Road Open No Avalanche HazardComments:No delays expected. Sounds to Sounds cycle race on. Please be aware of cyclists and share the road. Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Fine. Tomorrow: Cloudy with showers. Thursday: Showers, turning to heavy rain at night. Friday: Rain before dawn with heavy falls, then showers and fine breaks. Saturday: Showers, with snow possible above 1300 metres early.

KiwiRail director Scott O'Donnell will step down from the KiwiRail board of directors on 24 March, cutting short an appointment more than two years ahead of schedule.Board chair Suzanne Tindal said a new venture will require him to spend more time in Australia.O'Donnell was appointed to the board in July 2025 on a three year term. He is one of the four directors of Dynes Transport Tapanui, which donated $20,000 to NZ First in July 2024.When Minister for Rail Winston Peters announced O'Donnell's appointment he noted that a conflict of interest management plan was in place related to O'Donnell's business interests.Peters told RNZ the donation from Dyne's Transport played no part in O'Donnell's appointment to the board and that he was aware of the extent of the conflicts of interest.At the time, Peters said O'Donnell would be effective in his role."As Mr O'Donnell has direct experience in the freight sector among other things, a conflict-of-interest management plan has been developed and will be followed while he is a director of KiwiRail," he said.Peters said Treasury did not advise against the appointment of O'Donnell.During Parliament's 'scrutiny week' in December last year, where MPs publicly examine public agency performance, Tindal said O'Donnell's conflicts of interest affected the board's capability and efficiency.She said "more importantly" that directors needed to consider whether they could discharge their duties as required in accordance with the Companies Act.Documents released under the Official Information Act (OIA) to RNZ show Tindal expressed unease about O'Donnell's business interests before his appointment and recommended he be removed from a process to make his role official while the conflicts were analysed.Tindal said Scott's interest in HW Richardson (HWR), which owns 46 companies, could prove a test of loyalties for him.The OIA documents showed Tindal checked publicly available information in the Companies Office register and hand-drew what she described as an "interests diagram", which included 11 companies. This was later redrawn by Treasury staff.Some of the 10 companies he is involved with supply services to KiwiRail, and the conflicts required Treasury to put a management plan in place.Source: Treasury OIA + Tindal's diagram redrawn by Treasury staffO'Donnell's appointment went ahead, but with a slew of measures in place to manage any conflicts between his new role and the 10 companies he is involved in - many of them in transport.The conflict of interest mitigation plan contained seven measures to manage conflicts, including recusing himself from board meeting discussions where there was a conflict of interest.O'Donnell attended at least three KiwiRail board meetings and RNZ knows of at least one item O'Donnell had to step aside for in December. He also missed two agenda items at the end of the December meeting as he needed to leave early."Mr O'Donnell will be thanked for his service at our Board meeting on 24 March, which will be his last day as a KiwiRail director," Tindal said in a statement. He leaves after having served fewer than seven months of an appointment that was due to finish on 31 August 2028.A statement from the HW Richardson Group said O'Donnell brought a strong commercial focus to KiwiRail's non-freight operation during his time on the board.The conflict of interest management plan is outlined below.Southern Aggregates and Woodflow Logistics which were in the diagram initially prepared by Treasury from Sue Tindale's drawing, was not in the plan prepared by TreasurySource: Treasury OIAThe mitigations for these companies outlined in the plan include:Where appropriate, limiting or eliminating access to sensitive, confidential or restricted information on issues or work relating to KiwiRail, including rail network options or Cook Strait ferriesAdditional scrutiny of board agenda and papers prior to sending to Scott O'Donnell.At the beginning of every Board meeting, or prior as necessary, Scott O'Donnell would be required to declare if any item on the agenda could create a conflict for which he feels recusal is necessary. Such instances would need to be documented.Where appropriate recusal from any meeting or part meeting/agenda item with the Board or Ministers on these issues where confidential information giving rise to the conflicts discussed, (noting that this may impact on quorum arrangements)At the Board's discretion Scott O'Donnell would be recused or refrain from participating in, any discussions and decisions, where a personal interest is determined.The Board reserves the right to invite Scott O'Donnell to recuse himself if the Board feels it is inappropriate to include him in discussions and decisions.Advising KiwiRail, the Minister for SOEs of these actionsPublished by permission

