Jeanna Rodgers, a dedicated volunteer whose efforts have woven her into the fabric of the Lumsden community for over 20 years, was honored on Thursday evening (24 Apr) with a Community Service Award from the Southland District Council and Northern Southland Community Board.Southland Mayor Rob Scott and Community Board chair Greg Tither praised Rodgers for her invaluable contributions to the township.Rodgers, a Northern Southland College teacher, has been actively involved in numerous groups and committees, often serving as secretary. Her commitment to supporting children and youth is evident in her countless hours of voluntary work, including driving young members of Lumsden’s climbing club to both Te Anau and Invercargill for climbing wall sessions.Over the years Rodgers has successfully secured several hundred thousand dollars in funding for various community projects and organizations.Her efforts have benefited the community swimming pool, the Northern Southland Reforestation Trust, and the Toy Library.Additionally, she has provided play equipment for children through the LAAMBS (Lumsden and Areas Activities for Miniature Bodies Society) Charitable Trust.Mayor Scott highlighted Rodgers as the first to offer a helping hand at community events and projects, saying that she is the kind of person who makes her community a better place to live.Rodgers list of roles is extensive and includes founding a music and movement group, managing Plunket car seats, serving as toy library treasurer and grants officer, as well as participating in Playcentre, Friend of Lumsden School, Bibles in Schools, Anglican Church, Ōreti Community Bike Park committee, Northern Southland Amateur Swimming Club, the climbing club, kapa haka and the Northern Southland Reforestation TrustShe is also the Duke of Edinburgh supervisor at Northern Southland College, the college football teams manager, Kidzone volunteer, and secretary of the Northern Southland College PTA.As secretary of the Northern Southland Community Pool Trust, Rodgers voluntarily opens and closes the pool daily.She also assists with private childcare and tutoring, and well as reliving at Lumsden’s former Riverstones Early Learning Centre.At Northern Southland College, she provides students with access to extracurricular activities.Rodgers is also Lumsden's resident reporter for the Southland App, regularly covering local community's events and happenings.Her tireless dedication and selfless service have made Rodgers an indispensable part of the Lumsden community, earning her well-deserved recognition and gratitude

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardNo delays expected today. Homer Tunnel is closing for maintenance works overnight from 28th April to 2nd May from 6.30pm to 3am, then 3rd May through 23rd May, from 6.00pm to 3.00am. No public access during these closures due to heavy equipment operating in tunnel. Any queries, please call 03 249 7004. Also, please note, depending on weather there may be minor works at the Knobs flat camp intersection from Monday, while it will remain open at all times - please follow any signs or directions.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Occasional showers Tomorrow: Showers Sunday: Showers Monday: Showers Tuesday: Showers

Work has been halted on the new 2km Patience Bay to Sinclair Road section of the Fiordland Trails Trust's (FTT) northern multi-trail extension, after three 'pinch points' were identified, making it unsafe for bikes to pass each other.The FTT is a community led group that created the popular 28km Lake2Lake multipurpose trail between Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri. The trail is now credited with attracting thousands of visitors annually and contributing millions of dollars to the local economy. The Trust is now actively working on extending its off-road network from Te Anau to Te Anau Downs.The Sinclair Road section has been particularly challenging and expensive for the Trust with a Wildlife Permit, lizard management plan and a narrower 2.2m track all required after the Department of Conservation (DOC) deemed the area to potentially contain the at-risk Southland Green Skink.A yet to be completed section of the new Patience Bay to Sinclair Road multi-trail. Photo: Fiordland Trails Trust/SuppliedFTT Chair David Boniface said the decision to stop construction had been frustrating as the section had been just 3 weeks away from being completed, however the Trust was committed to safety and its environmental responsibilities.The 'pinch points' were not long, with only one culvert crossing of about 80 meters, and two switchbacks that were about 40 or 50 meters each, he said.Boniface was confident that if the trail was allowed to be widened back to its original width, or even just over the three tight points, then the section could be completed.With that in mind, the Trust decided in December to apply for an amendment to their permit, to revert the whole section's width back to its original 3 meters, after relocating only a "handful' of tussock skinks" and finding "no evidence at all of the presence of the Southland Green Skink"."We are extremely hopeful the amendment we have applied for will be approved, and we have no evidence that an additional 800mm would impact on fauna.""We would love to have the section from Sinclair Road to Patience Bay up and running before Christmas."A special enclosure has been established - as part of Fiordland Trails Trust's Wildlife Permit - to rehome any lizards found, but to date the Trust has only relocated a handful of Tussock Skinks and found none of the threatened Southland Green Skink. Photo: Southland App"But for now, and with winter approaching and the safety of contractors in mind, we have no choice but to put [the] current work on hold,” he said.“The public are welcome to enjoy the trail from Te Anau to Patience Bay, but we ask that you stop there,” Boniface said.

