ago.Digger literally won hundreds of show ribbons in his day and it’s now grandson Jason’s turn, who began showing cows as a small child with his father, Neville, who sadly passed away on Invercargill A & P Show Day when Jason was nine.Neville was also a champion shower and one of Jason’s lasting memories was proudly watching his dad being presented with his Southland Otago Jersey Club Life Membership on his hospital bed at Southland Hospital.Grandad Digger was also a Life Member of the Jersey Club and the Waiau A & P Show and served 20 years on the NZ Jersey Council.Next year the Bennetts celebrate 80 years of involvement in the Waiau A & P Show.It’s always been a family affair and Jason’s mum Olive, now in her mid-80s, reluctantly received her Southland Otago Jersey Club Life Membership at the Waiau Show several weeks ago (14 February), renowned for decades of devotion behind the scenes where she likes to remain.Jason with his Grandad Digger. Photo: Supplied.Known in the local community as ‘Nana’, Olive’s legendary bacon and egg pie and chocolate fudge are must haves at the show where Jason says she’s been beavering away feeding judges and marshals from the kitchen for more than 60 years.“She’s had to step back a lot, but she was always helping feed calves and get the cows in for us until she was 80,” Jason says.“Mum’s never been keen on the spotlight, or being in the ring, just being in the shed getting the animals ready and providing home baking, sandwiches and cups of tea and coffee."4"She’s just that person.""She was always in the background getting the hard yards done.”Olive was overwhelmed with the special award at the recent show, which brought loud rounds of applause and cheers from the crowd, all her five kids, 11 grandchildren and six great grandchildren present.“There were tears coming down,” Jason says.“If anyone deserves an award it’s Mum. She’s such a kind, hardworking person – the rock of this family, and was always solely committed to Dad,” Jason says.Neville also played in the local Tuatapere dance band with the likes of Jimmy Kirkpatrick and Art Diack.Jason’s dad. Photo: Supplied.Olive’s reaction was typical: “Aww, I don’t need that!” But the community reckons she did.“I was shocked when they read this all out over the microphone,” she says.“We really dropped her in it,” Jason grins.Olive was presented with a beautiful pink rose in a pot and a Life Membership brooch.These days she assures her baking is reserved for show days with lolly cake, chocolate chippie and sultana biscuits also big winners.“I told them this year that’s the last year you’re getting it,” she chuckles.Bennetts, past and present, have long been a force to be reckoned with in the southern show ring, and Jason’s earliest memories are dressed in his official white jacket leading calves in the ring with Dad and Grandad.There have been hundreds more championship ribbons and awards since then with Jason specialising in the herdsperson section, judged on the presentation of the person and their animal.“Our kids do that now,” he says.Jason, at rear, with his family, sisters, front left, Alison, then from left, Linsey, Gayleen, mum Olive and Maxine. Photo: Supplied.Showing has become less of a thing with large corporates taking over Southland dairy farms.Sadly, A & P Shows are slowly dying, Jason says, but he’s hopeful that those family genetics will keep coming through.“People just want cows in the shed for milking and then back in the paddock and ready to milk now.”With robotics heading to the farm, it’s even more likely to lose popularity, he says.The Southland Otago Jersey Club does much of its showing on farm now sending judges to the various properties to check the animals.The Southland A & P Show is on next weekend (7 March) but there are no longer many animal classes judged at the Invercargill A & P Show, all done on farm, Jason says.Bennetts, including Jason and his four siblings - sister Linsey and her husband, their two daughters farming just down the road from Jason and wife Kaylene, with their five children, have won near on a thousand medals over the years.“We had to throw out hundreds of ribbons that were found in Grandad’s house, dating back to 1959 – champion bulls, calves, yearlings and cows,” Jason says.Digger wasn’t bad at growing Southland spuds either - a champion grower of Red Kings and King Edwards for some 50 years, Jason’s dad getting in on that too.