Welcome back to all our readers! We’ve kicked off the term with an exciting mix of learning, both in the classroom and beyond.Our tamariki have been reconnecting with friends, settling into routines, and we’ve warmly welcomed new students and staff to our school whānau. It’s been a fantastic start, full of energy, curiousity, and community spirit.AgriKids Competition. Photo: Supplied.It’s been an action-packed start with the NZ National Young Farmers AgriKids Otago/Southland Competition. Our team, the Wild West 3 — Aydee, Ilyssa, and Layla — represented HVP with pride, showcasing our strong culture of support and teamwork.The race-off was a real challenge, and we are especially thrilled to congratulate Aydee, who was awarded Best Contestant for her outstanding encouragement throughout the day.Wild West 3 — Aydee, Ilyssa, and Layla. Photo: Supplied.Our students took on the Southland Secondary School Triathlon in Winton, held around the stunning Central Southland College (CSC) grounds.Several of our Year 7 and 8 students competed individually, giving their all across swimming, cycling, and running.Year 7 and 8 students taking on the Southland Secondary School Triathlon. Photo: Supplied.We also entered a number of teams in each year group, demonstrating fantastic teamwork, determination, and school spirit. Teamwork and School spirit. Photo: Supplied.Congratulations to Angus, who was placed 3rd in the individual Year 8 event. Our Year 7 team of Oscar, Jack M and Layla were placed 1st. In our mixed Year 8 teams, we had a first for Aydee, Isaac and Finley.Year 7 team of Oscar, Jack M and Layla were placed 1st. Photo: Supplied.It was inspiring to see our tamariki supporting each other and pushing themselves throughout this challenging, action-packed event.Harold and Teresa have been part of our Year 8s’ journey since they first started with us as five-year-olds. Each year, we truly value the Health Education that the Life Education mobile classroom brings to our doorstep.Life Education mobile classroom. Photo: Supplied.Their final focus with our Year 8s was Identity and Resilience, with an emphasis on self and time management.Identity and Resilience was the focus this visit. Photo: Supplied.This was the perfect learning context for our senior students as they prepare for the year ahead and begin looking towards secondary school.Preparing for the year ahead. Photo: Supplied.A huge thank you to our Blackmount Community for enabling us to stay at the Community Centre overnight during our two-day Year 7 & 8 EOTC experience.Year 7 & 8 EOTC experience. Photo: Supplied.Day one saw us tackle the Burnt Ridge Track at Monowai, enjoyed a refreshing swim at the Blackmount Pool, and took part in a range of team-building activities at Brunel Peaks, Blackmount.Outdoor adventures. Photo: Supplied.On day two, we headed to Te Anau for climbing, bouldering, volleyball, mini golf, and finished it all off with a well-earned real fruit ice cream.Team building activities. Photo: Supplied.Our first ‘Have a Go’ experience for our Year 7 & 8 students took us to the Fiordland Climbing Wall in Te Anau.Fiordland climbing wall. Photo: Supplied.This world-class facility provided an incredible opportunity for students to challenge themselves through bouldering and rock climbing, guided by Sensei’s expert tuition.All abilities were catered for, with skills and confidence growing steadily throughout the sessions. Students came away buzzing from the experience, with many showcasing impressive ability and others stepping well outside their comfort zones.Bouldering and rock climibing challenges. Photo: Supplied.A heartfelt thank you to Sally for leading our adventures and keeping our tamariki grounded in mana whānau throughout the experience. We also appreciate Nathan and Kate P for staying over and supporting our group.Thank you to all of our wonderful parent helpers who assisted with transport and joined us for activities along the way — your support made it possible.Stepping outside comfort zones. Photo: Supplied.Although this was a first for us, it proved incredibly worthwhile, and we’re already looking forward to doing it again next year!Recently, Tuatapere was featured on Seven Sharp as part of a spotlight on the ‘Sausage Capital’ of NZ.Rabco Ag proud sponsor of Hauroko Valley SchoolButchery teams from New World stores across Aotearoa were challenged to create an exciting new-flavoured snag, before bringing their creations to Western Southland for locals to taste-test, including several of our own students.In the lead-up, our classes joined in the fun by developing and sharing their own flavour ideas. The event at the domain had a fantastic community vibe, with plenty of mixing, mingling, and sampling a delicious range of sausages.Check out Mataī’s work!Students sharing own flavour ideas. Photo: Supplied.It’s been an action-packed and rewarding start to the term, filled with learning, adventure, teamwork, and community spirit. Our students have embraced every challenge, grown in confidence, and supported one another every step of the way.We’re proud of their achievements and can’t wait to see what the rest of the term brings. Until next time!