Location AreaSH 1 & SH6 InvercargillDirectionBoth DirectionsLocation(s)006-1168/06.89-D - 01S-0923/00.15-I GALA ST TO LEET ST to NA TO FORTH ST01S-0920/03.19-I - 01S-0920/03.67-I CONON ST TO NITH ST to NITH ST TO CLYDE ST RS923Event TypeArea WarningEvent DescriptionResurfacingEvent CommentsDue to asphalting works, these sections of road and Leven Street will be closed in all directions on Sunday 27th April to Tuesday 29th April nights between 6pm and 6pm. Plan your journey accordingly allowing extra time for travel.ImpactCautionAlternative RouteNorthbound traffic, detour via Forth street, Leven Street and Spey Street. South bound traffic, detour via Spey Street, Deveron Street and Tay Street. Eastbound traffic, detour via Liddel Street and Tweed Street. Westbound traffic, detour via Conon Street and Tweed Street. HPMV vehicles, detour via Inglewood Road, Tweed Street, Rockdale Road and Tweed Street.StatusScheduledExpected ResolutionUntil further noticeEvent Start Date27/04/2025 18:00Event End Date30/04/2025 06:00

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardNo delays expected today. Homer Tunnel is closing for maintenance works overnight from 28th April to 2nd May from 6.30pm to 3am, then 3rd May through 23rd May, from 6.00pm to 3.00am. No public access during these closures due to heavy equipment operating in tunnel. Any queries, please call 03 249 7004.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Fine Tomorrow: Mainly fine Thursday: Fine Friday: Showers Saturday: Showers

Noisy neighbours tend to be inevitable no matter where you live, but one Invercargill street has claimed the crown for being the rowdiest.In response to a LGOIMA request, Invercargill City Council released data on the noise complaints it dealt with over the past 12 months.Of the 820 complaints received, the most came from Newbie St in the suburb of Heidelberg, with a total of 23.The street is about 600m in length and runs between John St and Tramway Rd. Photo: Matthew Rosenberg/LDRThat was closely followed by Ettrick St with 22 complaints, and Centre St and Tay St with 21 complaints each.Council manager environmental services Gillian Cavanagh said the most common complaints in the city related to loud music or bass.Noise from mowing, maintenance and music was expected, but not to excess, she said.“In the past 12 months, 14 complaints have resulted in equipment being seized and 228 complaints have resulted in an excessive noise direction being served.”Local Democracy Reporting spoke to residents of Newbie St — a 600m suburban street home to one playground and an abundance of townhouses.While music was not highlighted as a major issue, disturbance from cars was common.Distinct tyre marks could be seen on the street, with one resident saying burnouts typically happened on Friday or Saturday around midnight.“They do burnouts here quite often, sometimes I hear them hit the curb,” the person said.The council confirmed its excessive noise complaints did not include noise from vehicles on the road, which were dealt with by the police.In the event an excessive noise direction was issued, the occupant was required to reduce the disturbance immediately.If they breached again within 72 hours, an infringement was issued, and 18 of those had been handed out across the city in the past year.Barking dogs did not fall under the council’s noise control policy because they were covered by the Dog Control Act.The noisiest month by number of complaints was December.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Gore may have been the butt of many a parochial joke, but all jokes aside, Gore is about to have the last laugh, taking centre stage in the big time of television at Cannes International Series Festival this month.Homegrown Kiwi TV series n00b – set in Gore, is one of only six series worldwide and the only one in Australasia that’s up for the ‘short form’ award at Cannes International Series Festival 2025 in France this month.Victoria Boult, 27 - daughter of former Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult, wrote, co-directed and co-created the show with Aucklander Rachel Fawcett. It’s already hit the big time, premiering on Three last October, since then picked up by Netflix Australia and showcased at Europe’s Berlinale Series Market. It’s believed to be the first time a New Zealand show has been chosen as a finalist at the prestigious Cannes event.The core cast from n00b. Photo: Supplied/Great Southern TelevisionThe show was first conceived as a TikTok series, receiving $50,000 funding through the ‘Every Voice’ initiative, run by NZ On Air, Screen Australia and Tik Tok, in 2021. It drew more than a million views on Tik Tok, before being picked up by Great Southern Television and Three. It then received $1.5m funding through New Zealand on Air.Boult, who’s off to France this week with the n00b team, taking Mum Karen as her ‘date’, says she’s still reeling from the excitement of being chosen from among the best in the world and really hopes she can “put Gore on the map”.“To think that little, tiny Gore has screened on Netflix and now in Berlin and Cannes…” she says. The show was designed to be “a love letter showcasing smalltown New Zealand” and while Gore can sometimes be the butt of jokes and jibes, Boult, whose parents are Southlanders, says Gore fitted the bill. “We’re definitely out there representing a small town in Aotearoa.”Boult says n00b was created in response to a hole in the market for shows about the early 2000s and set in Gore in 2005 focusing on young NZ teenagers “coming of age on the dawn of social media during the days of Bebo and Myspace”.“We wanted to entertain NZ youth and set out to explore a period not explored before,” she says. “Social media back then was like the WildWest, not policed like it is now. People could fall down a rabbit hole talking to anyone around the world. It was free and liberating,” she says.It feels “very, very special” to be up against the best in the world and Boult says she’s super excited to meet other writers and directors on the creative buzz in what can be a “hyper-competitive industry”.“I’d love to bring back an award from Cannes for Gore,” she says.Gore would too!Gore Mayor Ben Bell at 25 may be a bit young to remember Bebo but he’s still pretty excited about n00b’s selection. “It’s pretty special. Our little town will be on the big stage,” Bell says. “All credit to the creators. It’s fantastic work they’ve done. While teen comedy may not appeal to much of Gore’s populace, he says the town is proud that Gore’s “making it this far on the big TV screen.”Gemma Perry, who oversees a team working with youth in Gore, says she loved the first episode of n00b which was “nostalgic” for her having grown up in Gore in the early 2000s. “I wanted it to feel familiar and it was cool. Gore was a fun place to grow up in, pretty laidback and relaxed,” she says.While it was exciting that Gore was making big in Cannes, Perry jokes that she hopes the series isn’t too complimentary: “Hopefully we don’t look too good on the big screen as we don’t want our secret getting out,” she grins. “It wouldn’t be Gore if it was full of tourists.”Queenstown-based Great Southern Television owner and n00b executive producer Phil Smith, who Boult started out with as drama assistant in her early 20s, says she showed extraordinary talent from the outset. “She can write, create and direct but can also package and produce,” he says. “It’s really unique to find creative producers and she is one,” Smith says. “If you can do all that you’ve got an incredible career in the world.”He says he’s looking forward to going to Cannes for the awards. “This is a wonderful effort by Victoria. We’re very proud. It puts her on the international stage at a young age.”