“They sold seed spuds all the way to Outram. They were in demand.”Shows may be losing interest, but the Bennett family will be doing their best to keep showing alive.Jason and Kaylene recently received a special medal from the Winton A & P Association for their popular ‘Adopt A Calf’ programme that they run for local schoolkids.It’s all about giving the townies and those inexperienced on farms a taste of rural life, by adopting calves and teaching the kids how to care for and show them.“We run it annually through the Waiau Area School and Hauroko Valley Primary School, “Jason says.“The kids learn to feed a calf and look after it then take it to shows.""They’re each assigned a calf to care for nine weeks.""They come up to the farm one evening a week after school to groom it, feed it and teach it to walk in the ring. It’s a real opportunity for townie kids to experience rural life.""They get to know that milk doesn’t just come from the shop.”The youngest in the programme is a three-year-old boy and the oldest is 17.“The three-year-old just loves it.""We put two leads on the calf and he just loves it.""He has a smile that wide and always wants to see the tractors. He’s just a joy,” Jason says.“Both Kaylene and I have been farming since we were in nappies and we know how important it is to have that next generation of kids to come along and have a shot, giving them the right opportunity and the right know-how.”They also run workshops for older kids on the family farms, where various rural companies are represented to encourage young people into rural careers.“It’s all I’ve ever known and I’m very passionate about it. I’d like to see younger people give it a go,” Jason says.“I just love the Jerseys and dairy farming.""It’s a hard job, on stormy nights when you wish you had an office job, but on a nice, sunny day you couldn’t think of anything better.”

A Te Anau pharmacist will in early March travel to Bougainville, an autonomous region of Papua New Guinea, to begin a six‑to‑twelve‑month assignment with Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA).Prue Fraser has been selected as a Pharmacist Logistics Mentor and will be based in the township of Buin, at the southern end of Bougainville.She will work alongside the local pharmacist, Isaiah, supporting improvements in stock management, systems, and day‑to‑day operations.Fraser says the goal is to help build a pharmacy department that is “well‑run, adequately staffed, and reliably stocked,” ultimately improving access to medicines and health knowledge for the local community.Volunteering is not new to her.Over the years she has been involved with GirlGuiding, the Kepler Challenge crew, Marakura Yacht Club, and short‑term medical NGO work in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands.When Fraser saw VSA was seeking a pharmacist, she knew she had to apply.Her selection followed a detailed process including interviews, reference checks, police vetting and medical requirements.In December Fraser travelled to Wellington for a week‑long briefing, joining other volunteers preparing for Pacific placements.The health centre in Bougainville where Prue Fraser will be stationed for the next 6-12 months. Photo: SuppliedThe programme covered organisational policies, cultural considerations, and the range of vaccinations and health checks required before departure.VSA, founded more than 60 years ago, has shifted its focus over time.While earlier assignments often lasted two years and extended to Asia, Africa, and South America, the organisation now concentrates on the Pacific and Timor‑Leste, with placements ranging from several months to more than a year. Partner organisations include NGOs, government departments, and community groups.Around 150 New Zealanders head overseas with VSA each year.Funding is primarily supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, although volunteers are encouraged to contribute $1,000 towards their placement costs.Fraser said that outside of work she hoped to experience Bougainville’s wildlife — including its well‑known butterflies, birds and insects — and, as an experienced open-water swimmer, explore the region’s reputedly excellent snorkelling, "while avoiding the saltwater crocodiles.”Three other VSA volunteers would also be in the area, Fraser said, and her husband, Bruce, also planned to visit while she was there.Fraser, who also runs a popular Fiordland berry farm, said while it would continue while she was away, she expected this would probably be its last season "unless someone took it over."CLICK HERE if you would like to contribute to Prue Fraser's fundraising. Donations are tax deductible and a receipt is issued.