Thousands of determined Southlanders gathered today to take part in the Wensley’s Cycles Surf to City, marking another successful year for one of the region’s most popular participation events.Families, schools, workplaces, sports clubs and individuals of all ages and abilities made their way from Oreti Beach, and distances in between, to the finish line at Queens Park.Consistent rain throughout the morning made for challenging conditions, but there were still plenty of smiles amongst the participants.Active Southland communications manager Nathan Burdon said the event continues to highlight the power of movement to bring communities together.“Wensley’s Cycles Surf to City is a reminder that being active looks different for everyone and that’s something we’re proud to support,” he said.“Whether people walked, ran, biked, pushed a pram or teamed up with friends, today was about celebrating movement in a way that feels good for each person.”While the final event number will be affected by the weather, it was still impressive to see so many Southlanders getting involved.“Every year we are blown away by the enthusiasm Southlanders bring to this event,” Burdon said.“Seeing people set goals, support each other, and enjoy being active together is exactly why Surf to City is so special.”Amongst those who set out to achieve their goals were the team 12 Invercargill firefighters and one St Johns first responder who collectively carried a weighted down stretcher all the way from Oreti Beach to Queens Park for their Southland Community Challenge.Proceeds from the fundraiser will be split evenly between Hospice Southland, Kiwi Harvest and the Grace St Project.Active Southland’s commitment to supporting all Southlanders to be active remains at the heart of the event, with the organisation continuing to focus on creating opportunities that are welcoming, inclusive, and accessible.“We want everyone to feel they belong in spaces where activity happens. Events like today show that our community is strongest when everyone has a chance to take part.”Active Southland extends its thanks to Wensley’s Cycles, event partners, volunteers and the Southland community for another memorable Surf to City.

Fiordland doctors and health advocates, who’ve been lobbying for free local diagnostic health services for years, are frustrated that Wanaka has been granted free, publicly funded x-rays and ultrasounds and Te Anau, which has the equipment, has missed out.The government announced free publicly-funded x-rays and ultrasounds to Wanaka on Monday (2 Mar), with Associate Health Minister Matt Doocay saying community feedback had made it clear that access to diagnostic tests was a major barrier to healthcare.Fiordland Health Trust trustee Richard Wason says they’re disappointed that Te Anau has been ignored when there is such a growing need.“We want exactly the same as Wanaka – completely free x-rays for patients and no top-ups having to be paid by patients in small communities.”He says with no hospital facility in the town, Fiordland patients are currently the longest distance from a base hospital (Southland Hospital) in New Zealand, in relation to their population.“The population between Te Anau and Manapouri is around 4000 and that can triple every day during the peak summer season, so our health services have to cope with that huge influx of tourists and those here for the outdoor recreation.”He says it was a substantial amount of fundraising and community goodwill that enabled the trust to build its current $1.4m medical centre, where the Fiordland doctors are tenants.“We were very lucky when we started the project 20 years ago that we had some very good benefactors who’ve donated hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years,” Wason says.However, the community should not have to pay for services that were offered for free elsewhere in New Zealand, especially now that another small community like Wanaka has been granted that funding, he says.Fiordland Medical Centre partner Dr Steve Hoskin agrees and says while they were provided with an instant, digital reader image x-ray machine in 2017 - a huge asset, the medical centre currently bears the costs of operating and staffing that on its premises.Fiordland Medical Centre partner Dr Steve Hoskin. Photo: SuppliedThe new machine was provided after their previous x-ray machine was struck by lightning.”The hospital can supply the asset, but we still need to pay for a room, staff training, licensing, reporting, IT, checks and accreditation,” he says.“If we added our actual costs to each x-ray, it would’ve cost patients $350 – only $50 of that covered by ACC, if applicable, and that’s based on 2016 expenses, he says.“People just can’t afford that, so we charge our registered patients $85 for an x-ray and visiting New Zealanders $115, and we absorb the rest of the cost.”Hoskin is upset that Te Anau’s been missed in the government’s Wanaka announcement this week when he’s spent countless hours pleading for funding to no avail.“I’ve been writing letters to successive health departments and politicians for a number of years when my time and energy should be going into my patients, not chasing funding,” he says.“I’ve pointed it out to Health Minister after Health Minister, and they always tell me they’ll ‘look into it’.”He says it’s “fantastic” to have the x-ray which saves so many patients the drive to Invercargill, with doctors in Te Anau – basecamp for an outdoor playground – seeing a lot of fractures.“We do one x-ray a day on average, but we can send the x-ray to the orthopedic surgeon at the hospital who’ll sometimes say, ‘No it’s too swollen for surgery’, or ‘The surgical list is chocker, so don’t send them down now’.”(L-R) Fiordland Medical Centre partner and resident GP Steve Hoskin, Meridian Power-up fund trustee Jill Tauri and Fiordland Health Trust trustee Richard Wason check out one of the new procedure rooms in the Fiordland Medical Centre in 2024. Photo: Liz Newell/Supplied“That’s a big time and money saver for patients, especially a mum with kids who all have to be bundled into the car.”The only other change for the better since the new x-ray arrived in 2017 is that a certified radiographer, resident in Manapouri, is funded to do an x-ray clinic once a fortnight.“That’s useful for elective x-rays, such as an arthritic hip, but doesn’t cover the cost of an acute service for broken bones. Much more is needed,” he says.“We need adequate funding to provide equitable access to this service for people,” Hoskin says.“If a patient presents at Southland Hospital’s emergency department after a fall they get a free x-ray, but if they fall in Te Anau, they don’t. It should be equitable,” he says.“We’re glad for the people of Wanaka, but we want the same access to free health services.”Southland MP Joseph Mooney has been asked to help over the years and Hoskin says he last heard Mooney was going to ask Health Minister Simeon Brown.“I’ve got a letter I sent in 2016 listing all the items we pay for and asking the government, ‘Please help!’“Obviously they’re relying on the goodwill of a private business and we’re needing help. We have 4500 patients on our books and over summer it may be three times that.”The medical centre has an ultrasound device at the clinic, only available due to community generosity after the local Baptist Church, which was closing, donated $20,000 and Fiordland Lobster Company $5000, to buy one.“Wanaka has a trained sonographer and radiographer in town,” Hoskin says.“Our doctors are not trained sonographers so we can’t do those more detailed scans, and it would be hugely helpful if they sent us funding for one (sonographer),” Hoskin says.“It’s interesting that Wanaka’s getting more ultrasounds funded than x-rays and all our pregnant women are having to drive to Invercargill or Queenstown for their ultrasounds.""We don’t have a trained sonographer, and we’d like funding so we can offer normal scans to pregnant women.""About $120,000 would also enable us to do x-rays for free,” he says.Thankfully, blood tests can now be offered for free after the community fought for that.Wason says the rapid growth in Te Anau warrants a hand from the government with the medical centre that the trust built 10 years ago, thanks to community support, already doubling in size to meet demand.The latest much needed, 110sqm extension only opened in May 2024.He says it’s wrong that the Fiordland community has had to fight so hard to get basic publicly funded services that other rural communities already have.Free Blood Tests For AllAfter years of lobbying the government Te Anau and Wanaka GPs have only been able to offer free blood testing since the government approved this funding in October last year.Hoskin says previously the 4,400 people living in Te Anau were forced to travel up to two hours to reach a free collection centre in either Queenstown, Gore or at Southland Hospital.“We were given a 12-month trial to offer free blood tests here on site and we’ve been told that’s carrying on for another three years so that’s great,” Hoskin says.“Hopefully that’s locked in.”It had been becoming “a safety issue” with some patients, unaware of the seriousness of their condition, holding off their blood tests, he says.“However, the government is only paying for the time of the professional to take the blood, not a building. It has to be done in a room at Fiordland Medical Centre.”Prior to this breakthrough the “tiny bit of funding” made available through Southern Community Laboratories (now Awanui Labs) never changed, despite an aging and growing population, Hoskin says.“In the last five years or so, we have been able to do point of care testing in a little lab in our medical centre to detect the likes of heart attacks.""We can now run these on our site, which is doubly helpful.""We can detect people who need to be rushed to hospital, and we can save people from travelling who don’t need hospital.”The Southland App has approached Southland MP Joseph Mooney for comment but had not received a reply at the time of going to print.Sue Fea is a senior journalist with more than 40-years experience covering police, social and general news in the southern regions.