A potential funding freeze for Invercargill’s heritage buildings could result in spiraling maintenance, an expert has warned.In February, Invercargill City Council proposed to pause the council’s Built Heritage Fund for one year following five rounds of funding.Council group manager consenting and environment Jonathan Shaw said the move was one of a range of savings options considered which wouldn’t affect core activities at the council.A nudge to share feedback on the proposal was recently sent out by Southern Heritage founding member Ann Barsby, whose son Andrew works as a building surveyor for Origin Heritage, focusing on restoration and conservation.Andrew Barsby told Local Democracy Reporting that without funding, buildings were more at risk of not having work done, meaning they could deteriorate quickly.“Heritage buildings need that sort of constant maintenance, like little bits all the time,” Barsby said.“There’s a danger where it’s just a bit too expensive, so it gets put off and put off and put off, and then before you know it’s no longer an easily repairable maintenance item. It’s a huge $100,000 defect you’ve got to deal with.”Barsby said it was important to look after heritage buildings because of the connection they had to both people and the past.He also said there was a misconception that a building had to be Victorian or a certain age to be considered heritage.That was not the case, with consideration given to factors such as architecture, connection to important people, and rarity, he said.The expression “the greenest building has already been built” rang true, and the buildings which were already there shouldn't be knocked down, Barsby said.“A lot of these buildings were built to last.”Invercargill’s heritage funding has been split into two parts: a built heritage fund and a seismic strengthening fund.Combined amounts given out over the five rounds have ranged between $100,000 and $350,000 per round, with a total of almost $1.4 million distributed.Owners of heritage buildings are encouraged to paint them from an approved palette in keeping with the era they were constructed.The proposed pause was recently consulted on as part of the council’s annual plan, with a final decision to be made in June.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Be warned – Police are taking a hard line on our roads this Easter breakSouthland Police have given one last warning on the eve of the Easter holiday break and long Anzac weekend that they will be out in full forcemaintaining a hard line on everyone from those not wearing seat belts and using mobile phones to speedsters and drink drivers.Senior Sergeant Scott MacKenzie is urging people heading to holiday hotspots to take extra care with so many more people on the roads.“Drive to the conditions, drive fresh and ensure you’re clear of any distractions.”Police will be doing their bit, but road safety is “something everybody has to take responsibility for”.“The best way to avoid getting a ticket is to drive sober, not use your mobile phone, wear your seatbelts and stick to the speed limit,” he says.Drivers impaired by alcohol and drugs contribute to about a third of all fatal crashes nationally, and impairment continues to be a factor in a number of Southland crashes.“Our message is simple. If you’re drinking, do not drive. Organise for someone to be the sober driver or use public transport and rideshare services where possible,” he says.He’s also urging people to “take the extra two seconds” to ensure they and their passengers have their seatbelts on. “In the event of a crash, wearing your seatbelt can save your life.”Speed won’t be tolerated either. “Speed limits are not a target,” MacKenzie says. “Even when speed doesn’t cause the crash, it’s the single biggest determinant in whether you walk away or are carried away.”We want everybody to reach their destination safely, and Police will be out in force in an attempt to deter any dangerous behaviour. “We want everybody to reach their destination safely.”“Enjoy the holiday period, but let’s all work to ensure it is a safe one.”Western Southland's Merrivale Road residents are sick and tired of the excessive speeds and crashes on their roadGore targeted by burglars, as young as 14Just the day after seven young Gore teenagers, all around 14, were arrested in relation to multiple burglaries of Main Street businesses, Police have also now arrested a 21-year-old Gore man in relation to a number of recent burglaries in the area.The man was arrested on Tuesday and taken into custody without incident, after the Gore CIB executed a search warrant at a localaddress and found an item of property and evidence relating to the offence. The man has been charged with burglary and unlawfully being on a property after a private residence was entered in Gore township. He’s been remanded in custody and will appear in the Gore District Court on 5 May.Eastern Southland Area Response Manager Senior Sergeant Gary Iddenten says this arrest is “a timely reminder to residents to ensure their properties are well-secured”.“We know it’s easy to become complacent about home security, particularly when you’re at home, but it’s important to remember burglars are largely opportunistic.“Don’t give them any opportunity to gain easy access to your property or home.“Always lock doors and windows at night, or if you’re going to be away from your property for any length of time.”“Even when you’re at home in bed at night and also in rural properties, lock up,” Inspector Stu Harvey says.Harvey says the places being targeted in Gore are high profile – houses and retail stores. While burglaries occur the recent spate in Gore is particularly concerning with homes and shops being targeted and the young age of the alleged offenders in some.The seven youths who were arrested in relation to the burglary of retail stores in the town’s main street, allegedly forced entry into four retail premises. “These were young people making bad decisions,” he says.Anyone who sees anything suspicious happening in their neighbourhood is urged to dial 111 immediately.Marked decrease in Invercargill CBD crimePolice say they’ve seen a marked decrease in disorderly behaviour and assaults around Invercargill’s CBD since a joint initiative was launched to stamp out increasing trouble in the area. But they’re still urging parents to take responsibility for supervision of their children and teens and know where they are.Harvey says there were some real problems last winter around the Mall area with disorder, assaults and retail theft, including young people yelling and shouting and disturbing the public, with the problem worsening during school holidays.There had been damage and people being threatened with insulting language.However, Senior Sergeant Mel Robertson has been leading the Police response to stamp out the problem and she says they’re already seeing positive results. She’s been working during the last eight months alongside Invercargill Mall and Invercargill City Council to enhance the safety of the pubic and mitigate unwanted behaviours in the CBD.Since the project was began, Police have seen a decrease in calls for service and an increase in Police visibility and prevention activities, she says. They’ve developed a streamlined monitoring system to ensure swift intervention of those who are behaving unfavourably, and/or committing crimes within the Mall and the CBD.A strong relationship has been developed between Police and Mall retailers which means Police can get there as soon as possible to deal with any disorder rapidly and remove the perpetrators.Robertson says the intervention varies, depending on each case. “But having an open line of communication with the Mall and a systematic approach to monitoring means those causing the greatest harm can be engaged with at the earliest opportunity.”Collaboration between the retailers, council, Police and community stakeholders has been essential to develop initiatives and enhance systems to contribute to improvements in behaviour, she says.“We’ve got a good system in place now to stamp the problem out,” Harvey says.A newly formed Retail Risk Group led by Invercargill Mall manager Kelvin Mooney will lead to better communication amongst all CBD retailers, information sharing, enhancement of security systems and a continual relationship with Police, the council and community groups, Robertson says.“The challenge is to now widen the network of retailers to the entire CBD and develop a broader communication network and support each other to contribute to a vibrant and safe Invercargill CBD.”Serious injuries after Riverton-Aparima accidentThe Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter airlifted a patient in a serious condition after an accident in the Riverton Aparima area just after 8.30am on Monday, 14 April.A St John Ambulance spokesperson says an ambulance and one rapid response vehicle also attended and the patient was flown to Dunedin Hospital. No further details were available.A patient was also airlifted to Lakes District Hospital after a fall in Fiordland National Park just after 9am on Friday, 11 April, and two patients with moderate injuries were airlifted to Southland Hospital after a motor vehicle accident on Borland Road, Monowai, at 7.40pm on 5 April.