Police and the Ministry of Health are working together in response to growing concerns about the misuse of nitrous oxide, particularly when it is used by drivers.Nitrous oxide is also known by other names, including nangs, laughing gas, and nos.Police is increasingly concerned by the growing number of incidents involving drivers inhaling nitrous oxide and putting themselves, their passengers, and other road users at risk.Assistant Commissioner of Road Policing and District Support Tusha Penny says any substance that affects judgement, coordination, or consciousness can have deadly consequences when someone is behind the wheel.“Police is concerned with the immediate danger this is posing on the road,” says Assistant Commissioner Penny.“We are now seeing an increase in the use of nitrous oxide as a factor in a number of serious crashes, including some crashes where people have died.”While investigations into individual crashes continue, the risks are clear and grave: inhaling nitrous oxide can rapidly cause dizziness, confusion, and blackouts.“We appreciate where the public has called Police to report instances of people using nitrous oxide in vehicles.We have taken action in response to those calls, and they have helped prevent harm and likely saved lives.”Police is also engaging with retailers and reminding them that the sale of nitrous oxide is illegal for recreational use under the Psychoactive Substances Act.“We will be providing letters to retailers in areas where this is a known issue over the coming weeks to remind them of their obligations.”Police will take a graduated response to the unlawful supply of nitrous oxide, with a focus on engagement, education and encouragement, alongside enforcement where appropriate.“We will continue to work alongside our partner agencies, monitor the situation closely, and step up to enforcement if we need to,” Assistant Commissioner Penny says.The Ministry of Health’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Joe Bourne says that reports from Police of nitrous oxide misuse linked with driving are a particular concern.He says that nitrous oxide can cause significant harm when misused for recreational inhalation, and those harms are magnified when combined with driving. Mixing nitrous oxide with alcohol or other drugs can have unpredictable effects and increase the risk of harm. “Nitrous oxide may seem relatively harmless, but it can cause real damage. When it’s inhaled, the gas pushes oxygen out of your lungs and bloodstream, which can make you dizzy, cause you to black out, or even be life threatening in some cases,” says Dr Bourne. “It should go without saying, that dizzyness or blackouts while driving are extremely dangerous.”Inhaling nitrous oxide can also have long-term effects.“Separately we know that heavy, frequent, or chronic use can cause nerve damage, leading to, weakness, numbness, and long-term problems with movement or coordination,” says Dr Bourne.Dr Bourne says unfortunately health professionals are the ones who see the harms from drug misuse, and it’s important to raise awareness about them. He advises individuals to contact their health care provider if anyone has used these products and is concerned about their health. The Ministry will work with Health New Zealand to raise awareness of the harms caused to physical and mental health by the recreational use of nitrous oxide.If you’re concerned about your own drinking or drug taking, you can reach out to the Alcohol Drug Helpline on 0800 787 797, or text 8681.

Ngāi Tahu Seafood has decided not to fish for tio (Bluff oysters) again this year (2026), amidst ongoing concerns about the state and resilience of the Foveaux Strait beds.The fishery is collectively managed by the Bluff Oyster Management Company, which represents 18 quota holders, including Ngāi Tahu which owns around 20%.Ngāi Tahu Seafood's decision, supported by Awarua Rūnaka, is the second consecutive year the company has decided not to harvest tio.In a statement the company said they have observed a sustained decline in both the quantity and quality of tio available during recent seasons which resulted in early finishes in 2023 and 2024, and no harvesting in 2025.Ngāi Tahu Holdings Chief Executive, Todd Moyle said that given the condition of the fishery and the clear guidance from mana whenua, the decision not to fish tio this season was the right call."Our priority is supporting the long-term sustainability of the tio fishery and protecting it for future generation.”As mana whenua, Awarua whānau have observed many changes to the tio population over time.“Historical patterns and local mātauraka tell us that the recovery of tio beds takes time."Awarua Incorporated Society Chair, Pania Coote said the Bluff fishery had previously experienced periods of decline."Restoration requires sustained protection to allow natural regeneration and the rebuilding of resilient populations.”Ngāi Tahu said the causes of the current decline were complex with infectious disease, changing sea temperatures, increasingly severe weather events, and disruption to the ecosystem all contributing factors.While ongoing research continues to build an understanding of why tio are declining, mana whenua say these cumulative pressures reinforce the need for a precautionary, protection-first approach.Awarua Rūnaka Ltd Chair, Barry Bragg said the Rūnaka believed the priority had to be the long-term recovery and protection of the core tio beds that underpinned the future of the fishery.“We are encouraging the industry and regulators to carefully consider management approaches that reduce the pressure on key beds, including leaving primary beds undisturbed and, when harvesting resumes, potentially implementing shorter or more conservative seasons to support recovery.”Awarua Rūnaka is also actively exploring options to support the long-term recovery of the taonga tio.This includes a research partnership with the Cawthron Institute that, if successful, could lead to the establishment of a hatchery producing pathogen free juvenile tio to support the reseeding and restoration of wild stock and customary fishing areas.