Rugby Park in Invercargill is welcoming a new set of rules this month, with the rugby union stronghold hosting Southland Rugby League’s summer competitions for the first time.More than 30 teams have been taking part in the six-week junior and youth rugby league competitions, which kicked off in February. Southland Rugby League Development Officer Dominic Vercoe said it was the first time the competitions had been held at Rugby Park, and it was exciting to bring the game into a larger, more central venue. “It’s a nice change to have the competition here and it helps give the sport more visibility,” he said. “League has been steadily growing in popularity in Invercargill and Southland, and there’s a passionate community behind it. “Some of our younger players are trying out new skills and playing in stadium conditions for the first time, which is a big highlight for them.” The summer rugby league competitions were separate from the regular winter season, and were designed to give players more opportunities for skill development, Vercoe said. “The extra game time helps keep people active and gives players more experience before the winter season starts,” he said. “The warmer weather is a benefit, too. It’s more enjoyable for both players and spectators.” Invercargill City Council Manager Venues and Events Jason Wade said it was great to see Rugby Park utilised for a wider variety of activities. “Our teams have done an amazing job in the last couple of years at building up the resilience of the turf,” he said. “They’ve put a lot of work into improving drainage and promoting root growth, which allows a wider range of events to take place on the field without causing damage.” He said welcoming rugby league to the field was the start of a new chapter for the venue, as Council prepared to investigate the stadium’s future. Council’s Community and Regulatory Committee recommended last month to consult on the future of Rugby Park in the Long-term Plan 2027-2037, with a public consultation period in March 2027. “It is a valuable community asset – not just in the winter rugby season – and it has so much potential as an active, multi-purpose venue for our city,” Wade said. “We hope to see more events taking full advantage of the space at Rugby Park across the entire year.” The Southland Rugby League summer competition games will be held weekly at Rugby Park until Saturday 14 March.