Some wild driving and high speeds on a particular stretch of road between Otautau and Tuatapere have been causing great concern for local residents recently with one resident who’s been in the area for just over three years reporting that she’s aware of 18 car crashes in the area in that time.Merrivale Road, which links Tuatapere to Otautau, and Gill Road is the main area of concern and the resident says she’s “thankful there are no white crosses” dotting the roadside.“Tonight alone we’ve had three crashes along the 200m stretch, one being passed on a blind corner and clipped then spun out, and two vehicles following each other on the 55km corner, crashing and taking out fences that we have only just replaced again,” the woman’s Wednesday (15 April) post says.She could not be contacted for further comment.She and many of those who commented on her post are concerned that there could have been a fatality in the area and people are being urged to slow down and drive to the conditions.In a separate incident a mother posted a day earlier that the back of her daughter’s Mazda was hit near Otautau on her way to Tuatapere by what appeared to be a black four-wheel drive ute, causing her to run off the road into a ditch. She claims the black vehicle had allegedly overtaken her daughter on a blind corner.Inspector Stu Harvey says Police are aware of a number of incidents in that area and officers locally are trying to rectify the problem, keeping special watch out for speeding on the roads.“People have been driving like idiots.""There’s been a lot of speeding and we’re certainly aware of it.""Local officers will be focusing on this,” he says.