Ageing tennis courts in a small Southland town are set for a spruce up, but not everybody in the community is happy about it.On Wednesday, Southland District Council approved unbudgeted expenditure allowing four tennis courts in Otautau to be re-asphalted.The courts have received minimal maintenance over the past 10 - 15 years and cracks were starting to appear, a council report said.From December to January, a community survey was undertaken to test the appetite for resurfacing, noting it would add an extra $6.62 annually onto rates.About two-thirds of the 59 respondents said yes, but others expressed their dismay at the project.“Absolutely not, I struggle enough without having to fund others sports,” one person said.“Not used enough. Put back into grass,” another wrote. Others highlighted pressure on ratepayers.The project had already been included in the council’s 2024 - 2034 long-term plan, where $61,200 plus GST was budgeted by way of a loan — funded by the $6.62 rates increase.Earlier this month, the Wallace Takitimu Community Board sought additional expenditure from a general reserve of up to $30,000 plus GST so work could proceed.Councillor Brian Somerville questioned the size of the survey response and wondered if alternative funding such as Lotto grants had been explored.Council community partnership leader Kelly Tagg said the response was on par with a previous survey for a playground, and noted the asset was council owned.She also explained the tennis and netball clubs were not incorporated societies which impacted the lottery route.Councillor Matt Wilson said it was his understanding Active Southland had done a stock take of recreational facilities throughout towns, and questioned potential duplication.Tagg said there was a tennis court at the primary school, but it was not the proper size.Support for the project included that the courts were an asset to the community and were needed for younger people.One survey respondent suggested a working bee and said they had a sprayer and broom they could use.Although there are eight tennis courts located at Otautau’s Holt Park extension, only half are set for resurfacing.The remaining four courts could be made available for children to ride their bikes, Tagg said.Refreshed courts are not the only project on Otautau's radar. Recently, the district council gave an update on a long-awaited camping ground for the small town.LDR is local body reporting funded by RNZ and NZ on Air.