A home is seriously damaged after a fire in Southland overnight.Fire and Emergency says the property in Mataura, near Gore, was well alight by the time crews arrived at about 9.15pm on Thursday.A spokesperson says nobody was home, but the house suffered extensive damage and fire crews had to call for backup from another station.The blaze was under control by 10pm, but fire crews remained at the scene until midnight.Police have had a scene guard in place overnight until a fire investigator arrives later this morning.Published by Permission

Below is a list of programmed work on Southland state highways next week, and this is also mapped HERE. Key renewal sites in Southland currently underway:SH90 Waikaka Valley highway between Waikaka Road and Cunningham Road – Construction work will continue until late March. Delays of 5-10 minutesSH99 Wallacetown – culvert strengthening – SH99 will reopen on Monday March 9th at 6pm.  From Monday 9th at 6pm, the team will then begin the renewal of SH99 in this area, with traffic lights in place between Wallacetown and Underwood-Linds Bridge Road for approximately 4 weeks. Please expect delays of 15-20 minutes during this time.  Upcoming renewal workSH1 Waipahi Highway east of Pukerau – road renewal – MarchSH6 North Road Waikiwi, Invercargill – road resurfacing – March/April  Highways South maintenance work:SH1 Bluff Highway near Colyer Road, traffic lights for pavement repairsSH1 Bluff highway near Motu Rimu Road, traffic lights for pavement repairsSH1 Tay St from Bamborough to Troopers roundabout, lane closure for resurfacing repairsSH1 Clyde St from Troopers roundabout to Grace St, lane closure for resurfacing repairsSH1 Edendale-Woodlands highway near Woodlands, stop/go for vegetation clearingSH6 Lumsden Dipton highway north of Caroline, traffic lights for pavement repairsSH6 Winton-Lorneville highway near Wilsons Crossing, traffic lights for pavement repairsSH94 Lumsden Riversdale highway between Balfour and Longridge, traffic lights for pavement repairsSH94 Te Anau Mossburn highway between Mossburn and Centre Hill, traffic lights for pavement repairsSH94 Te Anau Mossburn highway near Wilderness Road, traffic lights for pavement repairsSH94 Te Anau Mossburn highway near Kakapo Road, traffic lights for pavement repairsSH96 Glencoe highway near Terrace Road, traffic lights for flax removalSH97 Mossburn-Five Rivers Road near Five Rivers, traffic lights for pavement repairsSH98 Lorne Dacre Road near Woodstock Road, stop/go for vegetation clearingSH98 Lorne Dacre Road near Taylor Road, stop/go for vegetation clearingSH99 Clifden Bridge, stop/go for guardrail repairs Roadmarking (taking place under mobile traffic management)SH1 Bluff RoadSH1&SH6 Invercargill UrbanSH6 Winton 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.

Road OpenNo Avalanche Hazard Comments:No delays expected. A wet few days ahead, drive with care  Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Rain Tomorrow: Rain Sunday: Rain Monday: Fine Tuesday: Fine

A little-known fact about kerbside collection has come to light at Invercargill City Council — it's possible to have your bin retrieved by the truck driver.But just one property in the city is making use of the extra help.Council policy analyst Hannah Kennedy told a committee meeting this week that the service was not widely used and was handled on an informal basis.It was possible that as awareness of its existence grew, demand could also increase, Kennedy said.Andrea de Vries noted the potential for increased costs if the service became well known and wondered if there was an opportunity to team up with community organisations or the student volunteer army.Mayor Tom Campbell supported assistance, but raised the issue of dogs on properties.“If we can overcome that, I mean I would certainly support it. It will cost a lot more money.”Consultation on the council's kerbside waste services policy is set for March or April, and will include the topic of assistance.A report prepared for the meeting said the service was available to people with a medically identified issue preventing them from putting their bin out, or no available support.More resourcing for administration could be required if there was a significant increase in demand, it said.The council could also choose to stop providing the assistance, or set a fee to help with costs.Consultation on the policy is set to cover a range of topics such as assistance, extending the service area, inspections, fees for lost or damaged bins, and additional bins.A total 999 requests were received for damaged or stolen bins in the 2024/25 financial year, with 167 replaced.There were 293 rating units paying for additional bins, and a total of 678 additional bin sets.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