A reimagined ILT Southland Sports Awards will look to celebrate a diverse range of sporting achievement in 2025.Nominations for the Awards are now open, with the winners to be announced at a new-look function at ILT Stadium Southland on June 13.This year sporting codes will be encouraged to put forward their best performances across the full range of traditional categories, with all of those stories celebrated in the lead up to, and during, Awards night.Active Southland chief executive Vanessa Hughey-Pol said the Awards were still focused on outstanding achievement and inspiring the community,but it was important to give all sports the opportunity to enjoy their time in the spotlight.“Last year we got some help with an independent review of the Awards to find out what the sporting community enjoyed about the event and what could be improved,” Hughey-Pol said.“Working alongside the Southland Amateur Sports Trust, who own the event, and our long-time naming sponsor the ILT, we listened to that feedback and have reshaped the event accordingly this year.”Changes made this year were designed to make the Awards night shorter, less expensive and more accessible to a wider range of sports.“We are also excited to include the Athlete with a Disability Award for the first time. This award will look to highlight the achievements of our best athletes with a disability or impairment.”Nominations can still be made by anyone in the community, but need to be endorsed by the relevant regional sports organisation or club.For more information go to https://www.sporty.co.nz/sportsouthlandsportsawards

Seven youth have been arrested after a number of recent burglaries in Gore last week (7-8 Apr).Gore Police said that between 5pm Monday 7 April and 8am Tuesday 8th April they received multiple reports of burglaries in Gore's Main Street area.After making a number of enquiries into the incidents, Police identified and located seven young people who are believed to be involved.Some of the young people were located in the Dunedin area.Police said the seven youths have been spoken to before being referred to Youth Services.We understand this activity is incredibly frustrating to members of the public, and we will continue to work to hold offenders to account, Police said.However we cannot do this alone, if you witness any suspicious or unlawful activity, please contact Police with as much information you can safely gather.Police can be contacted on 111, or for non-emergencies through 105.police.govt.nz, clicking "Make a Report" or call 105.Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 0800 555 111.