A report has exposed increasing nitrate contamination in Southland's groundwater, sparking a call from Greenpeace for a nitrate emergency to be declared in the region.The Southland Regional Council report said approximately 15,000 Southlanders could be drinking water polluted by nitrates.It pointed to the intensification of dairy farming as a key cause of growing nitrate levels.The report said nitrate concentrations in groundwater frequently exceeded 3.5 mg/L and in some places exceeded the New Zealand drinking water standard of 11.3 mg/L.More than half of Southland's domestic drinking water supply wells were estimated to have nitrate concentrations above 3.5 mg/L.The Ministry of Health considers the current maximum acceptable value (MAV) for nitrate appropriate, although some public health experts argue the drinking water limit is too high and potentially puts people at risk of pre-term birth and bowel cancer.Greenpeace freshwater campaigner Will Appelbe said the findings were alarming."It's made clear what many of us have known for quite some time, that nitrate contamination is a real crisis in Southland and the main cause of that contamination is the intensive dairy industry," he said."At a bare minimum it's time that Environment Southland declared a nitrate emergency. Environment Canterbury declared one last year for very good reason, it's clear that Southland has a drinking water crisis on its hands and it's a result of nitrate contamination."The report said the region's dairy boom had coincided with a decline in water quality and the region's groundwater was vulnerable to contamination.Between 1990 and 2022, Southland's dairy herd increased by 1668 percent from 38,000 to 668,000 cows.Otago University research fellow Marnie Prickett said Southland needed to reduce its dairy herd, and she was also calling for an independent inquiry into the regional council's land-use rules."Southlanders need Environment Southland to chart a really robust path out of this. It can't be tinkering around the edges it has to be driving confidently forward about what they're going to do," she said.The report said 44 percent of domestic supply wells (612) and 45 percent of registered public drinking-water supplies (18) were located within areas classified as having "high vulnerability to nitrate contamination"."here may be approximately 1,530 people on private supplies and 13,632 on public groundwater supplies at risk of exposure to high concentrations of nitrate in drinking water," the report said.Environment Southland general manager science Karen Wilson said although the report did not present new data, it brought together a range of information to give an integrated view of groundwater quality, nitrate sources, and health risks."This science formed the basis of the Southland Water and Land Plan, which was accepted by the Environment Court. The plan was the first step in responding to Southland's groundwater nitrate challenges," she said.Federated Farmers Southland president Jason Herrick said declaring a nitrate emergency would be an overreaction and unhelpful."Nitrates aren't a new issue for Southlanders at all, and it's not just dairy, as a society and as a people we're all responsible for our challenges that we had. This is a long-standing challenge that the community have been aware of and working on for quite some time now," he said.The report said 71 percent of groundwater sites had shown increasing nitrate contamination over the past two decades.Hotspots included Balfour/Waimea Plains, Wendonside Terrace, Five Rivers/Castlerock, Edendale, Knapdale, Mabel Bush/Woodlands, Central Plains/Waimatuku, and Otahu Flat.Southland Regional Council freshwater principal scientist Ewen Rodway said the council was working to deal with the problem."We're continuing to monitor groundwater quality across the region, identifying these high-risk areas and using those to focus efforts such as focusing farm plans, and working with catchment groups to reduce nitrogen losses in those vulnerable areas," he said.Rodway said a decision about declaring a nitrate emergency sat with councillors.Published by Permission

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardComments:Tunnel & highway maintenance this week is ahead of schedule, with tonight (Thursday) being the final evening of work for this week. Expect up to 30-minute delays between 7pm & midnight, from the Divide to the Hollyford Turnoff. Please call 03 249 7004 with any queries.  Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Rain, heavy at times, clearing late morning. Tomorrow: Mainly fine. Saturday: Mainly fine. Sunday: Showers, mainly south of Lake Gunn, and fine spells. Monday: Mainly fine.

Antarctica New Zealand is on the hunt for 40 people willing to brave the sub-zero temperatures and work in one of the most remote places on Earth.The organisation is looking for everything from medics to chefs, electricians and engineers for its next summer and winter seasons at Scott Base.Antarctica NZ chief executive and scientific advisor Professor Jordy Hendrikx told Morning Report it's not necessary to have been to Antarctica."Basically, we are running a small town down there. We have to manage our own water, we have to manage our own power, manage our own sewage and also all the food and all the services will be provided to support science," he said."Any of those support roles are really critical for us to ensure that we can be successful with our mission down in Antarctica."Hendrikx said the majority of roles are for the 'summer season', which runs in Antarctica from September through to February. During summer in Antarctica, the sun doesn't set.About 12 staff stay all through winter until October, which is a 13-month season at Scott Base.The positions are in hot demand, as going to Antarctica, for many people, is a bucket-list opportunity.Hendrikx said successful applicants will have specific qualifications and a good, can-do attitude."We need that real can-do attitude and a willingness to be part of a family, and to work down there and to live down there as part of a really tight community," he said."It's more than a job."Published by Permission

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: Stay 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:The Rock OrchestraGuided Tour of St Mary's BasilicaTussock Country - New Zealand's Country Music Festival📢 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.