Invercargill’s Splash Palace welcomed more than 200 young swimmers and supporters from around the South Island last weekend, marking the city’s first time hosting a major regional swimming competition in seven years.For the first time since 2019, the Mako Division of Swimming New Zealand’s Junior Festival was held at Splash Palace, with competitors travelling from across the South Island to participate in the three-day event. Invercargill City Council Manager Aquatic Services Stephen Cook said it was a huge event for the swimming community in Invercargill and Southland. “Having the Junior Festival at Splash Palace gives local children the chance to compete on the regional stage without having to travel far from home,” he said. “For many of our local kids, this was the first time they were able to compete in such a major event in their home venue.” Swimming Southland Regional Administrator Angela Biggar said a total of 200 young swimmers entered the competition, with more than 150 coming from outside the Southland region. “It’s not just the swimmers visiting our city, but their parents, coaches and supporters as well,” she said. “The event was a chance for local swimmers to go up against some of the best athletes in their age in the South Island and test themselves in a high-performance environment.” Cook said the event was also a chance to showcase Splash Palace to the wider region. “Our facility is right up there with anywhere else in the country,” he said. “We’re proud to provide a quality environment where young athletes can compete, have fun and strive for their personal best.” Swimming New Zealand’s Junior Festivals were hosted in four zonal locations around the country between 27 February and 1 March. More than 40 swimmers from Southland participated in the event, representing the Central Southland, Collegiate, Johnston Waters, Murihiku and Waverley Clubs.

An ambitious 100-year ecological project is about to begin in southern Southland, replanting almost 50 hectares of farmland back into native flora, as part of the Whakamana te Waituna Charitable Trust's Freshwater Improvement Project.The Trust, which includes representatives from Awarua Rūnanga, Ngāi Tahu, Southland District Council, Environment Southland, Department of Conservation, Fonterra and the community, have a long-term goal of transforming around 10% (2000 hectares) of the Waituna catchment into activities that better support the area's water quality and biodiversity while remaining profitable and self-stainable.The Waituna farmland block will potentially look like this after 100 years. Graphic: SuppliedSince its establishment in 2018 the Trust has secured $13.3m in funds to begin this process, which includes land purchases.The current project to plant 8500 natives is on 6.5ha of a 48.3-hectare farm block - one of three purchased in 2020 - and is adjacent to the Awarua Wetland Ramsar site.The land, once part of the wider Awarua Waituna wetland area, was strategically purchased to increase the native land buffer around Waituna Lagoon and to repurpose farmland that could become inundated if the lagoon was opened to the sea at a higher level.Trust co-chairs Riki Nicholas and Jon Pemberton said the reforestation formed part of the Trust’s vision, including strong partnerships supporting mana whenua aspirations.“Key to this are focus areas around restoring wetlands and lowland forest, redesigning drains and waterways to reduce sediment and weed growth, reducing nutrient losses through on-farm mitigations, and realising the benefits of biodiversity and carbon for sustainable financing,” Nicholas said.The Trust plans to use a series of different planting techniques including wider plant spacings, using nursery species such as manuka, and trialling the use of new locally designed ( Garto Guards) plant guards.An artist's impression of the Waituna farmland block after 100 years. Graphic: Supplied“The aim is to enable large scale reforestation of land at a much lower cost than what has traditionally been the case,” Pemberton said.Ongoing plant maintenance and the establishment of public walking tracks are other aspects of the plan, the Co-chairs said.The project will enact a freshwater covenant placed over the block in 2019 by the Ministry for the Environment and also become an important pilot for Environment Southland’s wider ‘Learning from the Land’ project.

A submission will be made by Invercargill City Council to central Government on the proposed changes to the Total Mobility Programme.The Ministry of Transport’s proposed changes to the programme included making eligibility assessments more consistent, introducing targeted support allocations, and allowing new types of providers – such as ride-share services – to enter the scheme. Its changes already included reducing the subsidy a Total Mobility User would receive from 75 percent to 65 percent, and reducing regional fare caps by about 10 percent nationally. The proposed changes would take effect from 1 July this year. Council’s Infrastructure and Growth Committee this week received a report on the Total Mobility Programme proposal consultation, which noted Council’s improved budget position as a result of changes made in a 2025 review of the scheme within Southland. Infrastructure and Growth Committee Chair, Councillor Alex Crackett, said the Total Mobility Programme provided essential support to people living with disabilities within the community, allowing them to access subsidised taxi services. In 2025, Council had engaged with the disability community as part of a review of the programme within the region, prompted by an increase in costs beyond the budget allocated for the programme. “Last year’s review included a really comprehensive consultation with our community, and it’s pleasing to see it has resulted in such a positive outcome,” she said. Throughout 2025, Council worked with Total Mobility users, assessors, and providers to consider how it could enable people to continue accessing the services they needed in a financially-sustainable way. The work Council and the community had done had already proven successful, and provided an option for the Government to consider nationwide, she said. Contracts with providers had been updated, to ensure that the user-pays portion of the service was charged. “We want to ensure vulnerable members of our community are able to continue using the Total Mobility service – we don’t want people who rely on this to miss out,” she said. “This one change alone has already had a significant positive impact on improving Council’s financial position, without impacting the subsidy level or the number of trips members of our disabled community can make through the scheme.” Committee members also agreed to a recommendation in the report, which would pause any further local action until the Government’s reduction to the subsidy level was implemented. This would allow Council to gain an understanding of the impact this change would have to users of the scheme, Crackett said. Council’s Acting Group Manager Infrastructure Russell Pearson said Southland – like many other areas around the motu – had experienced a surge in demand for the service. Council’s submission supported the introduction of eligibility evidence, but asked the Government to ensure this was flexible, and noted the variety of disabilities covered by the programme, the expertise of assessors in Southland, and the inherent sensitivity of asking people to provide evidence of their condition. It also noted that local assessor agencies did great work supporting the programme, and if their workload was to increase, the Government would need to consider providing additional funding to support their mahi. Its submission also called on the Government to offer an exemption for those with permanent disabilities, and instead introduce a reassessment based on any significant change to public transport options which changed accessibility options, Pearson said. Council administered the programme for the Southland region, with delegation to do so from Environment Southland.