An independent director on Bluff's port has joined the ranks of a new regional council committee which manages more than $100 million of the port's shares. Cassandra Crowley has been appointed to Environment Southland's Investment Committee, which is in charge of the council’s majority shareholding at the southern port.The Rotorua-based chartered accountant and lawyer has been an independent director at South Port since 2023.Crowley holds that South Port job alongside other high-ranking positions such as chair of Southern Cross Travel Insurance and deputy chair of Waka Kotahi NZTA.The council committee did not have an interest register set up in time for its first meeting on Tuesday, but Crowley was quick to point out her “standing interest”.Speaking to Local Democracy Reporting, Environment Southland chair Nicol Horrell said there was no conflict of interest having her on the committee.“At least it does give us somebody who will understand the nature of the majority shareholder’s position, but obviously that can’t sort of come into the meeting,” Horrell said.“She’s a very experienced director and I’m sure she’ll handle any conflicts should they arise.”The Investment Committee is the rebranded version of the South Port Subcommittee, but with a wider scope.It will be tasked with managing the council’s 66 percent shareholding in South Port as well as maximising returns on the council’s managed fund, land, and buildings.Horrell said the change to the committee had been in the pipeline for a couple of years.“It’s good for the ratepayer going forward, if we can leverage our balance sheet, that's an offset against rates too which is always good.”Horrell also felt the arrival of independent members provided stability amid potential changes in personnel due to elections.Joining Crowley as an independent is new chair Andrew Morrison — a Southland farmer with experience in chairing agri-business.The committee will also include councillors Eric Roy, Jeremy McPhail and Maurice Rodway.Former members not returning under the new structure included Horrell as well as councillors Paul Evans, Jon Pemberton, Alastair Gibson, Lyndal Ludlow and Peter McDonald.A report prepared for Tuesday’s meeting showed the council’s investment portfolio reached a peak of $34.5 million in January before reducing in value to finish at $33.4 million in March.The nine months to 31 March saw a return on investment of 7.1%, before management fees were deducted.Environment Southland’s South Port shares have a current market value of just over $100 million, with prices comparable to that of mid-2024.South Port is the country's southernmost commercial deep-water port. It is governed by five independent directors and one non-independent.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Pigs don’t fly but a 19th century steam locomotive did today, when it arrived at its new home in the Lumsden railway precinct.The 1880 D class locomotive, D6, was swung into its new home by crane through the roof of the shed that houses the township’s unique collection of pre-1900s rolling stock.Today’s installation completes an ambitious and highly successful project that started in 2013, carried out by the Lumsden Heritage Trust.The A team. From left, Brad Jenkins (Bulleid Engineering), Chris Beckett and Brent Service (Smith Crane & Construction), John Titter (Lumsden Heritage Trust), Kerry Baldey (Bulleid Engineering) and Wayne Tuffley (Southland Machine Hire). Photo: SuppliedTrust chair John Titter said today’s mission was fantastic.“It couldn’t have gone better, and we had a good crowd looking on.""There probably hasn’t been an all-pre-1900 heritage train here for about 90 years. I’m pretty chuffed.”D6 has been refurbished in Winton by Bulleid Engineering over the past three years, after it was gifted to the Lumsden trust by the Otago Railway and Locomotive Society in 2021.It had been in storage at the Ocean Beach Railway in Dunedin since 1965.D6 now sits at the head of Lumsden’s historic collection, which consists of carriages dating from 1877 (C100), 1883 (A199) and 1896 (A525).The historic 1880 D Class locomotive D6 arrives at Bulleid Engineering in Winton, for restoration, in January 2022. Photo: Southland District CouncilIt is a long way from its city of origin, Glasgow, Scotland, where it was built in the Neilson & Co yards.Today’s relocation from Winton involved a big team effort by Bulleid Engineering, Southland Crane and Construction, Southland Machine Hire, and John Titter’s son James Titter, starting around 7.30am.To place D6 at the head of the static train display in Lumsden, the locomotive sitting in its position, a 1948 04 type diesel engine, had to be lifted out by crane and repositioned in the precinct.The most practical way to do this was to remove part of the roof housing the train, which was carried out in a day by Ryan McMaster.D6 was in service with New Zealand Railways until 1917, running for much of its time on Southland tracks.After going into private service for another 48 years it was acquired in 1965 by Ocean Beach Railway, a working heritage railway museum operating in Dunedin.The heritage train project was funded by Lotteries Environment and Heritage, Community Trust South, Southland District Council’s Districts Initiative Fund and Northern Southland Development Fund, and Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.The Lumsden Heritage Trust’s work has been recognised nationally. In 2022, the trust received the Best Carriage and Guards Van Restoration Award at the Federation of Rail Organisations of New Zealand conference in Invercargill for its restoration of the A class passenger carriage A199.A year earlier the trust won the P J Dillicar Award for Innovation for its recovery in 2020 of two V class locomotives and their tenders from the mud at Mararoa junction near Lumsden.