A warning has been made about protecting assets at an Invercargill park that was once considered the city’s finest.Located near the centre of town, the Ōtepuni Gardens stretches about 1km from Clyde St on the west to Elles Rd on the east.But a report prepared for a city council meeting on Tuesday raised concerns about how heritage vegetation would be managed at the park under an Environment Southland bylaw.Iwi groups and individuals with permits could harvest flax at the gardens, and records from the early 1990s highlighted the importance of indigenous planting at the site, the report said.“If vegetation management was to be directed on similar lines under this bylaw as has been undertaken in the Waihōpai and upper Ōtepuni area then what remains of this heritage asset will be either significantly impacted or completely lost.”A key consideration for the gardens — which contains floodbanks — is its dissection by the Ōtepuni Creek.Invercargill mayor Tom Campbell said the gardens were an important heritage site and pointed out flooding had happened there in the past.Having walked through on Monday, he noticed heavily vegetated areas and hoped it was being managed in a way which allowed for both flood protection and the gardens.Council manager parks and reserves Caroline Rain said the balance was correct.The council report noted better modeling was necessary to understand the implications of the creek flooding because it currently relied on old information for the Ōreti and Waihopai Rivers.Councillor Andrea de Vries was concerned about rubbish and pollution in the stream, and queried how Environment Southland reported back to the city council.Rain said council staff working in the area removed things when it was safe to do so, but normally did that work alongside Environment Southland staff.Discussion about the area followed Environment Southland seeking feedback on its proposed flood control and drainage management bylaw, which was last updated in 2020.Ōtepuni Creek is a tidal stretch of water which runs between Kennington in the east and the Waihopai River in the west.The council said the Ōtepuni Gardens was considered the city’s “premier park” prior to Queens Park.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardComments:Tunnel & highway maintenance scheduled for evenings between 7pm & midnight, continuing tonight (Wednesday) through to Friday 27th February. Expect up to 30-minute delays between Homer Tunnel & Donne River Bridge during these times. Please call 03 249 7004 with any queries.  Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Cloud increasing, rain developing later. Tomorrow: Rain, heavy at times, clearing late morning. Friday: Mainly fine. Saturday: Mainly fine. Sunday: Showers.

Specialist Point to point ‘average speed’ cameras are to be installed on State Highway 6 between Kingston and Five Rivers by June in a bid to slow speeding drivers, after NZTA says a survey showed 26% of drivers were speeding in this area.Police, the Rental Vehicle Association of NZ, Fire and Emergency NZ and Te Anau locals are all very concerned that there’s a serious accident waiting to happen between Queenstown and Milford, with Te Anau Police attending crashes, not all due to speed and mostly involving overseas drivers, every day.New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) Maintenance and Operations Regional Manager Peter Brown says these cameras will calculate an ‘average speed’ clocked by drivers along that stretch and they will be ticketed accordingly.“These cameras are proven to help change driver behaviour,” he says.Police say long lines of drivers also become impatient when unable to pass slow drivers unfamiliar with the roads safely in areas like the southern Devil’s Staircase and that frustration can cause accidents.Brown agrees that speed on the Queenstown to Milford route is “a serious issue” and “the single biggest risk to both road users and road workers”.A rental van makes its way to Fiordland's tourist gem, Milford Sound. Photo: Southland App“We strongly encourage people to allow sufficient time for the journey from Queenstown to Milford Sound, and to consider basing themselves in Te Anau, or travelling by bus,” Brown says.An Intersection Speed Zone (ISZ) is also proposed for the State Highway 6-State Highway 97 intersection at Five Rivers using electronic signs to automatically and temporarily lower the main highway speed limit when a vehicle is approaching or turning from a side road.