It's been a busy start to the year for us here at Tokanui School. We started off with a team at Agrikids in early February where our team did well and really enjoyed the day out.Mataura Licensing Trust proud sponsors of Tokanui SchoolThey had a series of activities to complete and worked together well as a team.Learning to be fire wise. Photo: Supplied.Following this we had our FireWise programme where the local fire volunteer brigade came and talked to the students about being fire wise.Trying on some fire fighting gear. Photo: Supplied.They even got to wear some of the fire gear that our fire fighters wear.Great weather for Athletics day. Photo: Supplied.Then our own Athletics day where the qualifiers went on to represent Tokanui School at the Southern Zone Athletics. We were lucky with the weather on this day.A successful outcome for Athletics day. Photo: Supplied.St John came and showed us some basic First Aid. This was a good learning experience for our students.Learning basic first aid. Photo: Supplied.Last week we were privileged to have the "Wood is Good" programme come to our school. "Wood is Good" - Logging truck. Photo: Supplied.This gave the children an opportunity to see what happens to all our wood sources plus gave some of the kids a chance to sit in a logging truck.Trying a logging truck on for size. Photo: Supplied.

Southland liquor outlets have been given the green light to continue trading up to 16 hours a day, despite Health NZ calling for shorter hours.On Wednesday, district councillors voted almost unanimously to stick with the status quo for off-licence operating hours, meaning bottle stores and supermarkets can continue to sell liquor between 7am and 11pm daily.The decision went against a staff recommendation to shave off three hours a day, and an even tougher stance from Health NZ to cut back four hours.2Arguments in support of sticking with the status quo included councillor Matt Wilson saying he had not seen data to support change and consultation was split down the middle.Councillor Paul Duffy said he had not seen a need to sell alcohol as early as 7am but recently approved a special licence for the Garston dog trials, and it might suit them to buy alcohol before 9am.Philip Dobson was the lone voice in support of reducing daily trading hours.“Just in review of listening to everyone here, a lot of it seems to come back to inconvenience, and I just wonder where inconvenience fits with our responsibilities around harm reduction,” the councillor said.“I’m hearing about guys that need to pick up their booze on the way to the dog trials, when you’ve got a chill trailer, and I’m sure there’s a fridge in Garston. I’m sure there’s at least one of them.”Wednesday’s decision followed a public consultation late last year, and presentations from Hospitality New Zealand and Health NZ Te Whatu Ora.In January, Health NZ medical officer of health Michael Butchard told council alcohol caused 900 deaths, 1250 cancer diagnoses and 30,000 hospitalisations every year in New Zealand.The burden of alcohol was large, and justified a local alcohol policy which did more rather than less, he said.Health NZ recommended trading hours of 9am to 9pm, or four hours less a day.Although the council opted to keep trading hours the same, it did okay some changes.That included removing “no restrictions” wording from on-licence trading hours, considering glass vessels at events, and new owners not needing to consult with neighbouring properties.It also reduced the timeframe for review to four years and added health centres, rehabilitation centres, Marae, and Fale Pasifika as sensitive places.The final policy is yet to be adopted by the council, which will take place following public notification.In 2024, Auckland brought forward off-licence closure times to 9pm, while Christchurch followed suit last year.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

The 2025/2026 motor racing season at Teretonga Park in Invercargill will end with a bang over the weekend of 14/15 March when the Southland Sports Car Club host one of their most popular events of the season – Southern Thunder. Southern Thunder features two big drawcards with the NAPA Auto Parts NZ Super Trucks supported by Kings House Removals and the Allied 24/7 Fuel Mainland Muscle Cars leading the bill. The Super Truck field fight it out for the Mobil Delvac 1 Trophy each year and for most of the last few years it has been the property of Alex Little of Lower Hutt. Little has won the trophy six times, his run of success only interrupted in 2024 when Dave West of Pukekohe took the trophy. Expect to see some exciting machinery in the Allied 24/7 Fuel Mainland Muscle Cars with cars such as Mustang’s, Monaro’s, Camaro’s, Torana’s, Falcon’s and Commodore’s plus other such machinery on the grid. Formula First is an interesting addition to the programme this year. Previously known as Formula Vee, this is the first appearance of the class at Teretonga Park since March 1996. Many of New Zealand's best drivers have started out in the class - Scott Dixon was the 1993/94 Champion and drivers such as Shane Van Gisbergen and Liam Lawson have also raced in Formula First. Add in other classes such as Pre 78 Saloons and the Noel McIntyre Drainage Club Saloons and a great weekend of racing is in store. Pre-sale tickets available now from E Hayes & Sons, Dee Street, Invercargill and Harrison Supplies, Mersey Street, Gore. Pre-sale tickets are $40 per adult for a weekend pass plus any applicable charges (includes Friday 13 March) while children 14 and under accompanied by an adult are free. Weekend passes at the gate are $50 and day only passes will be available for purchase from the gate for $30 for each day.