Dogs are at risk of being banned from Bluff's popular 'Foveaux Walkway' after dog faeces on the track reach 'obscene levels' according to Department of Conservation rangers.One of Bluff’s signature tracks and part of the Te Araroa Trail, Foveaux Walkway is a huge drawcard for both locals and tourists, with views over Foveaux Strait, Dog Island Lighthouse, Ruapuke Island and Rakiura/Stewart Island. The area is also home to marine mammals, including kekeno/fur seals and pakake/sea lions, and sea birds including tītī, shag, tawaki/Fiordland crested penguin, mottled petrel, kororā/little penguin and numerous forest bird species. In winter tohorā/southern right whales can be spotted in the strait. DOC acting Operations Manager Murihiku Jono Airey says it’s a special track. “It’s visually stunning with native flora and fauna and is rich with Māori and European history. We’re talking about nature and heritage unique to New Zealand, these are things you can’t find anywhere else." “Dogs are allowed on the track as long as they are on lead.""Dogs are doing what dogs do, but unfortunately their owners are leaving their dogs’ faeces behind in this precious place.""It’s a long-term issue, and it’s getting worse." “It’s not good enough, track maintenance is now a dangerous, disgusting job for our rangers.""They return covered from head to toe in dog excrement thrown about by scrub-cutters.""They even wear face shields to protect themselves.""You wouldn’t wish it on anyone.” Dog faeces contain germs which can harm humans and wildlife and should always be picked up and disposed of responsibly. “Unless things improve, we will have to exclude dogs from our track network in Bluff to ensure the health and safety of our rangers, visitors, and wildlife,” says Jono. “Dog poo bins aren’t an option for us, they encourage fly tipping and illegal dumping and require a level of maintenance we can’t resource. “People tramping in our backcountry carry out human rubbish and waste to protect our natural environments, so we’re sure visitors to the urban Foveaux Walkway can manage the much easier job of cleaning up after their dogs.” New signs will soon remind dog walkers of their obligation to remove dog poo from the Foveaux Walkway, and DOC will monitor the situation to inform decisions on future dog access to the track.

Exporters around the world are still digesting exactly what US President Donald Trump's moving array of tariffs will mean for them and their businesses.But what are New Zealand's biggest exports to the US, and how might they be affected?Last year, exports of goods to the US were worth just under $9 billion.That was 12.7 percent of all goods exported, the second highest. The US has become a much more significant destination for exports in recent years.In the 12 months ended December 2024, these were the most exported goods to the US.Meat and 'edible offal' - $2.5 billionWestpac chief executive Kelly Eckhold said beef was a tricky import for the United States to replace.Both New Zealand and Australia were exporting large amounts of lean beef to the US, he said, which was then mixed with fattier beef to make burgers and mince. "The do that because it makes the products better so it's actually not that easy for Americans to not buy our beef because they don't have the same product, basically."Gareth Kiernan, chief forecaster at Infometrics, said beef was $1.8b of the meat exports to the US and 42 percent of all of our beef exports were going to that country.But he agreed that US consumers were not likely to be able to switch to home-grown beef easily."Beef cattle numbers there are at a 70-year low. Therefore, the effects on returns to beef farmers could be relatively limited."That's been partly behind the growth that we've managed to achieve there over the last few years. And put it this way they're still going to continue eating… You know, they like their hamburgers, don't they?"ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley said how much impact a tariff had would depend on the dynamics of what was being exported, what the alternatives were for the US and whether the export was a final good or a part of something more substantial.He said if beef was sold through fast food chains, it would only be a percentage of the meat in each burger affected."The impact on the final consumer price is not going to be as substantial. That's one example where with beef it may be reasonably resilient, at least the hamburger part, because it's just one small part of the bit people are eating."Dairy - $982.9 millionWhen it comes to dairy, the bigger impact may be on what happens to trade between the US and China, which is facing hefty tariffs.Eckhold said there was significant trade of both dairy and beef between the two countries. "That has the potential to be significantly disrupted with the very high level of tariffs in place."If China did not want to accept those imports anymore, they would have to come from somewhere else and that could benefit New Zealand, he said.Beverages - $742.7mWine makes up the majority of beverage exports to the US."For wine, the potential tariffs come at a difficult time, as the industry has already been grappling with softer global demand and softening prices over the last couple of years," Kiernan said."Higher prices for foreign wine in the US could easily see consumers switch from drinking a Hawke's Bay syrah to a Californian zinfandel, further hitting demand for our product."He said wine demand had dropped in recent years anyway."We've all stopped drinking quite as much as we did in the pandemic when we were stuck at home."That's a global story really, but it's much easier for them to switch to American-produced wine given the sort of current supply and demand dynamics and the broader market."Tuffley said wine had all its value added in New Zealand."In that scenario that's where the potential impact of the tariff could be bigger because it's going to be harder for the end retailer to pass on the impact if they do mark it up."If it's lower down the value chain where there's lots of competition and people are quite price sensitive a price increase might mean sales slow quite a lot or it may be there is a lot of pushback from the importer saying 'we can't sell this unless you are prepared to drop your price to cover a fair chunk of the tariff'. In that case you're getting a volume hit or some degree of a margin hit."Mechanical machinery - $683.7mTuffley said how much mechanical machinery exports were affected depended on how critical the use was it was put to and whether there was US alternative.Albuminoids starches and glues - $448mElectrical machinery- $439mOptical medical and measuring equipment - $390mMuch of Fisher & Paykel Healthcare's exports are likely to be captured in this category.But Eckhold said he had been at meetings recently where firms who were exporting medical equipment into the US were concerned about what the tariffs might mean. He said while the volumes were not huge, it illustrated that a wide variety of trade would be affected.Wood - $370.7mFish - $334.1mFruit and nuts - $307.1mTuffley said seasonality drove a lot of US imports of fruit and nuts. He said it was mainly kiwifruit and apples being sold into the US for its off-seasons.Kiernan said the US could end up priced out of the market for fruit out of season.Eckhold said there was still a lack of clarity about how the regime was going to work in aggregate.He said the US worked with a system of quotas that applied to countries and different sorts of products. Exporters he had spoken to were not clear how those quotas would work in conjunction with tariffs.He said it was also still uncertain how much of the tariff would be passed on to US consumers and how much would be carried by the exporters.Firms were waiting to see what happened, he said. "No one wants to be the first person to put their price up."Tuffley said the main competition for New Zealand exporters would be US suppliers. Those from other countries were facing the same tariffs, or greater.In some cases, New Zealand companies might look at options to shift some production to the US, if the cost of doing so was less than the cost of the tariff.But he said a key question would be what happened to the tariffs in the future. There were questions about whether they would outlast Trump's "negotiation" phase, he said, or whether they would remain in place beyond his presidency."That matters a lot because it wouldn't be worth spending a lot of money to find alternative solutions, only to find the rules change down the track. It's hard to figure out what the optimum long-term solution is to enact when you have very little clarity around what tariffs we are facing and for how long."Published by permission