“The proposed ISZ at Five Rivers would temporarily show an enforceable lower speed limit of 60km/h, compared to the usual 100km/h,” Brown says.This would make it easier and safer for people to pull into or out of State Highway 97 across a high-speed rural road, while avoiding unnecessary delays.Safety upgrades on the site already have included improved lighting and a right-turn bay.Earlier this year, it was confirmed that the speed limit on State Highway 94 between Homer Tunnel and Milford Sound would remain at 80km/h.Southland MP Joseph Mooney says he’s long been pushing for passing bays between Queenstown and Kingston and between Mossburn and Te Anau.Fiordland locals have too, amid serious concerns about the dangers being posed to all road users.They’re concerned there are no ‘Keep Left’ passing lanes or pull over bays between Queenstown and Milford.Te Anau's John Turner said he has been pushing for pull over or passing bays on the Queenstown to Milford Road for years. Photo: Southland AppResident John Turner’s been pushing for these for a number of years as part of a Mossburn Lions Project, fully supported by the local National Party branch, the Police, the Mossburn and Te Anau Fire Brigades, and the community.However, NZTA’s Brown says there are “currently no plans for the addition of passing lanes to the Queenstown-Milford route (SH6-SH97-SH94)” as these are “normally considered for roads with higher traffic volumes”.However, slow vehicle bays will be put forward for funding consideration for the next National Land Transport Programme (2027-30), he says.The Milford Road Alliance (NZTA-Downer) is also working with DOC to improve access to existing stopping points (way-stops) along the journey and investigating additional way-stops to assist traffic flow and ease congestion at Milford Sound itself, Brown says.Mooney says the bid for passing bays made it onto National’s campaign policy for the 2020 election “but other priorities around NZ had to receive funding ahead” due to things like weather events.“We will keep lobbying for NZTA and the Minister of Transport to make these available,” he says.Mooney says there seems to be no immediate answer to the problem and he’s open to hearing good ideas. Education when tourists collect their rental vehicles would seem like a good idea, he says.“If someone is not familiar with our road rules, driving on the left-hand side of the road, it would be good for them to get some information in a readily digestible way so they can understand the fundamental road rules.”Transport Minister Chris Bishop told Southland App recently “all foreign drivers should learn New Zealand’s road rules before driving”.“Most crashes involving overseas drivers happen for the same reasons as those involving locals; only a minority are due to not adapting to New Zealand conditions,” he says.“Excessive speeding and dangerous driving are serious issues that put lives at risk.”The Government is investing $1.335 billion from the National Land Transport Fund in road policing from 2024 to 2027. Efforts focus on tackling risky behaviour, like speeding, Bishop says.Police Minister Mark Mitchell also said recently it is “incumbent on all drivers to understand and abide by our road laws”.“Those who do not put their own safety and the safety of others at risk. This is unacceptable, and I expect Police to take appropriate action by enforcing the law.”Rental Vehicle Association of NZ CEO Ben McFadgen says they’re very concerned about the alarming increase in speeding drivers and near misses and he’s keen to talk to Police and the community about the problem.They’ve already approached the authorities about getting the heads up ahead on speeding drivers.Some members have already put immobilisers into vehicles so at 135km/hr to 140km/hr drivers are warned. Next time they reach that speed the vehicle is immobilised after they’ve stopped.He said recently they would “conceivably look at some sort of intervention if the community believed there was a need due to the perceived risk of driving into Milford”.“It’s in our interests as we get all sorts of damage otherwise,” he said.McFadgen is meeting with NZTA representatives again this week in a bid to get some urgent action and find suitable solutions, after an initial meeting last week.Brown also says outside of the ongoing enforcement by Police and road safety campaigns by NZTA, “a number of initiatives are proposed, underway or have been carried out to increase the safety of users of this route”.Sue Fea is a senior journalist with more than 40-years experience covering police, social and general news in the southern regions.