The Southern Blast team will be led by experienced coach Janine Southby in the 2026 National Netball League.A resume bursting with achievements across the sport’s top echelon both domestically and internationally, Southby’s appointment is a coop for the south’s emerging players.“Netball has been a big part of my life through playing and coaching for a very long time and I saw this opportunity as a way of giving back and helping that next level down which I have always been really passionate about,” she said.“Coaching at any level is great but at this stage they are like sponges. I’m keen to support Netball South in the development of these young players and hopefully give them the confidence and the skillset they need to be moving forward into the Steel.”Creating tangible pathways was vital for the sport’s future and the NNL represented one of the most significant stages for players determined to reach the elite ranks.“I feel like at school level players are catered for really well with the different opportunities they have but beyond school there’s a massive step up to make an ANZ franchise team. Not everyone is going to do that, but I feel really passionate about enabling young players to put their hand up and show they are keen to be there and want to keep taking that next step.“It takes time, it’s not a linear progression by any stretch of the imagination, but I do feel at the moment this is a really important pathway and our southern players need to get the chance to experience it.”The Blast team has proved competitive in recent years, despite the NNL finals proving elusive.“There’s a lot of people out there who feel equally as strong about ensuring we provide this opportunity for young players throughout our southern zone. They fight hard and they have guts and determination – it’s just that experience which is a crucial part of the equation,” Southby said.“I understand there’s a lot of financial pressures out there and it’s hard to keep stumping up money to put campaigns together but it’s really important as a netball community we provide the chance for them to do this.”Coaching roles locally at club and Dunedin Netball Centre representative level has enabled Southby to witness the emerging talent.“There’s a lot of players who keep putting their hands up and they turn up to club netball every Saturday and, with no rep programme to cater for them anymore, this is their chance.”Southby was focused on finalising the structure of the programme before trials are held in a couple of weeks.“It will be an intense short campaign so once the squad is confirmed it will be all guns blazing,” she said.“Naturally you go into any campaign wanting to win. I need to see who’s there, what it looks like, what the work is to get us there. First and foremost, it is about exposing them to this as a new level and showing them what it takes to put the players in a position where we are ready to go at game one.“There will certainly be some big challenges to overcome. Geographical location is always hard to get that important preseason so we have to be a bit creative and innovative about how we do that.”Netball South chief executive Sonya Fleming said Southby’s appointment represented a new chapter for the Blast.“It is exciting to welcome Janine back to Netball South in this new role and I have no doubt our players will benefit from her leadership and vast experience,” she said.“We also pay tribute to Abbey McKenzie, who has been integral to the Blast environment over the past eight years and we value the contribution she has made immensely.”

New Zealand proved to be in the prime position to view last night's "Blood Moon".The pheomenon is caused when the Earth moves directly between the sun and the moon to completely shadow the moon, creating what is known as a total lunar eclipse.Blue light from the sun is scattered by the Earth's atmosphere, however red and orange light from the sun still reaches the moon - causing it to appear red.Last night's eclipse is the only one for 2026 with the next expected in 2028.

Work is on track for lifting of a full closure for a section of State Highway 99 in Southland this coming Monday. Following culvert strengthening for flood protection, and related work, the full closure of SH99/Wallacetown-Lorneville Road, between the intersections of Ryal Bush-Wallacetown Road and Underwood-Linds Bridge Road, is due to be removed at 6pm on Monday 9 March. Once that happens, the traffic management for this stretch of highway will change to one lane of traffic, with temporary traffic lights and a 30km/h temporary speed limit operating daily from 7am to 6pm. This is to enable road renewal work which includes excavation, fill and resurfacing. People should expect delays of up to 15 minutes while this traffic management is in place, expected to be for about four weeks from Monday. Poor weather may impact upon the scheduling of the remaining work. People can stay up to date with the latest at our Journey Planner site. We thank people for their patience while this important and necessary work is undertaken.Images taken yesterday on SH99 at Wallacetown, showing progress at the work site. Photo: NZTA