Department of Conservation rangers working in the Waimatuku Stream near Invercargill have discovered it's teeming with a threatened species of fish.Named after the Lord of the Rings character Gollum, the Gollum galaxias fish is known for its large eyes, short, stocky body and blunt, rounded snout.DOC river ranger Pat Hoffman said it was an exciting find. In the right light, the fish seemed to have a gold gleam."They're named galaxias because it reminded the person who named them of stars. I think they're pretty cute."On a more serious note, they were threatened with extinction and nationally vulnerable."So very exciting to find another population in this stream, they haven't been recorded officially before so it was a good discovery."The stream is in an intensively farmed catchment with not much native vegetation left."So we were quite surprised to find them in so many locations."The fish didn't seem to mind living in a slow-moving stream, Hoffman said.Not much was known about the total numbers of Gollum galaxias, however, in the past they had been spotted in the lower reaches of the South Island, including Stewart Island, the Catlins, other parts of Southland and the Clutha River in Otago.DOC hoped it could continue working with farmers, manu whenua and the councils to protect the fish's habitat in those areas, Hoffman said.Published by permission

Police are reminding motorists to take extra care on the roads this Easter so that everyone stays safe and enjoys the upcoming holiday period.With increased traffic expected as people head to holiday destinations, motorists are reminded to drive responsibly.Southland Police emphasize that road safety is a shared responsibility.Drivers should adhere to speed limits, avoid distractions, and drive sober.Impaired driving remains a significant factor in regional crashes, contributing to about a third of all fatal accidents nationwide.Key safety tips include:Drive to the conditions and stay alert.Avoid using mobile phones while driving.Always wear seatbelts.Stick to speed limits.Southland Road Policing Manager, Senior Sergeant Scott MacKenzie said Police would be out in force to deter dangerous behavior.

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardHomer Tunnel is closing for maintenance works overnight from 28th April to 23rd May, from 6.00pm to 3.00am. No public access during these closures due to heavy equipment operating in tunnel. Any queries, please call 03 249 7004.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Fine apart from areas of morning cloud. Tomorrow: Mainly fine. Chance of a light shower before dawn. Thursday: Mostly fine. Friday: Cloudy, occasional rain. Saturday: Rain.