New powers allowing police to move homeless people out of public spaces will just take the issue "out of sight", a Southland social service agency says.But two of the region’s mayors have not shown the same concern, questioning whether the change would impact their patch.On Sunday, the government announced it would give police greater power to issue “move-on orders” to address disorderly behaviour in public.The powers also apply to all forms of begging and rough sleeping, and require people as young as 14 to move a reasonable distance as decided by police.Salvation Army Invercargill community ministries manager Cathy Strong said her initial reaction was that “homelessness is not a crime”.People came into the Salvation Army every morning for food and coffee, she said, and liked to connect, be seen, and be heard.Salvation Army Invercargill community ministries manager Cathy Strong and major Murray Sanson at the organisation's food bank in November. Credit: Matthew Rosenberg/LDR."It appears that they’re trying to hide them and move them on so they’re out of sight.”Strong said what was actually needed was more support for the likes of housing, mental health and addictions."It would just make more sense to invest in that for a long-term change rather than just move them out of sight."Invercargill mayor Tom Campbell said rough sleepers tended to sleep in parks and the outskirts of the city.“We don’t really have people sleeping right in the city centre, so I would be surprised if the police were going to be concerned about that,” Campbell said.The mayor would not be pressed on the government’s announcement, saying there was no reason for him to weigh into the debate.Invercargill mayor Tom Campbell said rough sleepers did not stay in the city centre. Credit: Matthew Rosenberg/LDR.In November, the Salvation Army shared issues at play in Invercargill, including homeless being displaced from the city’s parks due to the October storm.Gore mayor Ben Bell also did not think the change would have much impact, particularly in rural areas.“There’s still a lot of water to run under the bridge. I think ultimately, you’ve got to deal with systemic issues rather than just moving people on and hoping the problem goes away, but I’m sure that will be ironed out as the legislation passes through.”Bell said he had heard the initiative was mainly targeted towards those who didn’t want to accept help from social services or the government and preferred to "sleep on the streets and act like they own them”.Southland mayor Rob Scott could not be reached for comment.The new powers are being implemented under the Summary Offences Act and apply to a range of activities and behaviours including threatening and obstructing entry.In a statement, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said currently police have limited options to respond, particularly when it doesn’t reach the level of offending.“Our main streets and town centres have been blighted by disruption and disturbance. Businesses are declining as some bad behaviour goes unchecked. It needs to stop."LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

Police have now spoken with the driver of the vehicle involved in a fatal crash with a pedestrian in Te Anau's Town Centre yesterday (23 Feb).Emergency services responded to the crash at around 8.45am yesterday, which resulted in the closure of part of the Town Centre and Miro Street.Police said they were continuing to appeal for any information from witnesses of the incident, or anyone who may have dashcam footage of the crash, or the moments before it.Anyone with information is asked to contact Police as soon as possible online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update report”, or by calling 105.Please use the reference number 260223/7970.Police said they would be releasing information about the pedestrian, who sadly died, when we are in a position to do so.

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardComments:Tunnel & highway maintenance scheduled for evenings between 7pm & midnight, continuing tonight (Tuesday) through to Friday 27th February. Expect up to 30-minute delays between Homer Tunnel & Donne River Bridge during these times. Please call 03 249 7004 with any queries.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Cloudy, becoming fine Tomorrow: Cloud increasing, rain developing later Thursday: Rain, heavy at times, easing later Friday: Mainly fine Saturday: Cloudy

A pedestrian has died following a serious crash in Te Anau this morning.Police said the driver of the vehicle involved left the scene, and they would now like to speak to them.They are also calling on help from the public.The crash, involving a car and a pedestrian, happened around 8.45am this morning (23 Feb) and resulted in the closure of part of the Town Centre and Miro Street.Police would also like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and witnessed the incident, or anyone who has dashcam footage of the crash, or the moments before it.Anyone with information is asked to contact Police as soon as possible online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update report”, or by calling 105.Please use the reference number 260223/7970.